Overview

Kanji Dojo is a free, open-source Japanese character study app for learners who want writing practice alongside readings, meanings, and vocabulary. Its breadth and offline mode make it a strong fit for self-directed study across devices, though its archived repository is a serious concern for anyone counting on ongoing development.

Key features

The app covers hiragana, katakana, and kanji, with more than 6,000 characters available. Learners can organize practice by JLPT level, school grade, or WaniKani level, and combine those paths when one progression does not suit their goals. That flexibility is useful for learners following a particular curriculum or supplementing another study routine.

Pen-control exercises, flashcards, and spaced repetition bring writing and review together, with vocabulary examples helping connect characters to words. A searchable dictionary adds a lookup tool within the same app. Study can continue offline after the necessary learning materials have been downloaded, which suits learners who want to work without a persistent connection.

The project is open source under the GNU GPL version 3 or later. However, its GitHub repository was archived on August 27, 2026 and is read-only. The maker describes development as community driven, and says feature requests may go unimplemented unless a contributor takes an interest. That limits confidence in future changes, even for users who value the license and the ability to inspect the code.

The privacy policy says Firebase Analytics collects aggregated usage information without personal identifiers, while Firebase Crashlytics gathers crash logs and diagnostics. Kanji Dojo says it does not share or sell user information to third parties for marketing. The repository also notes that Google Play includes Firebase Analytics and Play services for in-app review. Users who prefer to avoid analytics should weigh that collection before choosing the app.

Pricing

Kanji Dojo uses a freemium model, but its learning content is free and open source. The Free plan is free and includes the app’s content; some extra features are paid to help cover backend and development expenses. There is no free trial because the core learning content is already free. The paid extras have no published price, so budget-conscious learners should confirm any cost before choosing them.

The free offer is compelling for learners who want broad character study without a content subscription. The trade-off is that some extras are not included, and the archived repository makes the project’s future development less certain.

Platforms

Kanji Dojo is available on Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, Windows, and the web. That range suits learners who move between mobile devices and computers; downloaded learning materials also support offline study.

Who it's for

Choose Kanji Dojo if you want a free, broad Japanese character study tool with handwriting practice, structured paths, vocabulary review, and dictionary lookup in one place. It is less suitable if you need a project with an active development roadmap, or if Firebase analytics and diagnostics conflict with your privacy preferences.

Pros and cons

Pros

Broad character coverage: Hiragana, katakana, and more than 6,000 characters give learners room to study beyond a single script.
Flexible organization: JLPT, school-grade, and WaniKani paths can be combined to match different study goals.
Free learning content and offline use: Core study does not require a subscription, and downloaded materials work offline.
Open-source license: GNU GPL version 3 or later gives technically minded users access to the code.

Cons

Archived repository: Read-only status since August 27, 2026 makes continued updates and contribution less dependable.
Community-dependent requests: A feature may not be built unless a contributor chooses to take it on.
Analytics and diagnostics: Firebase collects aggregated usage information and crash diagnostics, which may not suit privacy-sensitive learners.
Some extras cost extra: The core content is free, but paid features mean the full experience may not be.

Alternatives

For other handwriting-focused options, browse Handwriting Practice Apps. LetterSchool may suit learners seeking early letter and shape practice, with a free app covering five uppercase and lowercase letters, five shapes, and three CVC flashcards; it also offers a free trial. Writing Wizard is another freemium option on Android, iOS, and Windows; its free download leaves remaining letters and custom words behind an in-app purchase or subscription.

Copybook Club is an iOS option for generating handwriting worksheets, with three worksheet generations per week on its free plan. Handwriting Repeater is free on Android, iOS, and web, with no account, subscription, or limits on sentences or repetitions. For a Chinese-character writing focus, Hanzi Writer offers core writing practice free, with a Pro plan for additional practice and custom topics.

Nazoru may appeal to learners who want WaniKani, Bunpro, and MaruMori sync; its free plan allows two full practices per day and includes JLPT, grade, frequency, and Heisig paths. Cursive: Learn Cursive is another freemium handwriting app for Android, iOS, and macOS. iTrace is an Android and iOS alternative with a free version limited to handwriting warm-ups, three letters, and one interactive scene.

Verdict

Kanji Dojo is a good choice for self-directed learners who want substantial Japanese character coverage, structured review, dictionary lookup, and offline study without paying for the learning content. Its main drawback is the archived, read-only repository and community-dependent future; choose it for the breadth and free core, but look elsewhere if ongoing development is essential.

	Kanji Dojo	KanjiPad
Free plan	Yes
Free trial	No
Paid from	Free
Platforms	Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, Web, Windows	Android, iOS, macOS, Web
Free plan	Yes	Yes
Pen-control exercises	Yes	Yes
Supported platforms	windows, macos, linux, android, ios	ios, android, macos
Progress tracking		Yes

Kanji Dojo vs KanjiPad

Kanji Dojo

KanjiPad