Inku vs Bunpo
Inku vs Bunpo for Japanese
Bunpo is the grammar-drill specialist for Japanese. Inku is a kana and vocabulary app with audio support. Sequential, not alternative.
How does Inku compare to Bunpo?
Bunpo is built around grammar: JLPT-level patterns, conjugation drills, and sentence construction. Inku is built around vocabulary and kana. Most serious learners eventually use both, but for different reasons.
When is Inku the better pick?
- You are at the absolute beginner stage. Bunpo's first lesson assumes you can read hiragana. Inku teaches hiragana from scratch.
- You want vocabulary with authentic pronunciation. Inku's pronunciation audio is built into the main card library. Bunpo focuses on grammar patterns; pronunciation is secondary.
- You want a calm, un-gamified experience. Bunpo has XP bars and progress badges. Inku deliberately has neither.
When is Bunpo the better pick?
- You want to pass the JLPT. Bunpo is organized by JLPT level with thousands of grammar drills. Inku is vocab-centric.
- You need grammar drills with feedback. Bunpo's fill-in-the-blank drills with explanations are its core feature. Inku does not drill grammar in that structured way.
- You are past beginner level (N4+). Bunpo goes deep to N1 grammar. Inku's current deck focuses on N5/N4 vocabulary.
Feature-by-feature
Sources and pricing
Pricing last checked: April 28, 2026. Prices can vary by country, platform, checkout, tax, and promotion.
| Feature | Inku | Bunpo | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Focus | Vocabulary + kana | Grammar | |
| Audio support | Clear audio | Limited TTS | |
| Grammar drills | None | Extensive, by JLPT level | |
| Spaced repetition | FSRS | Built-in but lighter | |
| JLPT alignment | N5 complete, N4 partial | N5-N1 | |
| Pricing | $49.99/yr | $69/yr | |
| Platform | iPhone only | iOS + Android | |
| Beginner-friendly | Yes, from zero | Assumes kana |
Inku's favor · Bunpo's favor · roughly even
The honest take
Bunpo is the tool you reach for when grammar starts becoming the limiting factor. That usually happens around month 4-6 of learning. Before that, you need vocabulary. Use Inku first, add Bunpo when grammar becomes the bottleneck.
Verdict
Use Bunpo if: you have the kana basics and want to drill JLPT grammar hard. Use Inku if: you are starting from scratch or your bottleneck is vocabulary, not grammar.
Sequential, not alternative. Inku at the beginning, Bunpo when grammar starts to matter.
How we research this
Inku is not affiliated with Bunpo. Every claim here draws on public product pages, app store listings, and help docs, linked under each section and dated where pricing is involved (last checked April 28, 2026). For full transparency: Inku audio is professionally synthesized rather than human recorded, and we never publish fabricated reviews or ratings. Found an error? Email app@inkujapanese.com and we will fix it.
Common questions
Should I use Inku and Bunpo together?+
Yes, once you are a few months in. Inku for vocabulary and kana review, Bunpo for grammar drilling. They complement each other well.
Does Inku plan to add grammar drills?+
Not structured JLPT-style drills. The phrase packs teach grammar implicitly through example sentences, but structured fill-in-the-blank is out of scope.
Related comparisons
Looking at this as a switch rather than a head-to-head? See the best Bunpo alternative for Japanese.
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