Free JLPT Vocabulary Apps Compared: What Each Free Tier Actually Includes

If you want to study JLPT vocabulary for free, three questions decide which app fits: is the full N5–N1 word list free, is there spaced repetition in the free tier, and does it run where you study. Here is how eight commonly recommended apps answer them. Prices and limits are from each app's official site or US App Store listing, checked on October 4, 2026; they can change.

Comparison table

Sources: Anki, AnkiMobile, Anki 23.10 release notes, renshuu, WaniKani free levels and plans, Bunpro pricing, jpdb FAQ, Kanji Study, Migii JLPT.

What each app is best at

Anki is the most flexible. Since version 23.10 it includes FSRS, the same scheduling algorithm Tomaru uses, though you have to turn it on. The trade-off is setup: Anki has no JLPT lists of its own, so you pick a shared deck and configure it yourself.

renshuu is the broadest all-in-one option, with vocabulary, kanji and grammar in one place and words you can filter by JLPT level. Its furigana adapts as you mark kanji as known.

WaniKani is a kanji course rather than a JLPT word list. The full course has 2,000 kanji and 6,000 vocabulary words.

Bunpro is mainly for grammar.

jpdb.io is free and built around vocabulary from real media such as anime and novels. It runs in the browser only.

Kanji Study and Migii JLPT are organised by JLPT level from the start. Migii adds mock tests.

Tomaru gives you ready-made N5–N1 decks and schedules every review with FSRS automatically. Tomaru's core vocabulary features are free forever, with no ads.

Does spaced repetition make a difference for JLPT words?

Spaced repetition brings a word back shortly before you are likely to forget it. In Tomaru's anonymous learning data, a word you did not know the first time is remembered about 60% of the time if you review it the next day, but less than half the time if the review waits a week.

Words also differ a lot in difficulty: some are almost never forgotten, while the hardest are forgotten by about three in ten learners. Among N5 words, the ones that slipped most were not hard to understand but hard to read: 葉書 (はがき), 二十歳 (はたち) and 北 (きた). A scheduler that brings these back more often saves you from rereading the whole list.

On pace: at 20 new words per study day, the N5 deck takes about 35 study days. The next JLPT is on December 6, 2026.

How to choose

• You want full control and do not mind setup: Anki.
• You want vocabulary, kanji and grammar in one free app: renshuu.
• Kanji is your weak point: WaniKani.
• You study grammar more than words: Bunpro.
• You learn from anime or novels: jpdb.io.
• You want ready-made N5–N1 decks with automatic FSRS reviews and no ads: Tomaru.

For how many words each level needs, see How Many Words for Each JLPT Level?

Start with Tomaru's JLPT decks

The JLPT N5 to N1 decks are ready in the Tomaru app, with readings, English meanings and example sentences. Add a deck and start studying right away. See the full JLPT deck list.

FAQ

What is the best free app for JLPT vocabulary?

It depends on what you need. Anki is free on desktop and Android and the most customisable. renshuu has a free tier with words filterable by JLPT level. Tomaru has ready-made N5–N1 decks with automatic FSRS scheduling, and its core vocabulary features are free forever, with no ads.

Is Anki free for JLPT?

Anki is free on Windows, Mac, Linux, Android (AnkiDroid) and the web. The iOS app, AnkiMobile, costs US$24.99 once (checked October 2026). Anki has no JLPT word list built in; you download a shared deck.

Does Anki use FSRS?

Yes. FSRS has been built into Anki since version 23.10, but the default is still SM-2, so you need to enable FSRS in the deck options.

Is WaniKani good for JLPT vocabulary?

WaniKani teaches kanji and the vocabulary that uses them, not a JLPT word list. Levels 1–3 are free, covering about 100 kanji and 200 words (checked October 2026).

Which JLPT apps have N5 to N1 word lists?

Among the apps compared here, renshuu, Kanji Study, Migii JLPT and Tomaru organise words by JLPT level. Anki relies on shared decks made by users.

About the data. Prices and features come from official websites and US App Store listings checked on October 4, 2026; Android prices were not checked. Source: Tomaru anonymous learning data (2026).