App comparison · Checked 27 September 2026
Duolingo, Bunpro, WaniKani or Nihongo Circle?
Which Japanese learning app is right for you depends on what you need to practise next. Here is where each one shines, and where we think Nihongo Circle is the better fit.
A note from us: We make Nihongo Circle. This is a comparison of published features, not a controlled learning-outcomes test. We link to each app’s own descriptions so you can check our claims and decide for yourself.
The quick answer
Choose Nihongo Circle if you are starting N5 and want your lesson, grammar explanation, word and kanji lookup, scheduled review, and JLPT-style check in one free place. Choose Duolingo for tiny, game-like mobile sessions; Bunpro when grammar depth is the priority; or WaniKani when you want a highly structured kanji method.
At a glance
| App | Best fit | Free access |
|---|---|---|
| Duolingo | Short, game-like lessons and a broad language-learning habit | The language courses are free; subscriptions add perks such as ad-free study and extra practice options. Source |
| Bunpro | A deep Japanese grammar library, examples, and customisable SRS | Grammar, vocabulary and reading pages are available free; SRS reviews and decks are Premium after the trial. Source |
| WaniKani | A structured radicals-to-kanji-to-vocabulary mnemonic system | The first three levels are free; Level 4 onward requires Premium. Source |
| Nihongo Circle | A connected N5 study path: lessons, lookups, review, games and a mock exam | Learning features are free; optional Pro removes ads and supports the site. Source |
This table scrolls sideways on smaller screens. Access and features can change; check the linked sources for current details.
Where the difference matters
Nihongo Circle vs Duolingo: a Japanese study map or a quick daily lesson?
Duolingo is good at making it easy to start. Its Japanese course includes bite-sized lessons and writing-system practice, and Duolingo says its newer courses include more speaking and listening. Its course content is free. Duolingo’s course update
Our advantage is a more explicit Japanese study map: you can move from an N5 lesson to its grammar reference, inspect a word or kanji, review what you enrolled, and then try a mock exam. If you want to see the parts of the language and choose what to revisit, follow our road map. If a five-minute phone lesson is what reliably gets you studying, Duolingo may suit you better.
Nihongo Circle vs Bunpro: a free N5 loop or deeper grammar study?
Bunpro’s grammar coverage and example library go far beyond ours. It also teaches vocabulary and offers reading practice. Its free tier lets you view grammar, vocabulary and reading pages, while SRS reviews and decks sit in Premium after a 30-day trial. Bunpro’s feature and access list
Our advantage is that an N5 learner can go from a guided lesson to scheduled review, games and a mock exam without paying to unlock that study loop. Choose Bunpro if you want its much larger grammar library or fine control over reviews; choose us if you want to start and keep practising N5 for free.
Nihongo Circle vs WaniKani: a complete beginner routine or kanji focus?
WaniKani deliberately concentrates on radicals, kanji and vocabulary, with mnemonics and scheduled reviews. Its first three levels are free, and further levels require Premium. WaniKani’s method · WaniKani’s free-level policy
Our advantage is breadth around the kanji: study N5 kanji alongside kana, lessons, grammar, vocabulary and practice without switching products. WaniKani is likely the better choice if memorising kanji through its ordered mnemonic system is your main goal.
Where we are still building
N5 is our guided course today. N4 has vocabulary, kanji and grammar references, but no guided lesson course; N3 and above are mainly word and kanji references. If you need a long, guided path beyond N5 right now, another resource may serve you better. We would rather say that clearly than send you looking for a course we have not written.
A fair way to decide
Try one real N5 study loop
Start with a lesson, come back for a short review, and use a grammar or kanji reference when you get stuck. If that sequence makes your next step clearer, Nihongo Circle may be your home base. If another app makes you show up and learn more consistently, keep using it.
Explore the N5 lessons