Learning Arabic characters

[zenmonkey]

Is there any good Android app that teaches you Arabic characters relatively painlessly and efficiently?

All the good apps I've seen are subscription based (like Alif Bee). I don't mind paying a reasonable one-time price, but I won't get a subscription.

Get anki (free) download the deck for Arab characters. profit.
Memrise has one too.

[bolaobo]

I'm sure you can find a free deck that has the characters in all of their forms, but I don't know if that's the best way to learn. I found it easiest to use sentences, starting short and then gradually integrating all of the characters. I think that's easier than memorizing the 2-4 ways of writing each letter.

[Aloyse]

I'm always surprised that some people can learn scripts without tracing the letters with pen and paper while pronuncing the letters aloud. Which is what I do.

[kanewai]

In the end I learnt the alphabet using Wightwick and Gaafar's Mastering Arabic 1

That's definitely the best one I know of! For the next level, check out their Mastering Arabic Script. It teaches ruq'ah, a style used in calligraphy and handwriting. It's fun, but even more challenging than the printed naskh script we all start with.