Best Free Resources by Level

A free study routine can cover kana, grammar explanations, vocabulary review, and reading. The best starting point is a resource that answers today’s question, rather than a long list of tools you feel obliged to use.

The tables below draw from our first resource collection. “Best” means a useful starting shortlist for the suggested level, not a claim that we have tested every alternative.

Read the cost labels first

The curation source checked the links on 14 October 2026. Real Kana and Tae Kim’s guide had no visible paywall, but their pages did not explicitly state a price; we label them Open access. Other free labels come from that curation source. Access conditions can change.

Anki is included for its free desktop application and AnkiDroid for Android. Its official iOS application is paid. WaniKani and Satori Reader offer some free material but are left out of this free shortlist because their wider services are paid. Bunpro is also left out because the source describes a paid service with a trial.

Exact paid prices and affiliate programme status have not yet been verified. Check the publisher’s own terms before making a purchase.

How to put a shortlist to work

At N5, begin with kana and an easy reader. Add a dictionary when you have a specific question, and start vocabulary reviews with a small number of words.

At N4, use a grammar reference to revisit patterns you encounter while reading. An easier book can be more useful than a difficult article if it helps you read regularly.

At N3, try a short piece of easier news alongside graded reading. The NHK listing uses the newer address reported by the curator; its redirect and furigana support still need a final review. Pick a manageable passage rather than forcing yourself through every article.

Our JLPT labels are suggestions about the audience. They do not certify that a resource follows the official exam syllabus, and Tadoku’s reading levels have their own scale.

Disclosure and editorial independence

The links here are direct publisher links with no affiliate tracking added. If affiliate links are introduced later, they will be labelled: PeraNabi may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Those links will also carry the sponsored and nofollow link attributes.

Sponsors never affect our resource choices or rankings. Sponsored placements are labelled 広告 / Sponsored. A sponsor cannot purchase entry into this shortlist. Read the editorial policy for how overlapping sponsor and resource listings are handled.

Choose one resource from the tables below and give it a specific job in your routine. If you are beginning from scratch, the N5 roadmap puts the steps in order.

AI-assisted writing and curation. Jason Kobayashi runs and updates this guide. How PeraNabi works.