JapanesePod101 Black Friday 2026: is 55% off worth it?
Affiliate disclosure: we may earn a commission if you sign up or subscribe through our links.Short answer: the 55% sale is on JapanesePod101's own pricing page and runs until November 27, 2026 (no time zone is given, so don't leave it to the last day). It is worth it if you will study at least a few times a week for the next two years, because the advertised monthly prices assume a 24-month subscription. If you are not sure yet, start with the free account (no credit card) and its 7-day Premium trial first.
The sale prices (from the official pricing page)
| Plan | Regular | Black Friday | What it adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | $0 | Survival Phrases course (50+ lessons), the first 3 lessons of every pathway, new lessons every week, Word of the Day, 100+ vocabulary lists, 7-day Premium trial |
| Basic | $4/mo | $1.80/mo | All lessons and the in-depth lesson notes |
| Premium | $10/mo | $4.50/mo | Basic + multiple-choice assessments, line-by-line dialogue audio, Premium lesson tracks, personal word bank, spaced-repetition flashcards, the 2,000 core words list |
| Premium PLUS | $23/mo | $10.29/mo | Premium + 1-on-1 access to a teacher, hand-graded assessments, personalized guidance, writing and pronunciation practice, dialogue role play |
The pricing page says these monthly figures are "based on the cost of a 24-month subscription." So at the sale price, Premium works out to roughly $108 over the 24-month term ($4.50 × 24). Prices for shorter terms were not shown on the page when we checked, so look at the checkout before you pay.
Which plan fits you?
| If you… | Pick |
|---|---|
| Mainly want to listen on your commute and read the lesson notes | Basic |
| Want the app to drill vocabulary for you and check your progress with quizzes | Premium |
| Want a real teacher to correct your writing and pronunciation | Premium PLUS |
| Have only just started studying Japanese | Free account first |
What Premium adds over Basic is the study tools: spaced-repetition flashcards and multiple-choice assessments. If you already use a separate flashcard app, Basic may be enough. The jump to Premium PLUS is a teacher; that is the only tier with human feedback.
What if you don't like it?
The FAQ on the pricing page says every purchase comes with a 60-day money-back guarantee ("no hassles, no questions asked"), handled by email at contactus@japanesepod101.com. Read the current terms on the site before you buy, since the offer could change.
Who should skip the sale
- You only need survival phrases for a one-week trip. The free Survival Phrases course covers that.
- You want structured kanji drilling above all. JapanesePod101 is audio and video lessons first; a dedicated kanji app may suit you better.
- You do not want to commit to a 24-month payment.
What we have not checked
We have not paid for these plans. Everything above comes from JapanesePod101's own pricing page and FAQ, checked on November 10, 2026. Prices and terms can change; the checkout page is the final word.
Go to the JapanesePod101 pricing pageFree account or paid plan · affiliate linkMore: what the free account includes · Basic vs Premium vs Premium PLUS
Sources (checked November 10, 2026): japanesepod101.com/pricing (plans, sale banner, FAQ).