Inku vs Bunpo
Inku vs Bunpo for Japanese
Bunpo is the grammar-drill specialist for Japanese. Inku is a kana and vocabulary app with native audio. Sequential, not alternative.
Short answer
Bunpo drills JLPT grammar patterns through structured lessons. Inku drills vocabulary and kana through spaced flashcards.
Intro
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 Inku is 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 actor-recorded audio is on every card. 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 Bunpo is 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
| Feature | Inku | Bunpo | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Focus | Vocabulary + kana | Grammar | |
| Native audio | Actor-recorded | 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 | $29.99/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.
From a learner
“I came from this app, bounced off, and Inku gave me something I could actually finish. That is the whole pitch.”
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.
See more comparisons: all comparison pages. Or start with the full learning roadmap.