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For us, language learners, the ultimate goal is to achieve fluencyâthe ability to speak and write a foreign language with ease and accuracy. And when it comes to Japanese, the path to fluency can seem daunting.
The intricate writing systems (kanji, hiragana, and katakana), the complexities of honorific speech (keigo), and a sentence structure that differs greatly from English can present significant hurdles. However, it’s not all difficult. The sounds of Japanese are relatively simple and consistent, making pronunciation much easier to master than in some other languages.
Still, to help you make progress in speaking more quickly, having the right tools is essential. While many Japanese learning resources can support your journey, one increasingly popular and effective option is the use of Japanese speaking apps. These digital tools offer a convenient way to practice conversation, improve pronunciation, and build confidence, allowing you to move closer to your goal of speaking Japanese fluently.
Why use Japanese speaking apps
Learning Japanese has lots of benefits, from enhancing travel experiences and career opportunities to simply enjoying Japanese media without subtitles. However, true proficiency goes beyond just reading Japanese learning books or understanding grammar rules; it requires the ability to have real, spontaneous conversations.
Speaking fluency is what allows you to connect with people on a deeper level, express your thoughts clearly, and navigate everyday situations with confidence. Even if youâre the most dedicated student, without consistent practice, youâll struggle to put all your knowledge into practical use.
This is where apps to learn Japanese come into play, particularly those designed for speaking practice. While textbooks and flashcards are great for building a foundation, they often fall short in developing the kind of conversational skills needed for real-world interactions.
Japanese speaking apps bridge this gap by providing an interactive and low-pressure environment to practice. They focus on your conversational skills, offering features like voice recognition for pronunciation feedback, dialogue simulations, and opportunities to connect with other learners or native speakers. This hands-on approach helps you get comfortable with the rhythm and flow of spoken Japanese, helping you communicate effectively.
Top picks
This article lists 15 awesome apps focusing on Japanese speaking skills. But letâs be real: no one has the time to try all of them! And you donât have to. Based on your specific goal and preference, you can start with these:
- Pimsleurâs audio lessons teach vocabulary and pronunciation through dialogues.
- Rocket Japaneseâs well-rounded audio-based course gives cultural context to spoken Japanese.
- Mondly and Ling feature gamified lessons with native speaker audio and chatbots.
- italki and Preply connect you with thousands of expert Japanese language tutors.
Now, time to get to know more about these apps. ć§ăăăïŒ
Best Japanese speaking apps for language learners
1. Pimsleur
If you want to start speaking Japanese right away, Pimsleur is an excellent option. Built around 30-minute audio lessons, this app focuses on developing conversational skills, vocabulary, and pronunciation. Using a listen-and-repeat and call-and-response pattern, it prompts you to speak and repeat what you hear from native speakers, helping you gain confidence and fluency.
The Pimsleur Japanese course has five levels, totaling about 80 hours of audio instruction, and it’s particularly effective for teaching vocabulary in gradually increasing intervals to help you build long-term recall.
While the core of Pimsleur is audio-based, the app also includes quick lessons and games to help you with Japanese scripts, vocabulary, and cultural information. And although it doesn’t have a traditional voice recorder function, its interactive design constantly encourages you to speak and actively participate.
Learn more with this review of Pimsleur.
Key features:
- Audio-centric lessons that focus on improving conversational skills
- Effective Pimsleur Method that helps you retain new vocabulary
- Essential vocabulary and native speaker audio
Pricing: $14.95/month for Audio-Only; $19.95/month for Premium (with bonus materials), or $20.95/month for All Access. Try Pimsleur now for FREE.
Devices: iOS and Android
2. Rocket Japanese
Learn Japanese on Rocket Languages
Rocket Japanese is a comprehensive online course that teaches not only the technical aspects of the language, but also the “why” behind it.
Lessons are structured around a dialogue between two native speakers in a podcast-style format, which helps you learn new vocabulary and grammar in context. Each lesson includes flashcards, listening and speaking drills, and writing exercises to reinforce what you’ve learned.
The app also features a voice recognition system that helps you perfect your pronunciation by providing real-time feedback. You’ll also find culture notes throughout the course, giving you a better understanding of the context behind the language you’re learning.
