Best App to Learn Chinese (2026): 9 Compared

By devlingo 10 min read

Last verified: September 20, 2026. Prices and features come from each app’s official pages and the US App Store listings. They change often, so confirm the price for your country at checkout.

The best app to learn Chinese (Mandarin) depends on which skill you are building. HelloChinese is a course app that teaches reading, writing, speaking, vocabulary and grammar. Duolingo is the best free start, and its Chinese course now runs through CEFR level B2. Pimsleur is best for learning by ear, Du Chinese for graded reading, Skritter for writing characters and Pleco is the standard dictionary tool, though it is not a course. Most learners combine a course app with one or two specialist tools and a tutor for speaking.

Quick picks by goal

Your goalBest pickWhy
A course covering all skillsHelloChineseTeaches reading, writing, speaking, vocabulary and grammar, with 2,000+ videos
Start for freeDuolingoA free tier; Chinese is one of nine courses that now run through B2
Learn by earPimsleurFive levels of 30 audio lessons, with about 100 reading exercises
Read graded ChineseDu ChineseGraded reading and listening across six levels
Practice writing charactersSkritterA character-writing app
Look up words and read documentsPlecoA dictionary, document reader and flashcard tool
Mandarin and CantoneseChineseSkillCovers both Mandarin and Cantonese
A structured paid courseLingoDeerGrammar-based lessons, with free starter units
Community feedbackBusuuChinese is one of its 14 languages

The 9 apps at a glance

AppBest forUS priceNotes
HelloChineseAn all-skills courseApp Store: Premium from $11.99Reading, writing, speaking, grammar; iOS and Android
DuolingoA free startFree; Super about $96 to $120/yearB2 course; AI Video Call in Chinese with Max
ChineseSkillMandarin and CantoneseApp Store: annual from $59.99Two Chinese varieties
LingoDeerStructured grammar$14.99/month; $95.99/yearFree alphabet and first unit
PimsleurAudio learningAbout $20/month5 levels; Simplified and Traditional characters
BusuuCommunity feedbackFree tier; App Store paid plansChinese among 14 languages
Du ChineseGraded readingApp Store: Premium from $14.99Six levels; iOS, Android and web
PlecoDictionary and readerFree download; add-ons from $4.99Not a course
SkritterWriting charactersApp Store: from $9.99/monthA writing app

HelloChinese: best all-skills course

HelloChinese app spotlight: reading, writing and speaking lessons

HelloChinese’s official site describes lessons covering reading, writing, speaking, vocabulary and grammar. We could not confirm what its free version includes, so try the free download before subscribing.

Duolingo: best free start

Duolingo app spotlight: free daily habit-building

Duolingo is the easiest place to start Chinese for free. See Does Duolingo Work? for the evidence on how far it goes.

ChineseSkill: for Mandarin and Cantonese

ChineseSkill app spotlight: Mandarin and Cantonese lessons

ChineseSkill is worth a look if you want Cantonese as well as Mandarin. The App Store lists many plan variants, so check what your plan includes.

LingoDeer: best structured paid course

LingoDeer app spotlight: grammar-based lessons and free starter units

LingoDeer has a grammar-based curriculum, lists Chinese among its languages and offers free starter units.

Pimsleur: best for learning by ear

Pimsleur app spotlight: audio-first language learning

Pimsleur is a good fit for building listening and speaking. Mandarin is a tonal language, so listening practice matters. See our Pimsleur review for the refund terms.

Busuu: best for community feedback

Busuu app spotlight: community corrections and a solid free tier

Busuu lists Chinese among its 14 languages and lets native speakers correct your exercises.

Du Chinese: best for graded reading

Du Chinese app spotlight: graded Chinese reading and listening

Du Chinese is a reading and listening tool. Its site mentions no writing or speaking instruction, so use it alongside a course.

Pleco: best dictionary and reader

Pleco app spotlight: Chinese dictionary and reader

Pleco is a reference tool, not a course. It is widely used to look up characters and read real text. The pages we checked do not say whether the add-ons are one-time purchases or subscriptions, so check before buying.

Skritter: best for writing characters

Skritter app spotlight: practice writing characters

Skritter is a character-writing app. Its official pricing page was not readable when we checked, so its prices come from the App Store.

More options: TV, immersion and tutors

How to combine apps for Chinese

How long does Chinese take?

Longer than most languages English speakers study. The US Foreign Service Institute places Mandarin in its hardest category, with an estimated 88 weeks, or about 2,200 class hours, for its students to reach level 3 on the government’s ILR proficiency scale, against 24 to 30 weeks for Spanish, French and Italian. FSI students also do about 17 hours of self-study a week. Duolingo’s B2 course is a large curriculum, but reaching that level is a multi-year project for most learners. Pair any app with real reading and listening and speaking with a person.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best app to learn Chinese?

There is no single best app. HelloChinese teaches reading, writing, speaking and grammar in one course, Duolingo is the best free start, Pimsleur is best by ear, and Du Chinese and Skritter cover reading and writing. Most learners combine a course app with speaking practice.

What is the best free app to learn Chinese?

Duolingo is the best free start, and its Chinese course now runs through B2. HelloChinese and Pleco have free downloads, LingoDeer has free starter units, and Busuu has a free tier. Free tiers have limits, so add a tutor as you progress.

What is the best app to learn Mandarin for beginners?

Duolingo suits beginners on a budget, and HelloChinese suits beginners who want reading, writing and speaking in one course. LingoDeer has a grammar-based curriculum with free starter units. Add Pleco as a dictionary once you start reading.

Can you learn Chinese with Duolingo?

You can get a long way. Duolingo says Chinese is one of nine courses that now teach through B2. Most learners add a tool for writing characters, graded reading and speaking practice with a tutor.

Which app is best for learning Chinese characters?

Skritter is built for writing characters, and Pleco is the standard dictionary and reader for looking them up. HelloChinese teaches reading and writing within its course, and Du Chinese builds reading with graded stories.

Is Pleco a language learning app?

Not exactly. Pleco is a dictionary, document reader and flashcard tool. It is free to download, with paid add-ons on the US App Store, and it complements a course app rather than replacing one.

How long does it take to learn Chinese?

The US Foreign Service Institute estimates about 88 weeks, or roughly 2,200 class hours, for its students to reach level 3 on the ILR scale, compared with 24 to 30 weeks for Spanish, French or Italian. Self-study with apps usually takes longer.

Do I need a tutor to learn Chinese?

Apps cover vocabulary, reading and writing well, but speaking, especially tones, needs practice with a person or a speaking-focused AI app. A tutor on Preply or italki helps with pronunciation and producing sentences aloud, even for a few lessons.

Sources and how this was researched

This guide compares information published by each app and by app stores as of September 20, 2026. It does not claim first-hand testing of every app. Main sources: