Best Free Tools to Study Japanese Online in 2026
You don't need to spend money to learn Japanese. The best resources are often free — you just need to know where to find them. This guide covers the tools I actually recommend for each part of Japanese study, from absolute beginner to JLPT N3 level.
Every tool listed here is genuinely free — not "free trial" or "freemium with the useful stuff locked." If a tool has paid tiers, I note it, but the free version is enough to learn with.
Kana — Hiragana & Katakana
The first step. You need to learn both hiragana (ひらがな) and katakana (カタカナ) before anything else. Budget 1-2 weeks for hiragana, another 1-2 for katakana.
All 214 hiragana and katakana characters with flashcards, quizzes, and built-in spaced repetition. Tracks your progress, builds streaks, works offline. Covers basic kana, dakuten, and combination characters.
✓ 100% free, no signup, works offlineComprehensive written guides with mnemonics for every character. The mnemonics are visual (each character is turned into a picture that reminds you of the sound). Excellent companion to flashcard practice.
🔗 tofugu.com/japanese/learn-hiragana
✓ Completely freeSee our detailed guide: How to Learn Hiragana in One Week
Kanji
After kana, kanji is the next mountain. Start with JLPT N5 (~100 kanji), then work through N4 (~300 total), N3 (~600 total), and beyond. The key is consistent daily practice, not marathon sessions.
All 103 JLPT N5 kanji with on/kun readings, meanings, example vocabulary, flashcards with flip animation, quiz mode, and SRS. Tracks mastery per kanji. Dark theme, keyboard shortcuts, works offline.
✓ 100% free, no signup, works offlineStructured kanji learning program using radicals → kanji → vocabulary progression. The SRS system is excellent and the mnemonics are creative. First 3 levels are free (covers ~100 kanji + vocabulary), which is enough for N5.
◐ Free for levels 1-3, paid after ($9/mo)Detailed kanji reference with stroke order animations, readings, example sentences, and JLPT level filtering. The free version covers quite a lot. One of the best reference apps.
🔗 Available on Google Play
◐ Free with some paid groupsSee our reference: Complete JLPT N5 Kanji List
Vocabulary
Vocabulary is the fuel of language learning. You can butcher grammar and still be understood if you know the right words. Aim for 10-20 new words per day at the beginner level.
The gold standard for spaced repetition. Free on desktop and Android. Community-shared decks for JLPT vocabulary (N5-N1), Core 2000/6000 words, and more. Highly customizable. The learning curve is steep but worth it.
✓ Free (desktop + Android). iOS app costs $25 (one-time)While primarily a dictionary, Jisho's example sentences are goldmines for vocabulary in context. Search any word and see it used in real sentences with translations. Much better than memorizing isolated words.
✓ Completely freeGrammar
Grammar provides the structure that connects your vocabulary. Japanese grammar works very differently from English (SOV word order, particles, verb conjugations), so good explanations matter.
A complete Japanese grammar guide from zero to intermediate. Covers everything from basic sentence structure to complex expressions. Well-organized, clearly explained, and extensively used by the self-study community.
✓ Completely freeSRS-based grammar study organized by JLPT level. Each grammar point has explanations, example sentences, and review questions. The free tier gives access to grammar point info; full SRS reviews require subscription.
◐ Grammar explanations free, full SRS paid ($5/mo)A unique approach to Japanese grammar that focuses on understanding the underlying logic rather than memorizing rules. Controversial presentation style (animated character with robotic voice), but the content is genuinely insightful. Especially good for understanding particles.
🔗 YouTube: "Cure Dolly"
✓ Completely freeReading Practice
The sooner you start reading real Japanese, the faster everything comes together. Start with material designed for learners, then gradually move to native content.
Real news articles rewritten in simpler Japanese for learners. All kanji have furigana (reading aids). Articles are short (2-3 paragraphs) and cover current events. Perfect for intermediate beginners.
✓ Completely freeFree graded reading material organized by difficulty level. Level 0 uses only hiragana with pictures. Levels go up from there. Excellent for building reading confidence early.
✓ Completely freeWell-written original stories with built-in dictionary, grammar notes, and audio. Excellent quality. Free trial includes several episodes of each series. One of the best reading practice tools if you enjoy narratives.
◐ Some free content, full access $9/moListening Practice
Your ears need training too. Start with slow, clear speech and work up to native speed. Combining listening with reading (subtitled content) is especially effective.
Huge library of audio lessons organized by level. The podcast format (explanations in English + Japanese examples) is great for commutes. Free content is substantial — thousands of lessons accessible without paying.
◐ Many free lessons, premium for full accessA teacher speaks only Japanese at different speed levels (beginner, intermediate, advanced) with visual aids. Excellent for developing listening comprehension. The "complete beginner" videos use very simple language with lots of visual context.
🔗 YouTube: "Comprehensible Japanese"
✓ Completely freeOnce you're at intermediate level, watching Japanese content with Japanese subtitles (not English) is incredibly effective. Netflix has Japanese audio + subtitles for many shows. The Language Reactor browser extension adds dual subtitles and hover dictionaries.
✓ Free with existing streaming subscriptionDictionaries
The best online Japanese-English dictionary. Search by English, romaji, kana, or kanji. Shows readings, meanings, example sentences, JLPT level, kanji components, and more. The #tags feature is powerful: search "#jlpt-n5" to see all N5 words.
✓ Completely freeOffline Japanese dictionary for Android. Fast, clean, and works without internet. Includes JLPT level tags, example sentences, kanji info, and conjugation tables. Essential for on-the-go lookups.
🔗 Available on Google Play
✓ Completely freeJLPT Preparation
Organized lists of vocabulary, kanji, and grammar by JLPT level. Includes practice quizzes for each section. A great supplement to your main study tools — use it to check coverage and find gaps in your knowledge.
✓ Completely freeOfficial practice tests from the Japan Foundation are the gold standard. Additionally, sites like japanesetest4you.com offer free practice questions organized by section and level.
✓ Free practice availablePutting It All Together — A Sample Daily Routine
Tools are just tools. What matters is how you use them. Here's a suggested 30-60 minute daily routine for beginners:
Morning (15 min): Kana/kanji flashcard review → Kana Flash or Kanji Flash
Commute (15 min): Listening practice → Comprehensible Japanese or JapanesePod101
Evening (15-30 min): Grammar study (Tae Kim) + Anki vocabulary review
Weekend bonus: Reading practice → NHK Easy or Tadoku graded readers
The key is consistency over intensity. 20 minutes every day beats 3 hours once a week. Your brain needs daily exposure to build the neural pathways that make recognition automatic.
Don't try to use every tool at once. Pick one from each category, stick with it for a month, then adjust. The best tool is the one you actually use.
📚 Start with Kanji Flash 🎯 Start with Kana Flash