Nihongo Flow vs WaniKani
WaniKani does one thing: kanji, and it does it very well. Nihongo Flow covers the rest of Japanese, with a focus on speaking. Most people asking this question actually need both.
Written by the Nihongo Flow team. We make one of these apps, so read this with that in mind. We give the other apps their wins too and link every source. Facts checked on 2026-11-07. Prices change and differ by country. If something here is out of date, tell us on Discord and we fix it. A dash (—) means the product's own pages don't list it.
At a glance
| Nihongo Flow | WaniKani | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free plan · Premium €7.99 a month or €89.99 a year | $9 a month, $89 a year or $299 lifetime |
| Free | The free plan never expires | First 3 of 60 levels free |
| Kanji | All kana + 40 N5 kanji | 2,000+ kanji with mnemonics |
| Vocabulary | Core vocabulary paths with spaced repetition | 6,000+ words |
| Grammar | 52 lessons from N5 to N1 | — |
| AI speaking practice | AI tutor chat (16+) · live voice call with Sensei in Ultra Maxx | — |
| Explanation languages | 10 | English |
| Platforms | iPhone, web | Web |
Where WaniKani is better
- Kanji, by a long way: 2,000+ of them, each with a mnemonic.
- A clear level system that keeps you moving.
- A lifetime plan.
Where Nihongo Flow is better
- Grammar, speaking and listening — the parts WaniKani doesn't cover.
- How people actually talk: casual vs polite forms side by side.
- An iPhone app, and explanations in 10 languages.
- A free plan without a level limit.
Our honest take
WaniKani teaches you to read kanji. Nihongo Flow teaches you to speak. Different jobs — if kanji is your goal, do WaniKani, and add Nihongo Flow for conversation.
Sources
- https://www.wanikani.com/
- https://knowledge.wanikani.com/account-and-membership/payment-and-billing/subscription-plans/
- https://knowledge.wanikani.com/getting-started/payment-and-billing/wanikani/wanikani-free/
- https://nihongo-flow.app/en/pricing
- https://apps.apple.com/app/nihongo-flow/id6795556751
Free, no credit card. Try it and judge for yourself.
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