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KanjiKanji Modern vs. Kanji Study
Kanji Study (by Chase Colburn) is the Android-first reference standard. KanjiKanji Modern is iOS-native with a curated JLPT curriculum and a real free tier. For iPhone users, the choice often comes down to platform parity and pricing structure.
| Feature | Kanji Study | KanjiKanji Modern |
|---|---|---|
| Platform | Android-first; iOS version exists but lags features | Native iOS (iPhone + iPad) |
| Curriculum | Joyo + JLPT lists | JLPT N5–N1, frequency-ordered |
| Kanji coverage | Joyo (~2,136) + JLPT lists | 2,000+ across JLPT N5–N1 |
| SRS | Built-in SRS with rating buttons | Adaptive, four-level (Again / Hard / Good / Easy) |
| Handwriting practice | Built-in stroke practice | Premium — on-device recognition |
| Stroke order animations | KanjiVG-based | KanjiVG-based, with playback controls |
| Reference depth Kanji Study's reference content is widely considered the deepest on Android. | Excellent — readings, examples, mnemonics | Readings, mnemonics, radical breakdown |
| Free tier | Reference free; SRS + practice require paid sets | Full N5 + N4 + unlimited reviews free |
| Pricing model | À la carte content packs ($5–$15 each) | $9.99/mo · $79.99/yr · $199.99 lifetime |
| Accessibility (VoiceOver, Dynamic Type, WCAG AA) | Standard Android a11y | First-class iOS a11y throughout |
| Offline | Yes | Yes |
Platform
- Kanji Study
- Android-first; iOS version exists but lags features
- KanjiKanji Modern
- Native iOS (iPhone + iPad)
Curriculum
- Kanji Study
- Joyo + JLPT lists
- KanjiKanji Modern
- JLPT N5–N1, frequency-ordered
Kanji coverage
- Kanji Study
- Joyo (~2,136) + JLPT lists
- KanjiKanji Modern
- 2,000+ across JLPT N5–N1
SRS
- Kanji Study
- Built-in SRS with rating buttons
- KanjiKanji Modern
- Adaptive, four-level (Again / Hard / Good / Easy)
Handwriting practice
- Kanji Study
- Built-in stroke practice
- KanjiKanji Modern
- Premium — on-device recognition
Stroke order animations
- Kanji Study
- KanjiVG-based
- KanjiKanji Modern
- KanjiVG-based, with playback controls
Reference depth
Kanji Study's reference content is widely considered the deepest on Android.
- Kanji Study
- Excellent — readings, examples, mnemonics
- KanjiKanji Modern
- Readings, mnemonics, radical breakdown
Free tier
- Kanji Study
- Reference free; SRS + practice require paid sets
- KanjiKanji Modern
- Full N5 + N4 + unlimited reviews free
Pricing model
- Kanji Study
- À la carte content packs ($5–$15 each)
- KanjiKanji Modern
- $9.99/mo · $79.99/yr · $199.99 lifetime
Accessibility (VoiceOver, Dynamic Type, WCAG AA)
- Kanji Study
- Standard Android a11y
- KanjiKanji Modern
- First-class iOS a11y throughout
Offline
- Kanji Study
- Yes
- KanjiKanji Modern
- Yes
Last verified against public Kanji Study documentation on 2026-05-16.
When to choose which
Choose Kanji Study if…
- You're on Android — full-featured platform.
- You want à la carte content packs over a subscription.
- You want the deepest reference content on a single kanji.
Choose KanjiKanji Modern if…
Built for iPhone. Free tier you can actually use.
- You're on iOS and want a native experience, not the lagging port.
- You want a real free tier (N5 + N4 + unlimited reviews) before committing.
- You prefer one subscription over assembling content packs.
- Accessibility (VoiceOver, Dynamic Type) is a hard requirement.
See also: vs. WaniKani · vs. Anki
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