WaniKani alternatives, free and paid

WaniKani teaches radicals, kanji and vocabulary with mnemonics and spaced repetition. It’s well made, but it sets the pace for you and it’s paid after level 3. In a recent r/LearnJapanese thread asking for an alternative, people suggested JPDB, Marumori, Kanji Study and Tsurukame.

Options

Option	What it is	Good for
Kanji Koohii	Free website for RTK, shared stories, reviews	Meaning-first, free
JPDB	Web app, vocabulary from real media	Learners who read anime/novels
Kanji Study	Large kanji reference and quizzes	Learners who want depth
Tsurukame	iOS client for WaniKani	People staying on WaniKani
Anki	Flashcards with community decks	People who like to customise
Kanji Mnemonics	Picture story per kanji, JLPT order, two-way quiz, widget	Visual learners on iPhone/iPad

What to ask before switching

1. Do you want to set your own pace? WaniKani doesn’t let you rush; most alternatives do.
2. Do you want readings early? RTK delays them; JPDB and WaniKani don’t.
3. Do you want JLPT order? Kanji Mnemonics and Kanji Study sort by level.
4. Do you want to write your own stories? Koohii is built for that.

Where Kanji Mnemonics fits

It’s for people who want a picture and a story ready for each kanji, sorted by JLPT level, without a fixed schedule. It works offline and has a Today’s Kanji widget. It doesn’t teach grammar or full vocabulary decks; pair it with a textbook.

Very beautiful

Here and there a few improvements would make the app wonderfull! I already learned my first 5 kanji, i think some pictures or resemblance are not perfect but when done better it deserves a 5 stars

★★★★☆ App Store review, Austria, 16 September 2026, herohim · App Store