The best apps to learn Japanese
The best app to learn Japanese depends on your goal. For speaking, Pimsleur is the strongest audio course; for structured lessons with grammar, LingoDeer; for a free daily habit, Duolingo; and for real conversation, a teacher on italki. To read Japanese, add WaniKani for kanji. 333 Sentences, which we make, does one job: the 333 everyday Japanese phrases, said out loud, each with its English meaning.
At a glance
| App | Best for | Speaking | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pimsleur | An audio course that makes you speak | Spoken answers in every lesson | Paid subscription with a free trial. |
| 333 Sentences | The 333 everyday Japanese phrases, out loud | Record and compare, every phrase | First 3 sentences free, no account. Then pay once: 1 week $5, 3 months $18 or 1 year $48. No auto-renewal. |
| Duolingo | A free daily habit | Short speaking prompts | Free with ads; paid plans remove ads and add features. |
| LingoDeer | Beginner lessons in a set order | Some speech exercises | Free to start; paid subscription for the full course. |
| WaniKani | Reading kanji | None | First 3 levels free; paid subscription after. |
| italki | Live conversation with a teacher | Live lessons | Pay per lesson; each teacher sets a price. |
| HelloTalk | Free practice with native speakers | Real conversation | Free; paid plan adds features. |
Try it: the first 5 Japanese phrases
What 333 Sentences starts with. Tap to hear each one.
- #1 やあ。 Hello.
- #2 おはようございます。 Good morning.
- #3 今日は。 Good afternoon.
- #4 こんばんは。 Good evening.
- #5 おやすみなさい。 Good night.
How we chose
- You speak out loud, not only tap answers.
- It teaches what you will actually say: greetings, food, directions, small talk.
- The price is clear, and a free way to start exists.
- It is good at Japanese specifically, not only at other languages.
The picks
-
1. Pimsleur
An audio course that makes you speakAudio lessons of about 30 minutes that prompt you to answer out loud in Japanese, so you practise recalling phrases instead of recognising them. Good while walking or driving.
- Price
- Paid subscription with a free trial.
- Skip it if
- You want to see words written down while you learn.
-
2. 333 Sentences
Made by us · The 333 everyday Japanese phrases, out loud333 everyday Japanese phrases in ten topics, from greetings to food, travel and small talk, each with its English meaning and a native voice. Each takes about two minutes: hear it, build it, fill the gap, then record yourself and compare. Recordings stay on your phone.
- Price
- First 3 sentences free, no account. Then pay once: 1 week $5, 3 months $18 or 1 year $48. No auto-renewal.
- Skip it if
- You want grammar explained, or a full course from zero to fluent.
-
3. Duolingo
A free daily habitFree, game-like Japanese lessons that build a streak and basic vocabulary.
- Price
- Free with ads; paid plans remove ads and add features.
- Skip it if
- You want to hold a conversation soon; it is better for vocabulary than for speaking.
-
4. LingoDeer
Beginner lessons in a set orderStructured lessons with grammar notes, from the alphabet up.
- Price
- Free to start; paid subscription for the full course.
- Skip it if
- You want mostly speaking practice.
-
5. WaniKani
Reading kanjiTeaches kanji and the words that use them with mnemonics and spaced repetition.
- Price
- First 3 levels free; paid subscription after.
- Skip it if
- You want to speak first; it is for reading.
-
6. italki
Live conversation with a teacherOne-to-one video lessons with Japanese teachers and community tutors, including informal conversation practice.
- Price
- Pay per lesson; each teacher sets a price.
- Skip it if
- You want to practise alone, any time, for a fixed price.
-
7. HelloTalk
Free practice with native speakersLanguage exchange: text, voice messages and calls with Japanese speakers who are learning English.
- Price
- Free; paid plan adds features.
- Skip it if
- You want structure: the quality depends on the partner you find.
Which one should you pick?
You want to speak soon
Pimsleur, plus 333 Sentences for the everyday Japanese phrases.
You want to understand the grammar
LingoDeer.
You want to read Japanese
WaniKani for kanji, with LingoDeer for grammar.
You have a trip coming up
333 Sentences for the greetings, food and travel topics, plus Google Translate offline as a backup.
You want to spend nothing
Duolingo and HelloTalk, plus the free list of 333 Japanese phrases with audio on this site.
Who should skip 333 Sentences
- You want grammar rules explained; we teach whole phrases, not rules.
- You want a full course from zero to fluent; we cover the 333 phrases you will use most.
- You want to talk to a person; book a teacher on italki.
Know them. Then say them without freezing.
333 Sentences takes you through these one at a time: hear it, build it, fill the gap, say it and compare with the native voice.
Free phrase lists with audio
Questions
What is the best app to learn Japanese?
Pimsleur for speaking, LingoDeer for grammar, Duolingo for a free daily habit and italki for live lessons. For the everyday phrases on their own, said out loud, 333 Sentences.
What is the best free app to learn Japanese?
Duolingo is the most complete free course. HelloTalk is free practice with native speakers, and all 333 Japanese phrases with audio on this site are free to read and hear.
What is the best app to learn Japanese for travel?
One that makes you say phrases out loud: Pimsleur, or 333 Sentences for the greetings, food, shopping and travel phrases. Add Google Translate offline as a backup.
What Japanese phrases should I learn first?
Common Japanese phrases include “やあ。” (Hello.), “元気ですか。” (How are you?), “はじめまして。” (Nice to meet you.), “お願いします。” (Please.) and “さようなら。” (Goodbye.). Then asking for help, ordering food and asking for directions.
Can you learn Japanese with just an app?
You can learn to understand and say everyday Japanese with an app. To hold real conversations, add speaking with people: a teacher on italki or a partner on HelloTalk.