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Lingualift Review

Friday, June 20th

2025 Japanese Lesson Reviews

Lingualift Review 1.5 Star Rating

Lingualift

1.5 Star Rating
  • Priced $19.99 per month up to $155.88 per year
  • Reading and listening lessons
  • 30-day refund window
  • Tutors offered to members
  • App and desktop access
  • Can use both offline and online

Lingualift offers Japanese lessons as part of its language instruction platform, developed over six years by experts from Oxford, Stanford, and Harvard University. The focus of their research was to improve teaching methods, organization, and examples for student retention and engagement. However, Lingualift stands out as being the program that offers the fewest languages in our review. Alongside Japanese, the only other options at Lingualift include Spanish, Russian, and French.

First lesson is writing heavy

You can join right away and try out an initial lesson. Sign up either with your email or social media account and then you can get into the process for free. If you want, you can take a placement test or start the initial lesson right away. The initial lessons on Lingualift emphasize Japanese culture, offering insights into various aspects such as capsule hotels and customary greetings. The first lesson has long blocks of text before you get to listening exercises that exemplify the cultural discussion earlier in the lesson. The written portion of the first lesson is followed by a quiz that asks you to complete some hiragana characters that you learned in the lesson, though not every lesson offers a quiz.

Lingualift missing speaking exercises

On top of written lessons, Lingualift offers instructor assistance as part of its subscription packages, allowing you to receive feedback on assignments. This support feature is included without a significant increase in cost. However, Lingualift falls short in terms of practice, particularly in speaking exercises. In general, the program lacks robust speaking practice tools such as speech recognition or recording features. This limitation contributes to Lingualift's ranking far below other Japanese lessons on our list.

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Prices from $19.99 per month

You can choose from four different pay periods at Lingualift: monthly, quarterly, bi-annual, and annual. This allows you to unlock premium benefits like 500 hours more of lesson content and access to Japanese tutors. Here's what you can expect to pay with Lingualift:

  • Monthly: $19.99
  • Quarterly: $50.97
  • Bi-annual: $89.94
  • Annual: $155.88

Limited progression for free members

The Japanese curriculum at Lingualift comprises four levels of difficulty, with access to the first four lessons in each level for free. If you subscribe, each level offers 25 total lessons, meaning you get 100 total lessons for your Japanese study. However, if you don't subscribe, you're left with just 16 lessons to explore before you run out of things to learn.

30-day refund policy

Lingualift offers you some security with your purchase by offering a refund within 30 days. This is a "no-questions-asked” policy, so no matter what reason you have, you can cancel your membership for Lingualift and get your money back. This is helpful since you can only try the unlocked lessons without paying for a membership, so this will give you a chance to see how the more advanced lessons work before you make a decision.

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Concerning reviews raise red flags for Lingualift

Lingualift comes out with one of the worst reputations in our review. According to the mobile app stores, Lingualift has an average rating of 1.8 stars out of 5. The scores are similarly low from third-party review sites like Trustpilot where the average is just 2.8 stars. From both students and linguists, the feedback is the same: Lingualift isn't worth the time or the money. One customer, who joined the platform to learn Japanese, paid for the membership and never got access to the other lessons, and never got a response from customer service.

Lingualift needs some help before it's a contender

Lingualift's Japanese lessons don't stand out from the pack. Considering the low ratings and concerning reviews about not getting access to paid materials, we're wary of recommending Lingualift. For now, we recommend you check out the higher-rated options in our review before heading to Lingualift.

Where Can You Find the Best Japanese Lessons?

Learning a new language opens up a world of opportunities, and Japanese is one of the most intriguing languages you can choose. Suppose you're fascinated by Japanese culture, anime, manga, or traditional arts like tea ceremonies and calligraphy. In that case, delving into the Japanese language can provide a deeper understanding and appreciation of what you love.

Fortunately, with the increasing popularity of online learning, you can easily find Japanese lessons on the internet. Whether you're a complete beginner or seeking to refine your conversational skills, online Japanese courses offer a variety of teaching styles. From immersive audio lessons and interactive quizzes to multimedia resources and virtual language exchanges, online platforms offer an engaging learning environment.

