Free Japanese Apps 2026
The best free apps to learn Japanese
You can learn a serious amount of Japanese without spending anything. The trick is knowing which "free" apps are genuinely free forever, and which are really trials or ad-supported samplers that push you toward a subscription. Below are the genuinely free options in 2026, what each one really costs, and how far the free path gets you.
The genuinely free options
1. yomion (free tier)
The most generous genuinely-free option here. yomion's free tier includes hiragana and katakana, N5 vocab and kanji decks, both study modes (flashcards and typing), the FSRS spaced repetition engine, CSV import so you can bring decks from Anki or elsewhere, 15 AI tutor messages per day, and full offline use as a PWA — with no time limit and no card on file. You can genuinely go from zero to solid N5 without paying. The paid tier unlocks N4–N1 content, .apkg import, unlimited AI, and mock exams, but the free path is real and not a trial. See pricing for the exact split, or start practicing.
2. Duolingo (free tier)
The most popular free starting point. Duolingo's free tier is genuinely usable — you get the full Japanese tree with streaks, XP, and leagues — but it's ad-supported and gated by hearts (limited mistakes) unless you watch ads or pay for Super. It's great for building a daily habit and covers hiragana, katakana, and early grammar. The depth plateaus quickly, and you won't learn to type or read flowing Japanese from it alone. Pair it with a free grammar reference for better results.
3. Tae Kim's Guide to Japanese Grammar
Completely free and 100% usable forever — no account, no ads, no paywall. Tae Kim's guide is a text-based grammar reference that teaches how Japanese actually works, from absolute beginner through advanced grammar. The explanations are opinionated and clear, and many learners swear by it. The trade-off is that it's static reading material: no SRS, no typing, no interactivity, no audio. It's best used as the grammar backbone alongside a practice app like yomion.
4. Anki (desktop)
Free and open-source on desktop (Windows, Mac, Linux) and AnkiWeb — and that's where its reputation was built. You get unlimited decks, the SM-2 algorithm, and access to the enormous shared-deck ecosystem. The catch: the iOS app costs a one-time $25 (that's the only way the project funds development), and the Android version (AnkiDroid) is free. It's powerful and free on most platforms, but generic and DIY — see our Anki alternative for a Japanese-first take that imports Anki decks.
5. JapanesePod101 (free tier)
A long-running audio-course library with a free tier that releases a rotating selection of lessons and includes some core PDFs and word lists. The audio lessons are well produced and good for listening practice on a commute. The free tier is limited and the platform pushes paid subscriptions hard with frequent popups and emails — expect an aggressive upsell. Useful as a supplement, but most learners will want a primary tool that's free without the friction.
6. Marugoto / JF Japanese e-Learning Minato
Free courses from the Japan Foundation, the same body behind the JLPT-aligned Marugoto textbook series. These are structured, curriculum-style courses (A1 to B1 levels) with a classroom feel and no paywall. They're a great free option if you want a guided, textbook-paced path and don't mind a more academic tone. Interactivity and modern UX are limited compared to commercial apps, but the content quality is high and entirely free.
What "free" actually means
"Free" is doing a lot of work in app marketing. It helps to know which flavor you're getting:
- → Truly free. No paywall, no expiry, no card. Tae Kim's guide and Anki desktop are the classic examples. yomion's free tier belongs here too — you can study kana, N5 decks, and both modes forever without paying.
- → Freemium with a real free path. Free forever, but with limits (hearts, ads, daily caps) and a paid tier that removes them. Duolingo is the textbook case; yomion's 15-AI-messages-a-day cap is the same idea.
- → Free trial disguised as free. Full access for 7–14 days, then a hard paywall. Many "learn Japanese free" apps in the app stores are this. Read the fine print before you commit your study data.
- → Ad-supported sampler. Free, but you watch ads between every few reviews and core features sit behind a paywall. Functional, but the friction adds up.
yomion's free tier sits in the "truly free" column for its core — kana, N5 decks, both study modes, FSRS, CSV import, offline — and the paid tier only adds more content (N4–N1), .apkg import, unlimited AI, and mock exams. See pricing for the full breakdown.
A free stack that works
If you want to spend exactly zero, the strongest free combination in 2026 is yomion (practice, SRS, typing, kanji, and free grammar lessons) plus Tae Kim (deeper grammar reference). Add Anki desktop if you want to mine vocab from native material. That stack alone can take you through JLPT N5 and into N4 without ever entering a card number.