Renshuu vs KanaMastery: a huge free all-rounder, or focused practice from kana to N1
Facts about Renshuu checked on its own pages in October 2026. Written by KanaMastery: we say where Renshuu is the better choice.
Renshuu is the better pick if you want one free tool that covers almost everything: its free version is unlimited and ad-free, with more than 12,000 kanji, 800 grammar expressions and native audio. KanaMastery is the better pick for a short, structured daily routine: programs in a fixed order from kana to N1, a placement test, a daily challenge and weekly leagues.
Renshuu is broader; KanaMastery is narrower and more guided.
Renshuu and KanaMastery, side by side
| Renshuu | KanaMastery | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free; Renshuu Pro in the iOS app from USD 3.99 a month, from USD 49.99 a year or from USD 109.99 for lifetime | €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 plan | Unlimited, with no ads, paywalls or timers; Pro adds advanced kanji, grammar, reading and listening quizzes, crosswords and study graphs | Free 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 runs | The web, iOS and Android; no offline mode, by its developer's account | A website, on any device with a browser; no app to install (and none yet in the app stores) |
| Hiragana and katakana | Taught, as a getting-started path | All 208 kana with sound and stroke order pages, and a free program that teaches them |
| Kanji | More than 12,000 kanji, with over 2,000 mnemonics | 2,217 kanji by JLPT level, each with readings, stroke order and words; practised for reading and meaning, not handwriting |
| Vocabulary | A large dictionary with more than 15,000 native audio recordings, 160,000 example sentences and pitch-accent data | 7,579 JLPT words with readings and meanings from JMdict, plus phrases, numbers and counters |
| Grammar | More than 800 expressions with model sentences, diagrams, audio and quiz questions | Drills, not lessons: N5 particles and verb forms, sentences and N4 keigo; no grammar explanations beyond short notes |
| Levels covered | Learning paths for the JLPT, textbooks and Kanji Kentei, and over 10,000 lessons made by users | Kana, then JLPT N5 to N1 |
| How it schedules practice | Its own spaced-repetition system, with dozens of question styles (choice, typing, writing) | Spaced repetition (FSRS) for every answer: reading, recall and listening scheduled separately, up to 100 reviews a day |
| Audio | Native recordings for many words and sentences | Text-to-speech for words and kana |
| Motivation | A mascot, coins, an evolving character, unlockable manga pages, and single- and multiplayer games | XP and levels, combos, streaks with freezes, a daily challenge and weekly leagues |
Renshuu'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 Renshuu is better
- The free version is unlimited and ad-free, with no timers: more free content than any other tool here.
- Grammar: more than 800 expressions with explanations, where KanaMastery only drills particles, verb forms and keigo.
- Native audio recordings for many words, where KanaMastery uses text-to-speech; and pitch-accent data.
Where KanaMastery is better
- A guided path: programs in a fixed order from kana to N1, a placement test, and a "Today" page with your next step, so there is little to decide.
- Short, scored sessions: typed answers, combos, timed sprints and listening drills, with a daily challenge the same for everyone on your level.
- Readings and meanings from JMdict and KANJIDIC2, with the source on every list.
Using both
They can sit side by side: Renshuu as a free reference and grammar tool, and KanaMastery for a short daily routine of programs, reviews and the daily challenge.
Questions about Renshuu and KanaMastery
Is Renshuu free?
Yes: the free version is unlimited and ad-free. Renshuu Pro adds more quiz types and stats; in the iOS app it starts at USD 3.99 a month (checked October 2026).
Does Renshuu work offline?
No: its developer has said an offline mode isn't possible for now. KanaMastery needs a connection too.
Is KanaMastery a Renshuu alternative?
For a guided daily routine from kana to N1, yes. For the broadest free reference with grammar and native audio, Renshuu covers more.
Sources
- Renshuu on Google Play
- Renshuu on the US App Store
- Renshuu: what Pro adds
- Renshuu forum: why there is no offline mode (by its developer)
- KanaMastery: pricing, how it works and attributions.
Renshuu is a trademark of its owner. This page isn't endorsed by or connected to Renshuu. Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we'll fix it.