"I like Duolingo, but I want an app that is only about Japanese." "I don't just want a streak. I need to pass the JLPT N5." "Is there something that explains Japanese the way a teacher would, in Bangla?"
If this sounds like you, you are looking for a dedicated Japanese app: one that does a single language and walks you to a clear goal. Duolingo is great at building a daily habit, and it teaches more than 40 languages (it even has a Japanese course for Bengali speakers). NihongoHub does one thing: Japanese, from your first kana to the JLPT N5, explained in Bangla or English.
Duolingo and NihongoHub side by side
| Duolingo | NihongoHub | |
|---|---|---|
| What it teaches | 40+ languages, plus math, music and chess | Japanese only |
| Explained in Bangla | Yes, a Japanese course for Bengali speakers | Yes, Bangla or English, switch any time |
| How far it goes | Duolingo says its Japanese course now reaches CEFR B2 for most learners | First kana to JLPT N5 |
| Exam practice | Progress shown with CEFR levels and the Duolingo Score | Full mock exam in the JLPT N5 format (90 minutes), short 10- or 20-question exams, answers explained |
| Games | Game-like lessons, streaks and challenges | Kana Crush (100 levels), Word Builder, Number Ninja, Counter Quest, real-time battles, weekly and monthly leaderboards |
| Phones | Android, iPhone and web | Android only (no iPhone app yet) |
| Price | Free, with paid Super Duolingo and Duolingo Max | Free to start, optional Premium |
Checked on 31 October 2026 on duolingo.com and on the NihongoHub Google Play page. Apps change, so check both stores for the latest.
What "made only for Japanese" means
One path, one goal
You start from zero with hiragana and katakana (stroke order, sounds and practice), then counting, time and everyday conversation. A Beginner Exam opens the JLPT N5 path when you are ready. Every lesson after that serves the same goal: being ready for N5.
Lessons built around the N5 exam
- Vocabulary with Japanese audio and Bengali meanings, and a test for each group
- Grammar with clear rules and examples
- Listening built around real situations: restaurants, daily life, stations
- Reading practice, including reading aloud
- Revisions that bring back what you learned the next day, then 2 and 4 days later
Mock exams in the real format
The full mock exam follows the JLPT N5 order: vocabulary, then grammar and reading, then listening, 90 minutes in all, with recorded Japanese voices and test-style pictures. After every exam you see the answers and why they are right. If you want to see the official question types first, the JLPT organisers publish sample questions.
Games for the hard parts of Japanese
Duolingo-style fun, but aimed at what is special about Japanese: Kana Crush for hiragana and katakana, Number Ninja for hearing numbers, Counter Quest for counters, and Time for telling the time. You can also challenge a friend to a real-time battle and climb the weekly leaderboard.
Which one should you pick?
Duolingo is the better choice if you use an iPhone, you want to learn several languages, or you want one course that goes past the beginner level.
NihongoHub fits better if you are preparing for the JLPT N5, you plan to work or study in Japan, you want lessons explained in Bangla, or you want exam-format practice instead of only daily lessons.
You don't have to choose only one. Some learners keep their Duolingo streak for daily contact with Japanese and use NihongoHub for N5 exam preparation.
How to start (free)
- Learn hiragana with our hiragana guide and the Japanese characters chart, with audio and stroke order.
- Follow the JLPT N5 study plan so you know what to study each week.
- Install NihongoHub from Google Play and take the Beginner Exam to open the N5 path.
- Test yourself with JLPT N5 reading practice with answers, then a full mock exam in the app.
Want more free materials next to an app? See our list of free resources to learn Japanese in Bangla.
Questions
Is NihongoHub connected to Duolingo? No. NihongoHub is an independent app. Duolingo is a trademark of Duolingo, Inc.
Is NihongoHub free? Many lessons, games and exams are free. Premium is optional and adds unlimited games, more mock exams each month and every vocabulary group at once.
Is there an iPhone app? Not yet; the app is on Android. The free tools on this website, such as Japanese games and quizzes and the JLPT N5 grammar list, work on any phone.
Which level does NihongoHub reach? From your first kana to the JLPT N5.
