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The best apps to learn Chinese

The apps, one by one

We checked each app in its app stores and on its official site in October 2026. Macalaoshi is ours, and we include it with what it does and what it doesn't do.

“Free tier” is what you can use without paying. Free content and prices change often, so check the app store before you subscribe.

Which one to choose for what you need

To start from zero

Duolingo is the most complete course you can take for free, and since 2026 it goes up to level B2. If you'd like more explanations, ChineseSkill, LingoDeer and HelloChinese have structured courses for beginners. Read our review of whether Duolingo is good for learning Chinese.

For characters

This is the part that takes the most time, and the one general courses cover least. Macalaoshi has you collect more than 1,300 characters from HSK 1 to 4, watch them level up and write them stroke by stroke, all through play. Skritter is the most demanding app for handwriting. For the method, see how to memorize Chinese characters.

For looking up words

Pleco is the dictionary almost everyone uses: you can look up a character by drawing it with your finger, even if you don't know how it's pronounced.

For reviewing what you've studied

Anki is free on Android, desktop and the web and uses spaced repetition, but you have to find or build your own decks.

For reading

Du Chinese has graded stories with audio and English translations. It works best once you know a few hundred characters.

For pronunciation

SuperChinese, HelloChinese and ChineseSkill assess your voice. They help you notice mistakes, but for tones nothing replaces a teacher who listens to you.

Combinations we recommend

• If you're just starting: a course (Duolingo or ChineseSkill) plus Macalaoshi for characters. 15 minutes of each a day is enough.
• Once you have the basics: add Pleco as your dictionary and, later on, Du Chinese for reading.
• If you want to speak: add classes or a language exchange with Chinese speakers. No app replaces real conversation.

What about AI?

An AI chatbot is useful for asking for examples and grammar explanations, or for practicing conversations in writing. Use it as a complement: it can get tones or pinyin wrong, and it doesn't keep track of what you already know. Some apps, like SuperChinese, already include an AI tutor in their paid version.

Why we made Macalaoshi

Macalaoshi is our app. We made it because characters are the hardest part, and we wanted learning them to feel like playing a game:

• Collect 1,300+ characters from HSK 1 to HSK 4, with pinyin, meaning and audio.
• Every character levels up when you get it right, so you see what you've mastered and what to review.
• Writing mode: learn to write them stroke by stroke, in the correct stroke order.
• Challenges and bosses you can only beat with your vocabulary, so reviewing feels like a game.
• A short plan for every day. It's free to start.

Frequently asked questions

What's the best free app to learn Chinese?

Duolingo is the most complete course you can take for free. Anki (on Android, desktop and the web) and Pleco are free for reviewing and as a dictionary, and Macalaoshi is free to start learning characters.

Which app is best for reading in Chinese?

Du Chinese has graded stories with audio and English translations, and it works best once you know a few hundred characters. Pleco also includes a reader alongside its dictionary.

Which app corrects Chinese pronunciation?

SuperChinese, HelloChinese and ChineseSkill use speech recognition, and SuperChinese gives you a score for each character. They help, but none of them replaces a teacher for correcting tones.

Which app is best for learning to write Chinese characters?

Skritter is the most specialized: it grades every stroke. Macalaoshi has a stroke-by-stroke writing mode, and HelloChinese, ChineseSkill and LingoDeer include writing exercises.

Can you learn Chinese with apps alone?

Apps can take you a long way in vocabulary, reading and listening. To speak fluently and get your tones right, at some point you need to practice with people or with a teacher.

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