Moji vs Renshuu: Which Should You Use for Kanji?

Moji is our app. renshuu is a well-loved Japanese study tool with a large free version, and for many learners it is the right first download. The question is whether you want one broad toolkit or a focused kanji app.

How each app teaches kanji

renshuu is broad. Its site includes a Japanese-English vocabulary dictionary, kanji and grammar dictionaries, sentence lookups, lessons and games, with filters for JLPT level and, for kanji, school grade. Its App Store listing describes over 12,000 kanji with no limit on what you can study, over 2,000 mnemonics, over 800 grammar expressions and a large set of example sentences. Its spaced repetition system breaks items into components, and quizzes come in dozens of question styles with multiple-choice, typing or writing answers. renshuu also offers textbook-aligned lessons for books such as Genki, Minna no Nihongo and Tobira, plus thousands of staff and user-made lessons.

Moji is narrow on purpose. It covers 2,140 kanji from JLPT N5 to N1 and builds a path through them at a pace you choose, from 1 to 20 new kanji a day. Each kanji has a detail page with on'yomi and kun'yomi, meanings, components, example words, a translated sentence and audio. Radical Builder has you complete a kanji from three components, the Confusables Drill separates look-alikes, and Reading in Context asks you to choose the right reading inside a sentence. There is no grammar course in Moji.

Building a daily habit

renshuu tracks what you know down to individual kanji and schedules reviews with its SRS, and it has a playful side with games. Because it covers so much, part of the daily habit is choosing what to study.

Moji narrows that choice. The smart learning home shows due reviews, new kanji and your next best action. Lock Screen widgets on iPhone and Home Screen widgets keep a kanji in view, the medium Quick Quiz widget lets you rate a review from the Home Screen, and Kira's Review Pile widget shows what is due and your streak.

Writing practice

renshuu lists writing as one of the ways you can answer quiz questions. Moji treats writing as its own practice track. Guided writing checks stroke order, start point, direction, shape and length as you draw. Outline practice fades the guide, recall writing asks for the full character from memory, and hints, undo and retry help when you get stuck. If handwriting is a priority, try both and see which feedback you prefer. Our kanji stroke order tool is a free reference either way.

Price and platforms

renshuu runs on the web at renshuu.org and on iPhone, iPad and Android. Its free version is substantial. As of October 2026, the US App Store lists optional renshuu pro purchases including one year of access from $49.99 and lifetime access from $109.99, along with shorter subscription options.

Moji is a free download on iPhone, iPad and Android, and learning requires Moji Pro: $7.99 per month or $69.99 per year on the US App Store, with a lifetime purchase also listed and a free trial for eligible new users. Moji has no web version. For budget and breadth, renshuu is the stronger choice.

Using Moji and renshuu together

They complement each other well. Use renshuu for grammar, vocabulary and textbook lessons, and Moji for kanji, radicals and handwriting, with widgets for quick daily exposure. To avoid duplicate reviews, keep kanji study in one app and use the other for everything else. If you want only one app and you need grammar, pick renshuu. If you want only one app for kanji, Moji is built for exactly that.

Planning your first months? Our JLPT N5 kanji study plan works with either app.