About Kanaren
Kanaren is a free web app for learning hiragana and katakana. A kana appears, you type its romaji (or pick it from six options), and the ones you miss come back more often until they stick.
It started as a personal project: the kana app I used only existed on Android, so I built one for the web that works on any phone or computer. It has no ads, no account and no paywall, and it's kept online by donations on Ko-fi.
Frequently asked questions
Is Kanaren free?
Yes. Everything is free, with no ads and no account. If it helps you, you can support it with a donation on Ko-fi.
How does Kanaren choose which kana to show?
It uses the Leitner system. Each kana sits in a box from 1 to 5: a right answer moves it up, a mistake sends it back to box 1, and it comes back within the next 10 to 20 kana. Lower boxes appear much more often, so you practice what you don't know yet.
Where is my progress saved?
In your browser, on your own device. Nothing is sent to a server, so clearing your browser data also erases your progress.
How do I move my progress to another device?
Open Progress, tap Export progress, and send the file to the other device. There, open Progress, tap Import and choose the file.
Does it work offline and on my phone?
Yes. After your first visit it works without internet. You can also add it to your home screen: on iPhone, tap Share → Add to Home Screen; on Android, open the browser menu and choose Install app.
Which romaji spellings are accepted?
Hepburn romaji, plus common alternatives: shi/si, tsu/tu, chi/ti, fu/hu, ji/zi, n/nn and wo/o.
Does Kanaren collect my data?
No. There are no cookies and no sign-up.
Questions, ideas or bugs? Send a message through Kanaren's Ko-fi page.