We recommend Ringotan often, because it is one of the few genuinely free apps built to teach kanji writing rather than recognition. So if you are searching for a Ringotan alternative, it is worth asking what you actually want to do differently, because the answer points you to the right option.
What Ringotan does well
Ringotan teaches you to write a character by first having you trace it, then fading the stroke-order hints over time, and finally asking you to produce it from memory on a spaced-repetition schedule. It covers a large set of characters, runs on iOS and Android, and is free. For a learner who wants a structured trace-to-memory path through the kanji, it is hard to beat at the price.
Why you might want an alternative
The honest reasons to look elsewhere are usually about fit, not quality:
- You prefer to start from a meaning and reading prompt and produce the character cold, rather than beginning with tracing.
- You want a calmer, more focused daily loop without working through a fixed progression.
- You want automated stroke-by-stroke grading, which is a paid feature.
None of these makes Ringotan worse; they are just different preferences for how the practice should feel.
The free and paid options, compared
| App | Price | Core loop | Stroke grading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ringotan | Free | Trace, then fade to memory | Input check with hints |
| Kanji Write Practice | Free in early access | Meaning and reading to character | Guide to self-check, auto grading planned |
| Skritter | Subscription | Write from prompt | Automated, per stroke |
Kanji Write Practice is the closest free alternative if you want to produce the character from a meaning and reading rather than trace first; it keeps a stroke-order guide a tap away and schedules weak characters, free in early access. Skritter is the alternative to choose if automated grading is non-negotiable and you do not mind paying.
What every alternative must keep
Whichever you pick, do not trade away the writing-first core. The test is the same one we apply in our free Skritter alternative guide: does the app make you produce the character, or just recognize it? A flashcard app with a drawing box is not a real alternative to Ringotan, because the value is in the production, not the interface. If you also use a recognition tool for reading, see the Kanji Study iOS alternative comparison for where each fits.
How to choose in one minute
If you like a guided trace-to-memory progression and want it free, stay with Ringotan; it is genuinely good. If you prefer producing characters cold from a prompt in a calmer loop, try Kanji Write Practice. If you want automated grading now and will pay for it, Skritter is the pick. All three make you write from memory, which is the only thing that builds the skill, so you can confirm any character on Jisho and judge each app on one question: did it get a pen in your hand and a character out of your memory.
Should you use two writing apps at once?
A tempting idea is to run Ringotan and an alternative side by side to get the best of both. In practice, do not. Two writing apps means two separate schedules, two decks drifting out of sync, and the same character coming due in both, which wastes reps and muddies your sense of progress. Spaced repetition works because one schedule tracks what you know and when to see it again; split that across two apps and neither schedule is accurate. Pick the one whose loop you prefer and commit to it for a few weeks before judging. The exception is the sensible division we recommend elsewhere: one recognition tool for reading and readings, and one writing tool for production. That is two apps doing different jobs, which is fine and even ideal. What does not work is two apps doing the same job, both trying to schedule your writing. If you are torn between Ringotan and an alternative, trial each alone for a week, keep the one you actually open every day, and let the other go. Consistency in one app beats novelty across two.
A quick word on cost
On price, it is worth knowing that Ringotan is free now, but its developer has said it will eventually become paid, with anyone who downloads it early keeping the full version free. So part of choosing an alternative may be insurance against a future price change, though that is speculative rather than a reason to switch today. Kanji Write Practice is free in early access, where the free tier is the point rather than a trial countdown, and Skritter is openly a subscription. Whatever you pick, the practice itself costs only a few minutes a day, which is the only price that reliably buys the skill.
