Inku vs WaniKani: vocabulary review or a kanji sequence?
Inku combines kana, vocabulary, 960 kanji and phrases with personal decks on iPhone and the web. WaniKani follows a longer radical-to-kanji sequence with typed reviews.
| Question |  Inku |  WaniKani |
|---|---|---|
| Main role | Prepared Japanese cards on iPhone | Guided kanji and vocabulary sequence |
| Kana | Hiragana and katakana in the library | Assumes you can already read kana |
| Kanji job | 960 kanji with meanings, readings and example words | Radicals, mnemonics, levels, unlocks |
| Vocabulary | JLPT N5 through N1 plus topics and phrases | Words unlocked by the kanji sequence |
| Platform | iPhone and web; no Android release | Web, iPhone, Android |
| Account | Main web learner requires an account and Pro; check current platform rules | Account required for the course |
| Value for money | Best when you want prepared kana, vocabulary and phrases | Best when you want a guided kanji sequence |
| Strengths and weaknesses | Broad prepared cards, but not a full kanji course | A guided kanji sequence, but not a full Japanese course |
| Who should choose it | Learners who want prepared kana and vocabulary review | Learners who want a fixed kanji sequence |
Choose Inku if you need prepared kana, vocabulary, and phrase review on iPhone. Choose WaniKani if you already read kana and want a fixed kanji sequence. The main limit is scope: Inku is not a long kanji course, while WaniKani is not a full Japanese course. Start with the missing job and keep shared vocabulary out of the second queue.
The short answer
If kana or a small daily vocabulary and phrase habit is the gap, Inku can fill it without asking you to design cards. If “I do not have a kanji plan” is the gap, WaniKani is the product built for that plan.
They can follow each other. They should not compete for the same items.
Inku’s first-party Inku vs WaniKani page makes the same sequential argument. This page keeps the editorial limits in view: no invented month-four schedule, no pass-rate claims, and no ranking sale.
What Inku covers
The official Inku homepage, checked 2026-10-26, lists 208 kana cards, 2,568 vocabulary cards, 960 kanji and 407 phrases. Inku also supports original cards and personal decks on iPhone and the web. See the official help center for platform-specific account and progress rules.
That is a prepared library. It is not WaniKani’s radical-to-kanji unlock ladder. Do not expect Inku to finish a 2,000-kanji reading path.
What WaniKani covers
WaniKani supplies radicals, mnemonic stories, kanji, related vocabulary, a level system, and review timings. The first three levels are free on the official site. Paid membership is required beyond that. Confirm current prices on the official membership page before you subscribe.
WaniKani assumes you can read kana. It does not replace a textbook, a listening habit, or a phrase pack. It is unusually clear about what to study next. It is also rigid: you start at the beginning.
Where they overlap
Both will show Japanese words and ask you to recall something. That surface similarity is why people pit them against each other.
The scheduled object is different. WaniKani’s queue is the sequence. Inku’s queue is the prepared library you opened. If you add the same beginner nouns to both, you pay twice.
A clean pairing
- Make kana readable. The two-week kana guide and kana quiz exist for that job. Inku can hold prepared kana cards on iPhone.
- Add WaniKani only when you will follow its order and can protect the review budget on a weekday.
- Keep Inku, if you keep it, for phrases or topic cards that are not WaniKani’s job.
Watch combined reviews. The SRS workload simulator is a generic projection, not either product’s scheduler. How to use SRS without burning out is the pacing method.
Related reading
- Inku vs Anki if the real fork is prepared cards versus a system you build
- Anki vs WaniKani if the fork is custom kanji decks versus WaniKani’s sequence
- Japanese kanji learning apps for other kanji roles
Before moving an existing collection
Check the documented import and export routes for ten study tools. A vocabulary list, complete card content and review history may transfer differently. Keep your original backup while trying the new study routine.
Frequently asked questions
Should I use Inku or WaniKani first?
If you cannot yet read hiragana and katakana, start there. Inku and the two-week kana guide can hold that job on iPhone. WaniKani is built for learners who already read kana and want a kanji sequence.
Can I use Inku and WaniKani together?
Yes if the jobs stay separate. Let WaniKani own kanji order. Let Inku own prepared phrases or topic vocabulary that WaniKani does not schedule. Duplicating the same words in both queues is usually extra review, not extra Japanese.
Does Inku replace WaniKani?
No. Inku's public comparison says it is not trying to replicate a 2,000-kanji arc. WaniKani's product is that sequenced path.
Evidence and sources
- Inku official site official product · Current prepared catalog, custom cards and decks, browser study, iPhone availability, and Android waitlist.
- Inku vs WaniKani on Inku official product · Official Inku comparison that WaniKani assumes kana, that Inku is not a 2,000-kanji replica, and that the products target different phases.
- WaniKani official overview official product · Official radical, kanji, vocabulary, mnemonic, and course description.
- WaniKani Knowledge: premium membership official pricing · Official free-level and paid-membership terms.