A Japanese-specific iOS alternative for kanji, grammar, and JLPT practice.
Duolingo builds broad language-learning habits. Hane is built only for Japanese: kanji search with stroke order, JLPT-organized grammar, reading with furigana, handwriting input, and particle games on iPhone.
Free during the public beta on Apple TestFlight.
Duolingo: great for habits, limited for Japanese depth
Duolingo excels at building daily study habits for many languages. For Japanese specifically, it covers beginner conversation and vocabulary but does not teach kanji in depth, stroke order, JLPT grammar granularity, or reading with furigana support.
Hane: built for Japanese specifics
Hane is designed around the challenges that make Japanese unique:
Try Hane as your Japanese study tool
Join the Hane beta on TestFlight and explore kanji, grammar, and reading practice designed specifically for Japanese learners.
Join TestFlight betaBest for different goals
Use Duolingo if you want a broad, gamified habit across multiple languages. Use Hane if you want deep, Japanese-specific study with kanji, grammar nuance, and JLPT structure.
Frequently asked questions
Is Hane better than Duolingo for Japanese?
It depends on your goal. Duolingo is excellent for building daily habits across languages. Hane is better if you want kanji depth, JLPT grammar, reading support, and handwriting practice specifically for Japanese.
Can I use both Duolingo and Hane?
Yes. Many learners use Duolingo for daily streaks and basic vocabulary, then use Hane for kanji, grammar, and reading. They complement each other well.
Does Hane have streaks and gamification?
Hane uses game-style practice rounds for active learning, but it does not use external gamification like streaks or leaderboards. The motivation comes from measurable progress in real skills.
Is Hane free like Duolingo?
Hane is free during the TestFlight beta. After launch, core games and grammar lessons will remain free with optional premium features.
Try Hane as your Japanese study tool
Join the Hane beta on TestFlight and explore kanji, grammar, and reading practice designed specifically for Japanese learners.