Tools
Best apps for learning Chinese in 2026
Dengdeng team·Updated September 24, 2026·6 minFor a beginner, we recommend HelloChinese for lessons and Pleco for dictionary lookup. If you already know some Chinese, Du Chinese, The Chairman's Bao, and Dengdeng offer different kinds of reading practice. Anki is useful if you want to make your own flashcards.
You probably need one main study app and a dictionary. Add another tool when there is something you cannot practice with those.
We make Dengdeng, so this is not an independent review. We have included it alongside the other readers and explained the differences. Product details were checked against the publishers' websites in September 2026; the recommendations are our assessment, not the results of a learning study.
Comparison
| App | Main use | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| HelloChinese | Beginner lessons | Pronunciation, characters, vocabulary, and grammar in a structured course |
| Duolingo | Short Mandarin lessons | Guided exercises using simplified characters |
| Pleco | Dictionary lookup | Definitions, handwriting input, audio, and optional study tools |
| Anki | Vocabulary review | Flashcards you create or import, with spaced repetition |
| Du Chinese | Graded reading | Stories, articles, and courses with audio and word lookup |
| The Chairman's Bao | News-based lessons | Articles with reading and listening comprehension exercises |
 Dengdeng | Real stories from China | Three difficulty versions of each story, word lookup, and review based on words you tap |
Several of these apps include flashcards and audio. Compare the lessons or reading material first, then decide whether you need a separate review app.
HelloChinese
HelloChinese teaches Mandarin through a structured course on iOS and Android. It includes speech recognition, handwriting practice, native-speaker videos, and spaced repetition.
It is a reasonable starting point if you need pronunciation, basic vocabulary, and sentence patterns introduced in order. Complete the speaking exercises as well as the questions on screen. A correct answer in a recognition exercise does not tell you whether you can pronounce the sentence.
If possible, ask a teacher or proficient speaker to check your pronunciation too. An app's speech score is useful feedback, but it is not a substitute for a conversation.
Our HelloChinese comparison covers when to add reading alongside the course. We also compare SuperChinese, another structured Mandarin course.
Duolingo
Duolingo's Chinese course teaches Mandarin using simplified characters. If you already use it regularly and are still learning from the lessons, there is no need to stop.
Add practice outside the exercises. Try reading a short unfamiliar sentence without answer choices, or answering a simple spoken question. If those are difficult, spend some study time on reading or conversation rather than repeating only the exercise types you can already do.
You can start reading before finishing the course. Our guide to reading after Duolingo explains how to choose a text and work through the first paragraph.
Pleco
Pleco is a Chinese dictionary for iOS and Android. The free version includes dictionary search, handwriting recognition, and basic audio. Additional dictionaries, reading tools, and study features are available as paid add-ons.
It is useful for words you find outside a learning app: in a message, on a menu, or in a book. Handwriting input lets you look up a character when you do not know its pronunciation.
Check the example sentences before choosing a definition. A word can have several meanings, and the first English entry may not fit the sentence you are reading.
Pleco is a reference tool. You still need a course, a teacher, or reading material to decide what to study.
Anki
Anki lets you create or import flashcard decks, add text and audio, and schedule reviews with spaced repetition. It is available on desktop, with AnkiMobile on iOS and AnkiDroid on Android.
Use it if you want control over the vocabulary and card format. You will also need to check imported material, correct unclear definitions, and decide how many new cards to add.
Start with a small set and review it consistently before adding more. Include an example sentence when a word's meaning depends on context.
Our beginner roadmap includes a 180-word starter set. Choose one review system for it so you are not reviewing the same list in several apps.
Du Chinese
Du Chinese offers graded stories, articles, and courses across six levels. It includes word lookup, native-speaker audio, and vocabulary flashcards, and works on iOS, Android, and the web.
Consider it if you want graded fiction or longer stories. Read a sample before choosing a level. You should be able to follow the main events without translating every sentence.
The Dengdeng and Du Chinese comparison covers the differences in content, difficulty, and vocabulary review.
The Chairman's Bao
The Chairman's Bao provides news-based Chinese lessons on web and mobile. Lessons include dictionary lookup, vocabulary review, and reading and listening comprehension exercises.
It is worth considering if you want questions to check your understanding after an article. Try both the reading and listening exercises when evaluating the material.
Our comparison with The Chairman's Bao explains how that lesson format differs from Dengdeng's reading format.
Dengdeng
Dengdeng is our app for reading stories from China. We choose real stories, from cultural trends to technology and everyday life. Each comes in Easy, Medium, and Hard versions, so you can follow the same subjects while learning Chinese.
Each daily edition contains three stories. You can switch difficulty while reading the same subject. Tap a word for pinyin and meaning; the words you tap are saved for review as flashcards and fill-in-the-blank exercises.
You can start with Dengdeng once you know some basic words: Easy stories and the HSK 3.0 word decks are written for that stage. It does not teach pinyin, tones, or first sentence patterns, so use a beginner course for those if you are starting from zero.
One complete story from each daily edition is free in the app on iOS and Android, and five stories from the archive open up each week. Dengdeng is available on both iOS and Android. The website has short reader previews, so you can check the content and difficulty before downloading. Our about page explains story selection, and the review method describes vocabulary practice.
Getting started
Our free beginner roadmap suggests an order for studying pronunciation, words, characters, and sentence patterns. Its eight-week outline is a planning guide; you may need more or less time at each stage.
| Stage | What to practice | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Weeks 1–2 | Pinyin, tones, and basic spoken phrases | Say a short phrase, then compare it with the recording. |
| Weeks 3–4 | Common words, character components, and sentence order | Read short sentences built from words you have studied. |
| Weeks 5–6 | Short texts with word lookup and translations | Explain the main event before checking the translation. |
| Weeks 7–8 and beyond | Reading, listening, vocabulary review, and speaking | Increase difficulty when you can follow the current material comfortably. |
Start with the pinyin and tones chapter, which includes playable examples. Then work through character components and sentence patterns.
Use the reading check when you are ready to try connected text. You can keep using a beginner course while adding a short reading session.
Study time
The roadmap suggests about 25–30 minutes a day, initially split between lessons and vocabulary. Adjust that to the time you have.
As reading becomes manageable, replace some lesson time with a short text and its audio. Add conversation with a teacher or language partner if speaking is a goal.
If reviews take up the entire session, reduce the number of new words. If almost every phrase needs a lookup, choose an easier text.
Common questions
Which Chinese app should an absolute beginner choose?
Start with a structured course such as HelloChinese and a dictionary such as Pleco. Practice pronunciation and simple sentences alongside the lessons.
Which app should I use after Duolingo?
For reading, try a sample from Du Chinese, The Chairman's Bao, or Dengdeng. Choose based on the material and difficulty. If speaking is the problem, add conversation practice rather than another reading app.
Can I learn Chinese with apps alone?
Apps can help with vocabulary, pronunciation, listening, and reading. To practice conversation, you also need to speak with people and respond to questions you have not rehearsed.
Do I need several subscriptions?
No. Start with one main study app and add another only for practice you are missing. Try the available samples and check the publisher's current access terms before paying.
