MARU: Learn Japanese Hiragana

Free Beginner Kana Practices

Published by: Overdreamer
Downloads
Revenue

Description

Hey there! (•u•) Interested in learning Japanese but don't know where to start? You've come to the right place! MARU Japanese Kana, loved by over a million learners worldwide with an average rating of 4.9 (thank you so much!), is just what you need. As a lifelong learner of Japanese myself, I created this app to make Japanese alphabets less intimidating and more enjoyable. It's a simple app that focuses on one thing but does it very well: helping you start learning Japanese. I wish MARU had been around when I started learning Japanese. Lucky you!
Stop learning with those robotic voices and non-native pronunciations. That will impede your learning effectiveness. Dive in and experience authentic Japanese through exercises voiced by a professional voice actress. With 14 different practice varieties, learning Hiragana and Katakana becomes a breeze. Reading, writing, listening, typing, and even building your vocabulary – it's all here, making it the perfect start to your Japanese journey!
What's the catch? You’ll see an ad after every five mistakes. Since MARU's launch in 2017, it’s been downloaded over a million times, yet ad revenue has been modest. But that’s okay! My goal is to spread the joy of learning Japanese.
To fulfill that goal, I try to provide tremendous value for everyone and keep as little as possible behind the Pro Version.
Here’s what you’ll find in the default Free Version:
• All 105 Hiragana and Katakana characters, not just the basic ones.
• A short ad after 5 mistakes. No mistakes = No ads.
• Over 300 everyday words for practice, like "hello" and "thank you."
• Clear voice recordings for all words and characters.
• MARU-kun, our adorable mascot, greets and motivates you each time you practice.
• Date and Time that changes every minute to teach you Japanese words for numbers and calendar.
• A smart feature that identifies your weak spots and helps you improve.
• A fun way to practice Katakana using familiar Hiragana words.
My app is completely free with minimal ads, but if you choose to upgrade to the Pro Version (one-time purchase), you’ll enjoy:
• An ad-free experience.
• Offline practice, anytime, anywhere.
• Writing and typing exercises.
• Timed challenges to test yourself.
• Access to more words for time, date, and Katakana.
Don't just take my word for it. Here’s one of my favorite reviews:
"This is MY #1 app for learning Japanese. I downloaded EVERY Japanese app I could find without paying a single dime. The app does exactly what it promises - nice graphics, great voice acting, and awesome practice methods. I'm in love with this awesome app!" - A happy user
Thanks for reading! If you're interested, just download and start your Japanese learning adventure with MARU! (•u•)
Hide Show More...

In-Apps

Pro Upgrade (Lifetime)
19.98 S$

Screenshots

MARU FAQ

  • Is MARU free?

    Yes, MARU is free to download, however it contains in-app purchases or subscription offerings.

  • Is MARU legit?

    ✅ The MARU app appears to be high-quality and legitimate. Users are very satisfied.

    Thanks for the vote

  • How much does MARU cost?

    MARU has several in-app purchases/subscriptions, the average in-app price is 19.98 S$.

  • What is MARU revenue?

    To get estimated revenue of MARU app and other AppStore insights you can sign up to AppTail Mobile Analytics Platform.

User Rating

4.94 out of 5

358 ratings in Singapore

5 star
308
4 star
18
3 star
0
2 star
1
1 star
0
Ratings History

MARU Reviews

Favourite for kana drills

Sahara319 on

Singapore

Been using this app alongside my Japanese classes to revisit and study the kana I have learnt weekly and the UX and design of the app is the greatest. If there was an option for hand written answers at a premium it would be even better.

Great way to start

jusky64 on

Singapore

MARU app is great for learning hiragana and katakana (alphabets). The voice actor is fun and energetic (no AI voices or boring textbook readings). The interface is clear and easy to use. There is 1 advertisement after 5 mistakes, which is a funny way to motivate you (I saw less than 1 ad per hour of practice, compared to a popular app where I saw 2-4 ads per 5 minutes lesson). Learning your ABCs first makes it easier to learn vocabulary. While vocab isn’t the focus of this app, there is a word list that automatically grows as you unlock each row of hiragana. This feature really builds your confidence as you realise you can read the new words on your own! I am happy to find MARU after trying many other apps. ありがとう、まるさん!(•◡•)

Simplicity at its finest

junior_ren17 on

Singapore

Simple and straight to learning. Loved it. Hopefully the developer can explore more. My niece is learning Japanese even better now

Beginner!

Ab shady on

Singapore

Tried a few apps but this is the best so far.

Great

SARAH TAN SH on

Singapore

Attempting the drill -quiz helps me a lot to strengthen the hiragana character recognising and improve listening skill as well. A helpful apps for beginner. Thanks a lot.

Great

teafurnee on

Singapore

Great app for a beginner. Clean interface. Appreciate it

Great App

kroiisan on

Singapore

This app is interesting and love the challenge it has to repeat past words so I would be reminded what I had learnt before.

Very effective

iFellow on

Singapore

Love this nifty learning tool to grasp the basics of kana and the recent upgrade is a massive game changer, love it!

すごい

パンツ好き on

Singapore

すごい

Useful App

shaleihin on

Singapore

Simple and easy to use. I wish when I’m asked about the Japanese word on hand, I could touch on it to know what it means in English. That way it’ll be easier for me to pick up and learn faster. Would still recommend this app to my friends 😌

Store Rankings

Ranking History
Category Rankings
Chart
Category
Rank
Top Free
18
Top Free
29
Top Grossing
40
Top Free
68
Top Grossing
68

Keywords

MARU Competitors

Name
MOJiTest: JLPT日语能力考试备考背单词
JLPT历年真题,12种题型组队背词
Bunpo: Learn Japanese, Korean
Learn Japanese,Korean,Spanish
Learn Japanese! - Kanji
Read and write kanji!
Learn Japanese!! - Hiragana
Hiragana, Kanji, and Grammar
Kana - Hiragana and Katakana
Learn Japanese • quiz & draw
Todaii: Easy Japanese
Read Japanese News & Furigana
Kana Origin
Learn Japanese from the origin
Learn Japanese-Hiragana, Kanji
Katakana Learning & Writing
GraspJPN
Fast way to learn Japanese
Happy Learn Japanese Kana

MARU Installs

Last 30 days

MARU Revenue

Last 30 days

MARU Revenue and Downloads

Gain valuable insights into MARU performance with our analytics.
Sign up now to access downloads, revenue, and more.

App Info

Category
Education
Publisher
Overdreamer
Languages
Czech, Dutch, English, French, German, Indonesian, Italian, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Chinese, Spanish, Swedish, Thai, Chinese, Turkish, Ukrainian, Vietnamese
Recent release
2.15 (4 months ago )
Released on
Feb 24, 2017 (7 years ago )
Last Updated
5 days ago
This page includes copyrighted content from third parties, shared solely for commentary and research in accordance with fair use under applicable copyright laws. All trademarks, including product, service, and company names or logos, remain the property of their respective owners. Their use here falls under nominative fair use as outlined by trademark laws and does not suggest any affiliation with or endorsement by the trademark holders.