The Best Japanese Lessons Compare Japanese Lessons Compare Japanese Lesson Reviews What are the best Japanese Lessons Best Japanese Lesson Reviews

Japanese Lesson FAQ

Japanese is in the top 10 most widely spoken languages in the world, with over 130 million people who use it. 99% of those speakers live in Japan, but there are over a million people in the US, Brazil and Guam who also speak fluent Japanese.
Yes, but you probably won't encounter anything beyond Standard Japanese unless you travel throughout Japan itself. The Japanese you learn will be understood throughout the country, and differences are mostly related to accents and some vocabulary. It's not unlike what you find between speakers from different regions of the US, or between people from England and Australia.
If we're being completely honest, we'd say that Japanese is one of the hardest languages you could attempt to master: even the US State Department ranks it with Arabic, Korean and Chinese as one of the four most difficult! Part of that stems from the fact that Japanese has three separate writing systems (Hiragana, Katakana, Kanji). However, if you've got the grit to work hard and be patient with your studies, Japanese shouldn't be out of reach for you to learn.
You're going to need to wrap your head around the three Japanese alphabets: Hiragana, Katakana, and Kanji. You'll find all of them as you learn the language! As you learn the alphabets, start memorizing basic vocabulary for how you intend to use Japanese, whether that's for business use or just to understand your favorite anime! Speaking of TV, it's a great way to pick up the accent and pronunciation naturally, especially if you don't have the chance to talk with native speakers on a regular basis.
There's no need to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars for a one-semester Japanese class at a university when you can get on-demand instruction for much less. You may not even be able to find in-person classes near you, but there are always options online that let you learn Japanese as quickly (or as slowly!) as you desire.
You need to take a few extra steps to enable the Japanese language on your computer. The steps differ if you're using a Mac or Windows-based PC, and you'll have to search for the instructions based on your operating system. There are also online Japanese keyboards that let you click on characters without modifying your settings.
They're very affordable. You can get month-to-month subscription plans for less than $25/month, or make a one-time purchase of a Japanese lessons package for under $500. Either way, you'll get much more for your money than if you were paying for a semester or two of college courses.
You'll want to read the terms and conditions of any language platform you're considering. The subscription plans typically allow customers to cancel at any time but don't offer a refund of previous payments. The Japanese lesson packages that are one-off purchases may have a 30- or 60-day money-back guarantee. We suggest that you use all of the free resources that the language program has to offer - such as a sample lesson, or a trial period - so that you will already know how it approaches instruction and if it's a good fit for your preferences.
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Continued from above...

Whether you dream of exploring the bustling streets of Tokyo, immersing yourself in the serene landscapes of Kyoto, or simply connecting with Japanese speakers, learning the language can be a rewarding experience.

Japan has a rich cultural heritage, steeped in centuries-old traditions and modern innovations. From the graceful movements of traditional dance forms like Noh and Kabuki to the intricate artistry of sushi-making and bonsai cultivation, Japanese culture offers art, history, and innovation. By learning Japanese, you gain access to a vibrant cultural world that spans ancient history and contemporary pop culture phenomena like J-pop music. From the elegance of Japanese architecture to the dynamic energy of modern city life, learning Japanese allows you to delve deeper into the heart and soul of Japan.

In today's interconnected world, proficiency in Japanese can open doors to many personal and professional opportunities. Japan is a global economic powerhouse, home to leading technology companies, automotive giants, and influential cultural exports. Whether you aspire to work for a Japanese corporation, pursue academic research in collaboration with Japanese institutions, or engage in cross-cultural exchange programs, fluency in Japanese can significantly broaden your horizons.

As you embark on your journey to learn Japanese, it can be hard to narrow down the options. Here are some key factors to consider to help you find the best resource for your Japanese lessons:

  • Teaching methodology. Identify your preferred learning style - whether auditory, visual, or kinesthetic - and select a Japanese course that works best with how you learn. Whether you thrive on interactive exercises, audiovisual content, or structured grammar discussions, make sure you prioritize platforms that offer methods that support how you learn best.
  • Free trial option. Look for Japanese language platforms that offer free trials or sample lessons. This allows you to check out the program before committing to a subscription. Some platforms offer course previews or multi-day trials. These will give you the best chance at trying a language program before you have to pay.
  • Cost. Evaluate the cost of Japanese language courses with respect to the value they offer in terms of educational content and language proficiency outcomes. Many Japanese language lessons are free, but you may not get full proficiency from those sources. On the other hand, some programs are very expensive, but you still might miss some key features. Balance the cost and value of the language instruction to find your best fit.
  • Reputation. Research the reputation and credibility of Japanese language platforms through customer reviews, ratings, and testimonials. Explore third-party review sites, language learning forums, and social media channels to see if your favorite Japanese lesson provider offers the results you want. Look for platforms with positive feedback regarding instructional effectiveness, customer support, and learning outcomes for a rewarding and fulfilling learning experience.

To help you get the most out of your language studies, Top Consumer Reviews has tested, evaluated and ranked the best options for online Japanese lessons today. We know this information will give you all the info you need to choose the best program for your learning style and schedule.

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