WaniKani
The facts below are what the maker publishes about WaniKani, checked and dated. Our editors have not written about it yet.
Plans and prices
From WaniKani's own pricing page, checked 15 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly | $9 a month | All WaniKani content · progress through levels still required · recurring monthly |
| Annual | $89 a year | All WaniKani content · progress through levels still required · recurring annually |
| Free | Free | Levels 1–3 · about 100 kanji · about 200 vocabulary words |
| Monthly Subscription | $9 a month | Premium access · USD 9.00/month; recurring monthly charge |
| Annual Subscription | $89 a year | Premium access · USD 89.00/year; recurring annual charge |
| Lifetime | $299, paid once | Lifetime access to all WaniKani content · one-time payment |
| Lifetime Account | $299, paid once | Access for the lifetime of the service · One-time payment of USD 299.00 |
The facts
Each one read from WaniKani's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- API
- The public REST API exposes account progress and general subject reference data as JSON.checked 15 Oct 2026
- API authentication
- API requests use personal bearer tokens over HTTPS; third-party apps must not collect WaniKani passwords.checked 15 Oct 2026
- API extensibility
- The API documentation includes branding rules, pagination, filters, version revisions, caching guidance and subscription restrictions.checked 15 Oct 2026
- API rate limit
- The documented API limit is 60 requests per minute, with HTTP 429 responses when exceeded.checked 15 Oct 2026
- API resources
- Documented resources include assignments, levels, reviews, review statistics, subjects, users, voice actors and study materials.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Connectivity requirement
- The web application requires an internet connection and has no offline mode.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Content structure
- The system distinguishes radicals, kanji and vocabulary and tests their meanings and readings separately.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Course content
- The maker says WaniKani teaches over 2,000 kanji and 6,000 vocabulary words.checked 12 Oct 2026
- Curriculum size
- The stated curriculum covers more than 2,000 kanji and 6,000 vocabulary words.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Documentation
- The Knowledge guide covers getting started, membership, billing, app settings, Japanese concepts, API apps and widgets.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Google Play companion features
- The third-party Android companion lists lessons, reviews, progress statistics, offline support and light/dark modes.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Integrations and API
- The API provides access to account progress data and general subject reference data; API requests require a personal token and HTTPS.checked 12 Oct 2026
- Intended learners
- Tofugu describes WaniKani as a system for people who want to learn how to read Japanese.checked 12 Oct 2026
- Internet requirement
- WaniKani requires an internet connection and has no offline mode.checked 12 Oct 2026
- Kanji sequencing
- Kanji are hand-picked and ordered to make meanings and readings more efficient to learn.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Languages offered
- 1checked 20 Sep 2026
- Learning method
- Its spaced repetition system adjusts review intervals for each item based on the learner’s last session.checked 12 Oct 2026
The company
- Company founding
- LinkedIn lists Tofugu’s founding year as 2007.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Company size
- LinkedIn lists Tofugu as privately held with 11–50 employees.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Founded
- 2011checked 28 Sep 2026
- Headquarters
- Crunchbase lists Tofugu’s headquarters as Portland, Oregon, United States.checked 15 Oct 2026
Money
- Free access
- Accounts remain free through Level 3; Level 4 and above require premium membership.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Free access limit
- The first three levels are free, and Level 4 and above require a premium account.checked 12 Oct 2026
- Free plan
- Yeschecked 20 Sep 2026
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