Find out more about this app with this in-depth review of Rocket Languages.
Key features:
- Holistic lessons built around realistic conversations
- Advanced voice recognition system for pronunciation practice
- Well-structured drills covering all core skills
Pricing: Lifetime access starts at $149.95, but you can avail of discounts here.
Devices: iOS and Android
3. Mondly
The road to fluency need not feel like a chore. Through gamified lessons and exercises, Mondly offers a playful approach. The app teaches vocabulary and sentence formation through short, engaging sessions that are easy to fit into a busy schedule.
What makes it particularly effective for improving speaking skills is its use of native speaker audio, allowing you to hear correct pronunciation and intonation. Whatâs more, Mondly features interactive chatbots and sample dialogues that let you practice your pronunciation and conversational skills in a low-pressure environment.
While not as audio-centric as some other apps, its bite-sized lessons and interactive features make it a great choice for learners who want to improve their Japanese speaking skills in a fun and manageable way.
Learn more about Mondly with this review.
Key features:
- Gamified lessons focusing on practical phrases
- Interactive chatbots for conversation practice
- Native speaker audio to help you learn the correct pronunciation
Pricing: Free daily lessons. Full access starts at $9.99/month or $47.99/year. Check out the latest promo here.
Devices: iOS and Android
4. Ling
Hereâs another app that provides interactive and short lessons covering vocabulary, listening, and speaking. And for those learning Japanese, Lingâs writing exercises are particularly useful as they use a finger-tracing method to help you learn hiragana, katakana, and kanji.
To improve your conversational skills, Ling incorporates listening and speaking exercises along with a chatbot feature. This chatbot allows you to choose the right responses in a conversation, which not only helps you expand your vocabulary but also builds your comprehension in a practical, interactive way.
Lingâs bite-sized approach makes it a convenient tool, especially if you want to fit regular practice into your daily routine.
Hereâs a review of Ling, if you want to know what else this app can offer.
Key features:
- Interactive learning environment with mini-games, quizzes, and puzzles
- Chatbot and native speaker audio for conversational practice
- Writing exercises for Japanese script
Pricing: $14.99/month. Check out Ling discounts here.
Devices: iOS and Android
5. italki
Find Japanese tutors on italki
Sometimes, the best way to improve your speaking skills isn’t through an app’s pre-recorded lessons, but with real human interaction. This is where italki comes in.
italki is a platform that connects you with hundreds of Japanese tutors online, allowing you to practice your speaking skills with an actual person. You can choose between community tutors, who are experts in conversation and can keep you engaged, and professional teachers, who are certified with years of experience.
You can easily filter your choices by rates, schedule, and teaching style, giving you the flexibility to find a tutor who fits your personal learning goals and availability. If you want to get immediate feedback and build confidence, this direct, one-on-one interaction is worth considering.
Check out this italki review to learn more.
Key features:
- Live, unscripted conversations that will build confidence
- Wide selection of teachers with various teaching styles and rates
- Flexible scheduling and affordable options
Pricing: You can find tutors for as low as $5 per lesson. Check out the discounted trial lesson here.
Devices: iOS and Android
6. Glossika
Glossika is another effective, audio-based option among Japanese speaking apps.
The app’s core strength lies in its use of a spaced repetition system (SRS) that focuses on teaching entire sentences and sentence patterns rather than isolated words. This approach helps you naturally understand grammar and vocabulary within a practical context.
All of the material is delivered with clear, native speaker audio, and you can record your voice and compare it to the native speaker, which is a great way to refine your pronunciation. Glossika also ensures that you review material at the optimal time for memory retention.
Hereâs an in-depth review of Glossika, if youâre eager to know more.
Key features:
- Teaches thousands of full Japanese sentences
- Native speaker audio and voice recording feature
- Focus on the rhythms and patterns of natural Japanese speech
Pricing: A Glossika subscription starts from $16.99/month. You can try it for free first! If youâd like to support Learn Languages From Home, make sure to complete your purchase through the Glossika website (not the mobile app). You can sign up and use whatever platform you want, but if you make the purchase using the website, I make a small commission. Thanks!
