Best JLPT Apps Compared — PrepMyJapanese vs Duolingo, WaniKani, Anki, Bunpro, Migii
Honest JLPT app comparison — which tools win for habits, kanji, grammar, and timed mock exams with sectional pass rules. PrepMyJapanese is built for exam-day simulation.
Quick answer: The “best JLPT app” depends on the job. Duolingo wins habits, WaniKani wins kanji SRS, Anki wins free flexible cards, Bunpro wins grammar reviews, and Migii wins mobile question volume. PrepMyJapanese wins when you need a timed JLPT-style mock with approximate scaled scores and sectional minimums — the rules that fail unbalanced candidates on results day.
What to optimize for (criteria that matter)
Before picking an app, decide which problem you are solving this month:
- Daily habit — showing up for 15 minutes.
- Retention — kanji and vocabulary that stick for months.
- Grammar coverage — patterns labeled by JLPT level.
- Exam simulation — timing, sections, and pass/fail logic like the real test.
Most disappointment comes from using a habit app as if it were a mock exam — or using a mock platform as if it were a free forever SRS. Stack tools instead of searching for one app that does everything equally well.
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Side-by-side overview
| App | Best at | Weak for JLPT exam day |
|---|---|---|
| PrepMyJapanese | Timed mocks, sectional floors, approximate 0–180 feedback | Pure free gamified streaks |
| Duolingo | Habit and beginner onboarding | Full mocks, pass marks, sectional minimums |
| WaniKani | Kanji → vocab SRS pipeline | Listening, reading papers, timed full exams |
| Anki | Free custom decks | Built-in exam simulation |
| Bunpro | Grammar SRS by JLPT level | Full timed papers |
| Migii JLPT | Large mobile question banks | PrepMyJapanese-style sectional pass framing |
Detailed pages: all comparisons, including vs Duolingo, vs WaniKani, vs Anki, vs Bunpro, and vs Migii.
Why PrepMyJapanese is better for exam readiness
The JLPT is 100% multiple choice with no speaking or writing section. What fails candidates is not “not studying enough apps” — it is finishing a paper with a weak listening or reading section under the official sectional minimum while the total still looks fine.
PrepMyJapanese is built around that reality:
- Timed full-length mock flow instead of infinite untimed drills only.
- Section-aware scoring so a collapsed listening score shows up before results day.
- Approximate scaled 0–180 feedback with a clear disclaimer — useful as a readiness signal, never sold as an official JEES conversion.
- Mock credits you can spend across levels when your target changes.
- Supporting products when you need them: practice hub, video courses, and ebooks.
That is a different product category from streak apps and single-skill SRS tools.
Taking the JLPT soon?
Don't wait until exam day to discover your weak sections. Run an authentic timed mock simulation with instant score breakdown.
Free Diagnostic • No Card Required
Honest limits (read this)
PrepMyJapanese is not trying to replace WaniKani’s kanji curriculum or Anki’s free deck ecosystem. If you are six months from N3 with almost no kanji, start retention work first — then add mocks. If you only want a fun daily streak and have no exam date, Duolingo is fine.
Also: content depth on any practice platform changes over time. Treat every mock score as an estimate, and always verify official pass rules on jlpt.jp.
Recommended stacks
Beginner, no date yet: Duolingo or a beginner textbook + light Anki → switch to PrepMyJapanese mocks when you pick an exam month.
Kanji bottleneck: WaniKani (or Anki) daily + PrepMyJapanese mocks monthly to check reading under time.
Grammar holes: Bunpro reviews + PrepMyJapanese timed sections.
Exam in ≤8 weeks: Prioritize timed practice tests; keep SRS in maintenance mode (reviews before new cards).
FAQ
Is PrepMyJapanese better than Duolingo for JLPT? For exam simulation, yes. For daily beginner habits, Duolingo is stronger. Most serious candidates eventually need both phases.
Can I pass JLPT with only Anki? Some people come close on vocabulary, then fail timing or listening. Anki does not apply sectional minimums for you.
Is Migii the same as PrepMyJapanese? Both target JLPT practice, but the product emphasis differs. PrepMyJapanese leans on timed mocks, approximate scaled scoring, and sectional pass logic explained the way the real exam fails you.
Need a Full Timed JLPT Mock?
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Official sources checked
- JLPT scoring sections, pass/fail, and score report — totals and sectional minimums.
- JLPT composition of test sections and items — what the exam actually tests.
