WaniKani alternative
WaniKani Alternative: Inku Japanese Flashcards
Kana, JLPT vocabulary, phrases, and 400+ kanji with guided lessons. WaniKani is the larger 2,000+ kanji-focused curriculum.
Inku walks you through hiragana and katakana, JLPT vocabulary, useful phrases, and 400+ kanji with guided lessons across N5-N3. Lessons teach readings, meanings, memory cues where helpful, and sample words, then move each character into flashcard review. WaniKani is a radical-based, kanji-focused course through 2,000+ kanji, and it also teaches vocabulary on that path. Use Inku when you want that mix on iPhone. Use WaniKani when you want the larger kanji-focused curriculum.
Why you are probably searching this
The usual path to looking for a WaniKani alternative goes through at least one of these:
- You want kana, vocabulary, and kanji lessons in one app, not only a radical course
- You want an iPhone flashcard app with review
- You want a free download, with the full library behind Inku Pro
- You want WaniKani's larger 2,000+ path later, not instead of a foundation
What a good alternative looks like
Match the job. Inku covers kana, vocab, phrases, and 400+ kanji with guided lessons across N5-N3. WaniKani covers a much larger kanji-focused curriculum.
How Inku is different
- All 92 core hiragana and katakana, plus 2,000+ words and phrases and JLPT vocabulary from N5 through N1.
- 400+ kanji with guided lessons across N5-N3, including readings, meanings, memory cues, sample words, and the same review as the rest of your study.
- WaniKani teaches 2,000+ kanji through radicals and 60 levels, with vocabulary on that path. It is free through level 3, then paid.
- Inku is free to download on the App Store. Inku Pro is an auto-renewable App Store subscription that unlocks the complete library, kanji lessons, custom decks, pronunciation audio, reviews, and progress tools. This site also keeps free study pages, including a printable kana chart.
Common questions
Is Inku a free WaniKani alternative?+
WaniKani is free through level 3. Inku is free to download; Inku Pro unlocks the full library and kanji lessons. US prices are $49.99/year or $3.99/week, with a 7-day trial on the yearly plan where Apple offers it. Confirm the price and any trial in Apple's in-app subscription offer before you subscribe. Other regions may differ. Website study pages stay free.
Does Inku replace WaniKani?+
No. Inku includes 400+ kanji with guided lessons across N5-N3. WaniKani is a structured 2,000+ kanji-focused curriculum that also teaches vocabulary. If you want both a full Japanese flashcard app and extra kanji runway, use Inku for the mix and WaniKani for the larger kanji-focused path.
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See our full Inku vs WaniKani comparison for a feature-by-feature breakdown, or download Inku.