Japanese Learning Apps Compared: Duolingo, Anki, and Bunpro

Choose a Japanese learning app by the work you need to do. A guided course, a flashcard system, and a grammar review service have different jobs. The useful question is which job is missing from your routine.

This comparison uses official feature and access information checked on 22 October 2026. It does not claim a hands-on trial, measured learning gains, or a universal ranking. The study workflows and examples are our suggestions. Check the official pages before paying because plans and availability can change.

Duolingo, Anki, and Bunpro at a glance

Sources: Duolingo’s feature announcement, Anki’s official downloads and features, and Bunpro’s access and pricing page. The access row describes boundaries rather than quoting a price that may vary by region or plan.

Which problem are you solving?

The last two needs are not fully solved by selecting a flashcard or grammar app. Keep space in your week for connected listening and interaction.

Duolingo: a guided path

Duolingo can provide an accessible sequence when choosing the next lesson is your main obstacle. Use available explanations to investigate mistakes, then practise the same pattern outside the exercise.

Older comparisons may describe all Japanese content as beginner-only. Duolingo now reports expanded Japanese course content through B2 for most learners. That is course coverage, not proof that every user reaches B2 or an equivalent JLPT result. See the official expansion announcement and our Duolingo guide for the distinction.

Choose this role when a guided path helps you start. Check that you can still answer with the prompt hidden. If you already have a course you follow consistently, adding another full path may simply duplicate your work.

Anki

Anki is a recall tool rather than a ready-made Japanese curriculum. The official system supports media, configurable cards, and scheduled reviews. Start from the official download page to distinguish Anki, AnkiMobile, and AnkiDroid from unrelated products with similar names.

A useful card tests one thing you already understand. For example, the front could ask for the reading and meaning of 図書館 in 図書館で勉強します。 The back can provide としょかん, “library,” and the sentence meaning. If you are testing the particle instead, make a separate card with a blank and an explanation. Avoid asking for ten unrelated facts on one card.

Review existing cards before adding more. If the queue takes your whole session, pause new cards and remove material you do not need. A large imported deck is not automatically the best starting point, particularly when its vocabulary is unrelated to your current lessons.

Bunpro: focused grammar study and review

Bunpro’s published feature list includes grammar explanations, example sentences, audio, and review options. Its free pages can help you inspect an explanation before deciding whether you need paid SRS access. Our comparison does not evaluate the quality of every explanation or the accuracy of automated answer acceptance.

Use grammar review when you can recognise a form but cannot reliably choose it. For example, study te-form formation, practise several new verbs, and then write a request. If you can only fill a familiar blank, add sentence production. If you already review the same grammar effectively in another tool, duplicating every item may create unnecessary work.

Three small study setups

For listening material beyond isolated exercises, the Japan Foundation’s Irodori Starter lessons provide lesson PDFs and audio. Choose a short activity you can understand and reuse it with and without the transcript. A resource’s free availability does not mean every activity matches your current level.

A seven-day selection exercise

Before installing another app, write one problem: “I forget vocabulary,” for example. Choose one tool whose role addresses it. Keep the rest of your routine stable for a week.

On day one, attempt a small fresh task and record what assistance you need. During the week, note actual study minutes and whether reviews fit your budget. On day seven, attempt a different task of similar difficulty. If you studied more consistently but recall is still weak, adjust the practice rather than declaring the app a success or failure from a streak alone.

Common questions

Is Anki better than Duolingo?

For remembering your own selected material, Anki gives you control over cards and reviews. For a ready-to-follow lesson path, Duolingo fills a different role. Pick the role you need; neither comparison proves that one app produces better results for every learner.

Do I need both Anki and Bunpro?

Only if you have distinct review needs and time for both queues. You might use Anki for vocabulary from reading and Bunpro for selected grammar. If one routine already works, adding a second SRS is optional.

What is the best free setup?

Start with one accessible course or lesson sequence, a review method you can maintain, and suitable reading or audio. Free desktop Anki can supply review; free grammar pages can supply explanations. Confirm the actual device and feature access you need before choosing a paid plan.

For a complete lesson sequence rather than a product comparison, continue with the Japanese learning guide. If tools are crowding out useful practice, use the app mistakes guide to simplify the routine.