There are dozens of Chinese learning apps. Most comparison articles are written by the company behind one of them, positioned as objective reviews that funnel you toward their product by the final paragraph. You can feel the tilt before you reach the middle of the page.
We built Hidden Dragon. We have a bias. We are not going to pretend otherwise.
What we can do is give you an honest account of what each app does well, where each one falls short, and what matters when choosing how to study Mandarin. We will cover Hidden Dragon too, with the same honesty. If another app is the better fit for you, that is genuinely fine. The goal is that you find something that works.
This post covers apps for reading, vocabulary, and flashcards. If you are looking for apps focused on speaking, listening, and guided lessons, see our companion post: Best Apps for Speaking Chinese, Listening, and Guided Lessons.
What Matters for Reading and Vocabulary
Graded content at your level. Reading material that is too easy teaches you nothing. Material that is too hard overwhelms you. The best apps serve content at your current HSK level so that you are stretching without drowning.
Spaced repetition that works. Seeing a word once does not make it yours. SRS systems schedule reviews at the right intervals so that words move from short-term to long-term memory. The difference between good and bad SRS is whether you remember the word three months later.
Writing practice, not just recognition. Recognising a character and producing it from memory are completely different skills. Apps that only test recognition will leave you unable to write.
Best Chinese Apps for Reading, Vocabulary, and Flashcards
DuChinese
DuChinese is a dedicated graded reader for Mandarin. The library is large, the content is well-curated, and the reading experience is smooth. If you want to build a Chinese reading habit, this is one of the strongest options.
What it does well. Large library of graded stories across multiple HSK levels. Clean reading interface with tap-to-translate. Audio narration for listening practice alongside reading. Regular content updates. The reading experience itself is polished.
Where it falls short. It is a reader, not a study system. No SRS flashcards, no writing practice, no pronunciation feedback, no conversation practice. You read and listen, but production skills are not trained. You will need other tools alongside it.
Best for: Learners who want a large library of graded reading material.
Price: Free tier with limited stories. Premium from $14.99/month ($119.99/year).
Chairman Bao
Chairman Bao takes a different approach to graded reading: real Chinese news articles, graded by HSK level. The content is practical, current, and culturally rich. If you want to read about what is happening in China, not fictional stories, this is where to go.
What it does well. Real news content graded by HSK level. Excellent for learners interested in current events and Chinese culture. The content feels authentic in a way that fictional graded readers cannot match. HSK vocabulary highlighting helps you see exactly which words are at your level.
Where it falls short. Similar limitations to DuChinese: it is a reader, not a complete learning system. The interface is more utilitarian. No SRS, no speaking practice, no writing tools. The grading can feel inconsistent on some articles.
Best for: Intermediate to advanced learners who want to read real Chinese news.
Price: From $11/month. Annual plan $88/year. Lifetime option at $420.
Anki
Anki is not a Chinese app. It is a general-purpose spaced repetition system that happens to be the most powerful flashcard tool ever made. With the right decks and configuration, it is an incredibly effective vocabulary tool. The catch is that "the right configuration" is a real barrier.
What it does well. The spaced repetition algorithm is best in class. Completely free on desktop and Android. Infinitely customisable. Massive community deck library (including comprehensive HSK decks). If you know exactly what you want to study and how you want to study it, nothing is more flexible.
Where it falls short. Setup is a project in itself. The default interface is spartan. No pronunciation feedback, no graded reading, no writing practice, no conversation tools. You are building your own learning system from parts. The iOS app costs $24.99. For learners who want guidance, not a toolkit, Anki can feel overwhelming.
Best for: Self-directed learners who want maximum control over their SRS and do not mind investing time in setup.
Price: Free (desktop, Android). $24.99 one-time (iOS).
Pleco
Pleco is the best Chinese dictionary app available and it is not close. Every serious Chinese learner has it installed. The dictionary depth, the OCR camera lookup, the document reader, and the flashcard system make it an essential companion tool.
What it does well. Comprehensive dictionary with multiple sources (CC-CEDICT, ABC, and paid add-ons). OCR camera lookup for reading signs and menus in real time. Clipboard reader for looking up text from other apps. Built-in flashcard system with SRS. Stroke order diagrams. It does one thing and does it better than anyone.
Where it falls short. It is a dictionary, not a learning app. No curriculum, no graded reading, no conversation practice, no pronunciation scoring. The flashcard system works but lacks the richness of dedicated SRS tools. Pleco is what you use alongside your learning app, not instead of one.
Best for: Everyone. Install it regardless of what other apps you use.
Price: Free. Premium dictionaries available as one-time purchases.
Skritter
We use Skritter every day. At the time of writing, we are on a 1,347-day streak. For character writing practice, this is the app. Nothing else comes close.
Skritter has been the gold standard for Chinese character writing for over a decade. You draw the character on screen and it gives you immediate, detailed stroke-level feedback. The muscle memory this builds is real and lasting.