Devices: iOS and Android
7. Lingopie
Immersion is one of the most effective language learning methods, especially for improving listening and speaking skills. This is the foundation of Lingopie’s approach, which offers an immersive and entertaining way to grow your skills.
Lingopie provides a library of Japanese TV shows, animation, and music videos with dual subtitles, allowing you to learn from authentic content and native speaker pronunciation. You can click on the subtitles to get instant definitions of new words and save them to a flashcard deck for later review through fun exercises and games.
The “Say It” feature is particularly useful for building speaking skills, as it allows you to record your voice and receive instant feedback and a detailed score on your pronunciation.
Key features:
- Authentic Japanese content to teach you the language naturally
- Interactive dual subtitles and flashcards
- Option to record your voice and get instant feedback
Pricing: Starts from $12/month. Lingopie discounts are available here.
Devices: iOS and Android
8. Preply
Find Japanese tutors on Preply
Sometimes, the most effective way to improve your speaking skills is to get real-time feedback from a teacher. Preply is an excellent platform for this, connecting you with over 3,000 experienced Japanese tutors.
This app allows you to choose a tutor based on their rates, schedules, reviews, and specialties, such as conversational Japanese or JLPT exam preparation. You can book a trial lesson to get a feel for the tutor’s style and work together to create a personalized learning plan. And if youâre not satisfied with your trial, you can switch to another tutor for free or request a full refund.
Preply is a great choice if you prefer structured, personalized guidance and instant feedback to accelerate your Japanese speaking journey.
Key features:
- Wide range of tutors to choose from and practice with
- Risk-free trial
- Flexible rates and schedules
Pricing: Find tutors for as low as $5/session. Hire a Japanese tutor on Preply now.
Devices: iOS and Android
9. Busuu
Busuu offers expertly designed lessons to help you sharpen your key skills, with a particular focus on building confidence in speaking. Its use of video clips featuring native speakers allows you to see and hear real people using the language, which is super helpful in mastering pronunciation and intonation.
Busuu also provides grammar practice and writing exercises, but one of its most powerful features is its community. Through the Community section, you can practice what you’ve learned by interacting with fluent speakers who can provide feedback on your exercises.
The app’s use of a spaced repetition system (SRS) also ensures that you review the right words at the right time, helping you commit them to memory and build a solid foundation for real conversations.
Key features:
- Well-rounded lessons designed by language experts
- Native speaker videos and community corrections
- SRS-powered review
Pricing: Busuu Premium starts at $12.99/month. Snatch big discounts here!
Devices: iOS and Android
10. MosaLingua
MosaLingua is a great app for anyone who wants to quickly expand their vocabulary and phrases, while also learning Japanese pronunciation.
The app uses a flashcard system with native speaker audio to teach over 6,000 words and expressions. What makes MosaLingua stand out is its use of a spaced repetition system (SRS) to help you memorize and retain what youâve learned.
To further boost your speaking skills, the app features MosaChat-AI, an AI-powered chatbot where you can practice conversations at any time. Plus, with the MosaDiscovery feature, you can save new vocabulary from external sources like webpages or YouTube videos to create your personalized flashcards, making the learning process even more tailored to your interests.
Key features:
- Vast library of practical vocabulary
- AI chatbot for conversation practice
- Digital flashcards tailored to your interests
Pricing: Starts from $9.99/month. Get MosaLingua Premium for less with this promo.
Devices: iOS and Android
11. HeyJapan
HeyJapan is an app especially well-suited for beginners and self-learners, using a fun, gamified approach with pictures to make learning feel less intimidating. But beyond basic vocabulary and grammar lessons, this app helps you practice conversation.
The appâs “dubbing videos” allow you to choose clips from your favorite anime, listen to the dialogue, and then record your voice to improve pronunciation and fluency. You can also practice speaking with “Shibi,” an AI chatbot that guides you through questions and real-life scenarios, helping you memorize new words and grammar in context.
In addition to conversational practice, HeyJapan includes writing exercises and JLPT test preparation from N5 to N3, complete with detailed answers and explanations, making it a useful tool for all-around skill development.
