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Busuu vs KanaMastery for Japanese: a CEFR course with native feedback, or JLPT practice

Facts about Busuu checked on its own pages in October 2026. Written by KanaMastery: we say where Busuu is the better choice.

Busuu is the better pick if you want a CEFR course with corrections from native speakers: its Complete Japanese course has 570+ lessons from A1 to B2, free in order, and its community corrects your written and spoken answers. KanaMastery is the better pick for the JLPT: word and kanji lists from N5 to N1 with spaced repetition and drills.

Busuu doesn't follow the JLPT: it offers its own CEFR certificates instead.

Busuu and KanaMastery, side by side

 BusuuKanaMastery
PricePremium and Premium Plus, sold in the apps; prices vary by platform and offer (the US App Store lists an annual subscription at USD 79.99)€5.99 a month, €44.99 a year or €149 once (KanaMember), after a 14-day trial with no card; a full refund within 30 days of the first payment
Free planThe Complete Japanese course in order, with an ad before each lesson, community feedback and basic progress trackingFree for good: all kana and the whole Kana program, every Japan quiz, the first chapter of every program and the first chapters of JLPT N5, 20 reviews a day, the daily challenge and leagues
Where it runsiOS, Android and the web; offline mode in PremiumA website, on any device with a browser; no app to install (and none yet in the app stores)
Hiragana and katakanaSeparate hiragana and katakana courses; fully open in Premium PlusAll 208 kana with sound and stroke order pages, and a free program that teaches them
KanjiA separate kanji course, fully open in Premium Plus2,217 kanji by JLPT level, each with readings, stroke order and words; practised for reading and meaning, not handwriting
VocabularyTaught in the course, with a Smart Review of what you have learned7,579 JLPT words with readings and meanings from JMdict, plus phrases, numbers and counters
GrammarTaught in the course, with grammar review in PremiumDrills, not lessons: N5 particles and verb forms, sentences and N4 keigo; no grammar explanations beyond short notes
Levels coveredA1 to B2 in the Complete Japanese course; certificates for A1 to B1; no JLPT alignmentKana, then JLPT N5 to N1
How it schedules practiceLessons, a study plan, and Smart Review quizzes timed before you forgetSpaced repetition (FSRS) for every answer: reading, recall and listening scheduled separately, up to 100 reviews a day
AudioVideo lessons with real peopleText-to-speech for words and kana
MotivationStreaks (protected in paid plans), a study plan and certificatesXP and levels, combos, streaks with freezes, a daily challenge and weekly leagues

Busuu's prices are as its own pages showed them in October 2026 (US prices unless noted); ours are in euros. Prices change: check before you buy.

Where Busuu is better

  • Feedback from native speakers in its community on your writing and speaking.
  • The Complete Japanese course is free in order, up to B2.
  • CEFR certificates after an end-of-level test (A1 to B1).

Where KanaMastery is better

  • Built for the JLPT, N5 to N1, which Busuu doesn't follow.
  • Kana and kanji without a top-tier plan: the Kana program is free, and every kanji has a public page.
  • Spaced repetition (FSRS) on every answer, with a daily challenge and weekly leagues.

Using both

Busuu for lessons and native feedback on your sentences, KanaMastery for kana, kanji and JLPT vocabulary reviews.

Try the free Kana programWhat KanaMastery does

Questions about Busuu and KanaMastery

Is Busuu Japanese free?

The Complete Japanese course is free in order, with an ad before each lesson. Premium removes ads and adds review and offline mode; Premium Plus adds the kana and kanji courses (checked October 2026).

Does Busuu prepare you for the JLPT?

Not directly: Busuu follows the CEFR (A1 to B2) and offers its own certificates, and says the JLPT isn't officially aligned with the CEFR.

Busuu or Duolingo for Japanese?

Busuu adds native-speaker feedback and certificates; Duolingo is free with more game elements. For the JLPT, add a tool built around its lists, such as KanaMastery.

Sources

Busuu is a trademark of its owner. This page isn't endorsed by or connected to Busuu. Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we'll fix it.