What is the best free app for learning Japanese?

Duolingo is the best free app for learning Japanese. The app includes an entire Japanese course for students learning the basics as well as those who want to develop more intermediate skills in grammar, sentence structure, and other topics. Duolingo is best suited for those just starting out in their studies of Japanese, but it’s also useful for anyone looking to brush up their skills or expand their knowledge when they have some spare time available on the go!

Is Duolingo good for Japanese?

Duolingo is useful for those who are beginning and intermediate Japanese learners because it covers grammar, sentence structure, vocabulary building as well as more basic topics. It also has interactive exercises that keep you engaged while learning the basics of the language and it gives decent explanations of more difficult parts of Japanese.

What should I learn first in Japanese?

If you are a beginner, you should learn to read and write hiragana and katakana first. This will help you eventually write words in Japanese. When learning to read and write you should also learn grammar rules so that your reading comprehension will improve even if you have a small vocabulary. There are a lot of different apps to learn Japanese, and they can help you develop all these skills.

How long does it take to become fluent in Japanese?

Around 6-12 months is the average amount of time it takes someone who is starting from scratch to become somewhat conversational in Japanese. To become completely fluent, it takes native English speakers around 2 years with consistent study. This process can happen faster if you use apps to learn Japanese and practice with native Japanese speakers regularly. To see how long it will take you to reach your Japanese learning goals, check out our fluency calculator!

11 Best Apps to Learn Japanese in 2027

Chad Emery Published on September 28, 2026

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Learning Japanese? It’s one of the most spoken languages in the world, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy to learn. If you’re looking for an app to learn Japanese, then you’ve come to the right place. We have compiled a list of the best apps that can help you learn and master this beautiful language in no time!

At A Glance: Our Top 5 Picks for Apps to Learn Japanese

Best Overall: Rocket Languages
Best Beginner Japanese App: Mondly
Best Japanese App with Audio Lessons: Pimsleur
Best App for Authentic Japanese Content: Lingopie
Best Japanese Podcast App: JapanesePod101

It can take years of consistent study to become fluent in it. And even then, you may never reach the same level of fluency as someone who has been speaking Japanese since childhood. But the right app can help you learn quickly.

You can click on this image to use Langoly's Fluency Calculator and see how long it will take you to learn your target language.

These Japanese learning apps will make it easier to study and practice your skills no matter what your level is right now. You’ll be able to take lessons with audio clips, review words and phrases, read manga comics, and even listen to podcasts or watch videos.

What Are The Best Apps To Learn Japanese?

Here are the 11 best apps to learn Japanese that can help you learn the language more quickly and fluently.

Rocket Languages

Overall Best App to Learn Japanese

Rocket Japanese Overview

Rocket Japanese uses audio lessons to teach you listening, pronunciation, and speaking. It’s easy to follow and the lessons are very detailed.

Best for Overall Learning

Price $149.95

Free trial 7 days

Try Rocket Japanese

Rocket Languages is the overall best app to learn Japanese. It’s a really comprehensive course that guides you from the basics of the language all the way through communicating with native Japanese speakers. It has everyday dialogues that cover situations you’ll likely find yourself in at some point, and native speakers voice all of the dialogues.

I always recommend Rocket because of it’s overall approach to learning Japanese: focus on communication. You won’t only be doing fill-in-the-blank or multiple choice quizzes. You’ll actually learn how to use Japanese in different situations. To be upfront, if you’re looking for a fun game-like app, Rocket probably isn’t for you. Its goal isn’t to be “fun” 100% of the time (although I do actually find its lessons pretty fun for the most part), it’s to teach you a language in an engaging way…and it does just that!

Try Rocket Japanese for free by clicking the link below or learn more about it in this Rocket Languages review.

Key Features

Learn at your own pace and build your own Japanese routine
Easy to navigate app with straightforward and engaging lessons
Excellent if you want a course that is comprehensive and thorough without being boring
Learn about Japanese culture as you learn the language – this is a huge advantage over other apps!

Pricing

Rocket Languages offers its Japanese course at three different price points. The first level is $149.95, the first and second levels together cost $249.90, and the entire course is $259.90. Rocket Japanese is a one-time purchase as opposed to a subscription system, like most other apps.

Try Rocket for Free

Mondly

Best Beginner Japanese App

Mondly Overview

Mondly is a good app for beginners because it teaches lots of new vocabulary in fun and interactive lessons.

Best for Beginners

Price $9.99/month

Free trial 7 days

Try Mondly

The Mondly app is perfect for beginners who want to learn the basics of Japanese. It’s easy to use and you can complete the lessons in any order you want, so it won’t feel like a chore.

You can track your progress and learning statistics, which is perfect to help you stay motivated! If you’re just starting to learn Japanese, Mondly will help you learn the basics quickly. Try Mondly for free by clicking the link below or learn more about it in this Mondly review.

Key Features

Learn the basics of Japanese quickly
The app is easy to use and you can complete lessons in any order you want
Track your progress to feel motivated
Learn with augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR)

Pricing

Mondly Premium starts at $9.99 per month. You can get a discount on a longer subscription.

Try Mondly Now

Pimsleur

Best Japanese App with Audio Lessons

Pimsleur Overview

Pimsleur uses audio lessons that focus on pronunciation. You listen to a conversation by native speakers and try to mimic how they speak.

Best for Audio Lessons

Price $14.95/month

Free trial 7 days

Try Pimsleur

Pimsleur is an app to learn Japanese that has audio lessons you can take anywhere. The lessons are manageable and easy to follow, and you start speaking from your first lesson. The lessons build on what you’ve already learned so you won’t forget the vocabulary you’ve studied.

This app is perfect for anyone who wants a quick, but thorough, way to start learning Japanese in just 30 minutes a day. Try Pimsleur for free by clicking the link below or learn more about it in this Pimsleur review.

Key Features

Start speaking right away and improve your pronunciation with speech recognition technology
The structure of the lessons is logical and easy to follow
Take lessons from home, in your car, or anywhere
The