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azooKey vs Google Japanese Input: catalog facts
azooKey	Google Japanese Input
Best for: Typing Japanese on a Mac with an open-source input method	Best for: Anyone typing Japanese on a Windows or Mac computer
Free Free and open source.	Free Free to download and use.
macOS	Windows, macOS
Neural kana-kanji conversion with Zenzai Live conversion while typing All 4 strengths for azooKey Neural kana-kanji conversion with Zenzai Live conversion while typing Personalization that adapts to your writing Open source and written in native Swift	Large vocabulary built from web usage Automatic dictionary updates All 4 strengths for Google Japanese Input Large vocabulary built from web usage Automatic dictionary updates Phrase autocomplete with a secret mode Typed text is not sent to Google
macOS only Magic Conversions depend on an LLM and are optional	No Linux build; Mozc fills that role Site and help are in Japanese
Downloadable app	Downloadable app
Open source	Not open source
License not stated	License not stated
Not stated if an account is needed	No account needed
Not stated if it works offline	Not stated if it works offline
Official website Full listing and sources Sources for azooKey github.com/azooKey/azooKey-Desktop Catalog checked October 1, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Sources for Google Japanese Input google.co.jp/ime Catalog checked October 1, 2026

“Not stated” means we have not confirmed it. Features can vary by device and plan.