Overview

Kanji Dojo is a Japanese-character study app for learners who want to practise writing alongside vocabulary and reference work. Its range of study paths and offline use make it a flexible option; the archived, read-only repository is a serious drawback for anyone prioritizing continued development.

It covers hiragana, katakana, and kanji, with more than 6,000 characters, and combines pen-control exercises with flashcards, spaced repetition, vocabulary examples, and a searchable dictionary. Learners can organize study by JLPT level, school grade, or WaniKani level, or combine those routes.

Key features

Multiple writing systems: Hiragana, katakana, and kanji are gathered in one app, giving learners a broad study scope rather than a kanji-only tool.
Flexible study paths: JLPT, school-grade, and WaniKani-level groupings let learners choose a familiar structure or mix categories.
Writing and review: Pen-control exercises address handwriting practice, while flashcards and spaced repetition support repeated review. Vocabulary examples help connect characters with related words.
Dictionary and offline study: A searchable character-and-word dictionary supports lookup. After downloading the necessary materials, learners can continue studying offline.

The app is open source under GNU GPL version 3 or later. The repository was archived on August 27, 2026 and is read-only. The maker describes development as community driven, so feature requests may not be implemented unless a contributor takes an interest. That makes the breadth of the existing study toolkit more compelling than any expectation of ongoing changes.

The privacy policy says Firebase Analytics collects aggregated usage information without personal identifiers, while Firebase Crashlytics collects crash logs and diagnostics. It also says Kanji Dojo does not share or sell user information to third parties for marketing. The repository notes that Google Play includes Firebase Analytics and Play services for in-app review.

Pricing

Free — 0.00 USD per free. Learning content is completely free and open source. Some extra features are paid to help cover backend and development expenses. This suits learners who want the core study content without a subscription; those who need an extra feature should account for the fact that it may carry a charge. There is no free trial.

Platforms

Kanji Dojo runs on Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, Windows, and the web, a notably wide spread for learners switching between mobile and desktop. Offline study is possible after downloading the required learning materials.

Who it's for

Kanji Dojo is best suited to learners who want Japanese character writing practice, vocabulary examples, review, and dictionary lookup in a single study app, especially those who value free learning content and offline access. It is a weaker fit for users who expect a reliably active project or want confidence that requested features will be developed: the repository is archived and future work depends on community interest.

Pros and cons

Pro: Hiragana, katakana, and kanji across more than 6,000 characters provide substantial scope in one app.
Pro: JLPT, school-grade, and WaniKani paths can be combined, while spaced repetition, flashcards, vocabulary examples, and dictionary lookup support different study tasks.
Pro: Free, open-source learning content and downloadable offline materials reduce cost and connectivity barriers.
Con: Some extra features are paid, so the free content does not necessarily include every capability.
Con: The read-only repository and community-dependent development limit confidence in future updates and feature requests.
Con: Firebase Analytics and Crashlytics collect aggregated usage information and crash diagnostics, which may not suit learners seeking an app without those analytics tools.

Alternatives

For a broader comparison of handwriting-focused tools, see Handwriting Practice Apps.

LetterSchool is a possible alternative for learners who want a free starting set of letters, shapes, and CVC flashcards, with a free trial also available.
Writing Wizard may suit learners focused on letter practice on Android, iOS, or Windows; the free download leaves remaining letters and custom words to an in-app purchase or subscription.
Handwriting Repeater is worth considering for sentence repetition: it is free, has no subscription fees or premium tier, and supports Android, iOS, and web.
Hanzi Writer is another free writing-practice option for Android, iOS, and macOS, with core practice features in its free plan.
Copybook Club fits iOS users looking for worksheet generation and PDF export, with its free plan capped at three worksheet generations per week and two pages per worksheet.
KanjiPad is a free alternative for Android, iOS, macOS, and web.
Kitsunewa Writing Practice offers free writing practice without signup and runs on Android, iOS, and web; its Pro plan is 4.08 USD per month, billed $49 billed yearly.
iTrace may suit learners seeking handwriting warm-ups and interactive scenes on Android or iOS, with a free version covering three letters and one scene.

Verdict

Choose Kanji Dojo if you want a free, broad Japanese-character study tool that combines handwriting practice, structured review, vocabulary examples, dictionary lookup, and offline use across mobile, desktop, and web. Look elsewhere if ongoing development is essential: the read-only repository is the clearest reason to hesitate.

	Kanji Dojo	Trace & Play
Free plan	Yes	Yes
Free trial	No
Paid from	Free	Free
Platforms	Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, Web, Windows	iOS, macOS
Free plan	Yes	Yes
Pen-control exercises	Yes	Yes
Supported platforms	windows, macos, linux, android, ios	iOS, macOS
Age levels		preschool

Kanji Dojo vs Trace & Play

Kanji Dojo

Trace & Play