Learn Japanese kana — the calm, guided way.

Guided lessons, instant offline audio, and a streak to keep you coming back. No self-grading, no flashcard flipping — just clean, objective feedback.

Guided lessons
Every character group starts with an introduction: see the kana large, hear it spoken, and move on when you're ready. Then practice with multiple-choice questions that record your progress automatically.
Offline audio
Every kana is spoken aloud using your device's built-in Japanese voice. No internet needed — pronunciation plays throughout every lesson.
Daily streak
Complete one lesson a day to keep your streak alive. A customizable daily goal gives you a clear target, and the flame stays lit as long as you come back.
Full hiragana & katakana
92 characters across 10 groups per script — vowels, K, S, T, N, H, M, Y, R, and W. The whole app is free: no paywall, no subscription, no ads.
Progress tracking
The Progress tab shows mastery state — New, Learning, Mastered — for every character, color-coded for a quick visual sweep.
Privacy first
No account. No tracking. No ads. All progress stays on your device.

New to kana? Start here.

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Frequently asked questions

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Is KanaLearn free?

Yes — KanaLearn is free on the App Store, with no subscription, no ads, and no account. All 92 hiragana and katakana characters, the audio, stroke-order animations, and the daily review are included.

How long does it take to learn hiragana and katakana?

Most beginners can read all 46 basic hiragana in about a week of short daily sessions, and both scripts — 92 characters — comfortably within three to four weeks. Cramming them in a weekend is possible, but without spaced review most of it fades within days; a steady 10 minutes a day is what makes kana stick.

Learn more: How long it really takes to learn kana →

Should I learn hiragana or katakana first?

Learn hiragana first. It covers every native Japanese sound, carries the grammar of every sentence, and is what beginner textbooks and JLPT N5 material assume you can read. Katakana comes second — and it goes faster, because you already know all the sounds and just attach new shapes to them.

Learn more: Hiragana or katakana first — the full answer →

Why does Japanese have two alphabets?

Hiragana and katakana are two syllabaries with the same 46 sounds but different jobs: hiragana writes native words and grammar, katakana writes loanwords, foreign names, and emphasis. Both were born from kanji over a thousand years ago — hiragana as flowing, cursive kanji, katakana as sharp kanji fragments — which is why every kana has an origin story.

Learn more: Where hiragana and katakana come from →

Does KanaLearn work offline?

Yes. Everything — lessons, quizzes, stroke-order animations, and audio — works with no internet connection. Pronunciation uses your iPhone’s built-in Japanese voice, so it plays instantly and never needs a download or a signal.