Kanji Dojo vs Nazoru

Kanji Dojo is an open-source app for learning Japanese character writing, meanings, readings, and related words. It covers hiragana, katakana, and more than 6,000 characters. Learners can organize study by JLPT level, school grade, or WaniKani level, including combinations of those paths. Flashcards and spaced repetition support practice, with vocabulary examples, and a searchable dictionary provides character and word lookups. After downloading the learning materials needed, users can continue studying offline. The learning content is free, while some extra features are paid to help cover backend and development expenses. The app is available on Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, web, and Windows. Its privacy policy describes aggregated usage information and crash diagnostics, and says information is not shared or sold to third parties for marketing. The project is community driven, so requested features may depend on an interested contributor. The linked GitHub repository was archived on August 27, 2026, and is read-only.

Nazoru is a Japanese handwriting practice app for learners working on kanji, hiragana, and katakana. Practice moves from full character outlines through dashed stroke cues and direction hints to a blank canvas, supporting progress from tracing toward writing from memory. When a learner misses a stroke, the guide and direction cue return; the next session starts at the level indicated by their memory. Built-in paths cover JLPT levels N5 to N1, Japanese school grades, frequency, and Heisig ordering. Learners can browse categories and custom lists, search kanji and words they have seen, and practice confusable kanji side by side. Nazoru can suggest practice based on kanji studied in WaniKani, Bunpro, and MaruMori. Those integrations use a read-only API key kept on the device, and practice here does not count as a review in those services. The app works offline and offers optional Google Drive backup for progress, history, and settings. Free allows two full practices per day; Unlimited costs $3.99 per month. The app has no ads or tracking.