Is JapaneseDaily really free, and what do the paid plans cost?
Use the free tool — JapaneseDaily
Is JapaneseDaily really free?
JapaneseDaily describes itself as a free Japanese course built around real situations — greetings, work, the doctor, the apartment, the bank. Unit 1 teaches hiragana, with romaji in every note, plus listen-and-speak drills and spaced repetition. It also says: no account, no ads, no hearts.
At the same time, the material we have lists two paid plans: $4.99 and $29. Nothing beyond these two prices appears in our material, so JapaneseDaily is not described anywhere as fully free. We do not know which features sit behind the free part and which require one of the paid plans. Please check the app itself, or contact JapaneseDaily support, for the current, exact breakdown.
What do the two paid plans cost?
- $4.99
- $29
The material does not say what period each price covers (for example, one month or one year), what each plan includes, or whether these prices ever change. Please confirm these details directly on JapaneseDaily's own pricing page before you pay anything. This is not financial advice.
What can you try before deciding?
Unit 1 teaches hiragana. According to the Japan Foundation, there are 46 hiragana characters in total, and after unit 1 plus about a week of practice, you should be able to read every basic Japanese sound. The material does not say whether unit 1 itself is free or already sits inside one of the paid plans, so please check this in the app.
How this fits the JLPT
JapaneseDaily is not officially connected to the JLPT. According to JLPT, the first official level, N5, covers about 100 kanji and 800 words, and the course's phrases are built to sit inside that level. Finishing the course does not guarantee passing the exam. Please confirm exam dates, requirements and results directly with JLPT.
Is it worth starting now?
According to the Duolingo Language Report 2025, Japanese became the 4th most-studied language in the world in 2025, passing German. That is a sign of general popularity, not a promise about your own results.
What to do next
This page cannot tell you exactly what you would pay, because our material only lists two prices without saying what each one includes. The free tool linked with this guide can read your own JapaneseDaily screen, receipt, or account page and pull out the exact numbers for you, so you can compare them side by side before deciding. This is not legal, medical or tax advice. Always confirm final pricing and terms directly with JapaneseDaily, and confirm any exam-related detail directly with JLPT.