The Best Rosetta Stone Alternative for Japanese

Rosetta Stone is a long-running course built around learning a language in context. Inku takes a more direct route: each card shows the Japanese, its reading, an English meaning and audio, and the app schedules each item for review.

Why you are probably searching this

The usual path to looking for a Rosetta Stone alternative goes through at least one of these:

• You want English meanings and readings shown, not inferred
• You want hiragana, katakana and kanji taught as their own lessons
• You want a review schedule for every word you learn

What a good alternative looks like

A useful alternative for Japanese should teach the writing system directly and give you a clear way to keep vocabulary over time.

How Inku is different

1. Hiragana and katakana with audio, vocabulary decks for every JLPT level from N5 to N1, everyday topic decks such as food, travel and shopping, three phrase packs (casual, polite and travel), and a kanji course with 960 kanji from N5 to N1.
2. Each lesson introduces five items with the reading, meaning and pronunciation audio, then asks you to recall them. FSRS schedules every item for review, and you answer Again, Got it or Too easy.
3. Inku does not teach grammar or practice speaking.
4. Inku is a paid app. Studying needs an Inku Pro subscription, bought through the App Store on iPhone or through checkout on the web, and you can try an introductory lesson in your browser first.

Common questions

Related alternatives and comparisons

• Duolingo alternative for Japanese
• Anki alternative for Japanese
• Babbel alternative for Japanese
• Pimsleur alternative for Japanese
• Best Japanese flashcard apps
• All Japanese app alternatives

Want a feature-by-feature breakdown? Browse all Inku comparisons.