WaniKani vs Anki for JLPT Kanji: Which Is Better?

WaniKani is better if you want a guided, mnemonic-based path and are happy to pay. Anki is better if you want a free, flexible tool and will build or choose your own deck. For JLPT N5, you only need around 80 to 100 kanji, so try WaniKani's free levels first, then decide. Both tools use spaced repetition to help you remember kanji, but they feel very different. Here is how they compare for someone preparing for the JLPT. What is WaniKani? WaniKani is a paid website from Tofugu that teaches kanji and vocabulary through mnemonics and spaced repetition. It covers more than 2,000 kanji and around 6,000 vocabulary words across 60 levels, and it starts from radicals (the building blocks of kanji) and builds up to kanji and then words. Reviewers like the structure. You do not have to decide what to study next, since the site unlocks content in a fixed order and tells you how many reviews are due. What is Anki? Anki is free, open-source flashcard software that works for any subject. For kanji, you either download a community deck or make your own cards. It gives you more control over what you study and how often you review. That freedom has a cost. Reviewers note that you must make decisions first, such as which deck to download, how to set it up and how to handle mnemonics, since decks vary a lot in quality. How do WaniKani and Anki differ? Structure: WaniKani follows a fixed path with levels and a built-in review schedule. Anki is a blank slate you fill in. Mnemonics: WaniKani provides its own memory stories for radicals, kanji and vocabulary. Anki mnemonics depend on the deck you choose. Cost: WaniKani has a free tier for the first few levels, then a subscription. Anki is free on desktop and Android. Customization: Anki lets you edit cards, add your own sentences and change review intervals. WaniKani is more rigid, so you cannot skip ahead if you already know some kanji. Focus: WaniKani focuses on kanji and vocabulary. Anki can also handle grammar and sentences. How much does each cost? WaniKani lets you try the first few levels for free. Reviews describe this as the first three levels, which is roughly 100 kanji and radicals, though one reviewer mentions level four. After that, a subscription is required. One review lists pricing from about 9 dollars a month or 89 dollars a year, and community posts mention periodic sales and a lifetime option. Prices change, so check the current pricing before you subscribe. Anki itself is free on desktop and Android. The iOS app is a paid app, so check the current price if you use an iPhone. Which one is better for JLPT N5? It depends on how you like to learn. WaniKani's levels do not match the JLPT levels. They follow its own order by frequency of use, so N5 kanji are spread across its early levels along with some kanji you do not need for the test. Choose WaniKani if you are a complete beginner with kanji, you like mnemonics, you want a structured path and a subscription is not a problem. Choose Anki if you want free, you like to customize, and you are happy to pick a deck or make your own cards. A deck built around the N5 list keeps you on target. Use both if you want WaniKani's mnemonics for new kanji and Anki for your own vocabulary and sentences from your textbook. Some learners say the best approach is simply to try WaniKani's free levels, then try an Anki deck, and keep the one you actually use every day. What do I need for N5 specifically? N5 only needs a small set of kanji, about 80 to 100 depending on the list. Our N5 kanji list gives 79 core kanji with meanings and readings, grouped by theme. If you choose Anki, search for a deck that matches a list like this. If you choose WaniKani, expect to cover more kanji than N5 needs, since the levels are not built for the JLPT. Kanji is only one part of the exam. Pair your flashcards with grammar practice in the JLPT N5 Grammar course and timed JLPT mock tests . How should I fit flashcards into a routine? Short, regular reviews beat long, occ…