Key features:
- Fun and interactive ways to practice your pronunciation and conversational skills
- Gamified lessons and exercises
- Comprehensive JLPT prep
Pricing: Premium starts from $33 for 6 months
Devices: iOS and Android
12. Japanese Listening & Speaking
Try Japanese Listening & Speaking
Japanese Listening & Speaking by iVoca is a comprehensive app designed to help users learn Japanese through video-based conversations regardless of skill level.
The app’s strength lies in its use of authentic Japanese videos, which allow you to learn useful vocabulary while hearing the correct pronunciation and intonation. The dialogue-based lessons also help you get used to practical scenarios, while a voice recording feature lets you practice your pronunciation and compare it against the native speakers in the videos.
Key features:
- Video- and dialogue-based learning
- Authentic native speaker content
- Voice recording feature for pronunciation practice
Pricing: Starts from $5.99/month
Devices: iOS and Android
13. Speechling
If you have a limited budget, Speechling is a great option for improving your speaking skills. As a non-profit organization, its core mission is to make language learning accessible, and it does so by focusing specifically on speaking and pronunciation.
The process is straightforward: you listen to a professional voice actor say a sentence, then record yourself repeating it. You can then submit your recording for a coach to review. Within 24 hours, you’ll receive personalized feedback on your pronunciation, intonation, and rhythm. And itâs free!
While the free version allows for a limited number of coaching sessions per month, you can get unlimited coaching (and show support for the org) for a minimal fee, making it a highly cost-effective way to get the personalized feedback of a real teacher.
Key features:
- Focus on Japanese pronunciation
- Personalized human feedback
- Cost-effective way to get coaching
Pricing: Free for up to 10 coaching sessions per month. Get unlimited coaching for $19.99 per month.
Devices: iOS and Android
14. JapanesePod101 / Innovative Language
Learn Japanese on Innovative Language
A well-known platform for language learners, Innovative Language is a great choice for those who want to learn Japanese with a practical, conversational focus.
The app’s core is its library of podcast-style audio and video lessons, which are typically between 3 and 15 minutes long. These lessons are taught by real native-speaking teachers and are designed to get you speaking from the very first lesson. Every week, new lessons are added, so you’ll always have fresh content.
The app also features in-depth lesson notes with grammar explanations, and for Premium PLUS users, there’s even the option to interact with a personal teacher. With features like offline mode and the ability to control playback speed, you can easily fit these quick, effective lessons into your daily life.
Key features:
- Lots of podcast-style audio and video materials to learn from
- Slowed-down audio and in-depth lesson notes
- Offline mode and option to get personal coaching
Pricing: Limited content for free. Premium access starts at $10/month.
Devices: iOS and Android
15. Tandem
Find Japanese language exchange partners on Tandem
Another powerful way to immerse yourself in a language is through language exchange apps, and Tandem is one I can recommend.
Part language-learning app and part social network, Tandem connects you with a global community of native Japanese speakers who are also learning your language. In return for their help, you teach them your native language, creating a mutually beneficial exchange.
The platform offers multiple ways to communicate, including text, voice notes, audio, and video calls. To help the conversation flow, Tandem has built-in features like correction tools and a translation function, making it easy to practice your Japanese, get real-time feedback, and build genuine connections with people from around the world.
Key features:
- Real-time language exchange for authentic conversations
- Flexible communication and correction tools
- Social network feel
Pricing: Free with limited features. For unlimited translations and more features, sign up for Tandem Pro for $6.99/month.
Devices: iOS and Android
Final thoughts
Japanese may not be the easiest language to learn, but Japanese speaking apps can make the journey to fluency feel much more achievable. Without a doubt, these apps help bridge the gap between textbook knowledge and practical conversation.
Ultimately, the goal is to build the confidence to not only understand Japanese, but to speak it with ease. Just imagine being able to finally have a genuine conversation with a native speakerâthatâs a milestone! With the help of these apps and other Japanese learning resources, youâll eventually be able to confidently and truthfully answer âyesâ to the question, æ„æŹèȘă話ăăŸăăïŒ