What it does well. Character writing with detailed stroke order feedback that teaches you to write, not just recognise. Massive vocabulary library. Spaced repetition built in. Supports both Simplified and Traditional characters. The raw writing practice is deep and battle-tested over years of refinement.
Where it falls short. It is a writing tool, not a complete learning system. No graded reading, no conversation practice, no pronunciation scoring. If you want those things, you need other apps alongside it. At $14.99/month for writing practice alone, the price is high, but the learners who use it (ourselves included) consider it worth every cent.
Best for: Any learner who is serious about writing Chinese characters by hand. If writing matters to you, get Skritter.
Price: $14.99/month.
LingQ
LingQ is built around the idea that massive reading and listening input drives language acquisition. You import any content you want, and LingQ turns it into a learning environment with word tracking, definitions, and SRS review.
What it does well. Import anything: articles, podcasts, YouTube transcripts, ebooks. The system tracks every word you encounter and marks your known vocabulary over time. Steve Kaufmann's input-heavy philosophy is well-supported by research. The library of shared content is large.
Where it falls short. No pronunciation feedback, no writing practice, no conversation tools. The interface has a steep learning curve. The word-tracking system can feel overwhelming with thousands of blue (unknown) words early on. Better for intermediate learners who already have a base.
Best for: Intermediate learners who want to consume massive amounts of Chinese content with vocabulary tracking.
Price: Free tier available. Premium from $14.99/month ($119.99/year).
Hidden Dragon
This is our app. We will be straightforward about what it does well and where it falls short, same as every other entry on this list.
Hidden Dragon is a Chinese learning app built around a complete loop: read a story, find unknown words, add them to your SRS deck, study them with pronunciation scoring and writing practice, use them in AI conversation scenarios, get corrections, and read harder stories as your level grows. Every feature connects to every other feature.
What it does well.
- Full HSK 3.0 vocabulary coverage (all 11,092 words across 9 levels)
- Over 4,000 illustrated graded stories with karaoke read-along mode
- SRS flashcards with pronunciation scoring, stroke order tutoring, and homework on every card
- Grammar patterns in every story and flashcard, including ones you create yourself, linked to AllSet Learning Wiki explanations and Zero to Hero video lessons (available in the free tier)
- Story Builder that turns any Chinese text you paste into a full graded reader with grammar analysis in about 30 seconds
- Bulk Add workflow: paste a list of words, get CEDICT definitions, Tatoeba example sentences, and AI enrichment in one step
Hidden Dragon also includes syllable-level pronunciation scoring, AI conversation scenarios with nine regional accents, Guided Dragon Lessons, and Shadow the Dragon for hands-free listening practice. For a full breakdown of the speaking and listening side, see our companion post.
Where it falls short. The story library, while large, is not as deeply curated as DuChinese or Chairman Bao for pure reading. The community is small and new. Anki users will find the SRS less customisable. The app is younger than most on this list, which means fewer reviews, fewer community resources, and less name recognition.
Best for: Learners at any level who want reading, vocabulary, and flashcards connected in one system. Grammar analysis on every story and the Story Builder import feature are unique to Hidden Dragon.
Price: Free tier with full access to flashcard library, pronunciation scoring, games, and stroke order tutoring. Pro at $12.99/month for AI-powered stories, Story Builder, scenarios, homework, vocabulary enhancements, and discussion features.
Comparison Table
| App | Reading | Flashcards | Writing | Import text | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DuChinese | Large curated library | No | No | No | $14.99/mo |
| Chairman Bao | Real news by HSK level | No | No | No | $11/mo |
| Anki | No | Best-in-class SRS | No | N/A | Free (desktop) |
| Pleco | Document reader | Basic | Diagrams | Clipboard | Free |
| Skritter | No | Built-in SRS | Best-in-class | No | $14.99/mo |
| LingQ | Import your own | Basic | No | Yes | $14.99/mo |
| Hidden Dragon | 4,000+ stories | SRS + homework | With tutoring | Story Builder | $12.99/mo |
So Which App Should You Use?
There is no single best app. There is the best app for what you need right now.
If you want to build a reading habit, DuChinese gives you the largest curated library. Chairman Bao is better if you want real news content rather than graded fiction.
If you want to master handwriting, Skritter is still the deepest tool for that specific skill.
If you want maximum control over your SRS, Anki is free and infinitely flexible. Budget time for setup.
If you want to import your own content, LingQ lets you turn anything into a learning environment. Hidden Dragon's Story Builder does the same but adds grammar analysis and HSK colouring.
If you want reading, vocabulary, and flashcards in one connected system, Hidden Dragon covers all three with grammar patterns linked to external teaching resources.
Whatever you choose, install Pleco. It is free, it is essential, and it works alongside everything else.
The real answer, for most serious learners, is two or three apps working together. And if speaking and listening matter to you (they should), see our companion post: Best Apps for Speaking Chinese, Listening, and Guided Lessons.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best app for reading Chinese?
DuChinese has the largest curated library of graded stories. Chairman Bao is the best option for real Chinese news graded by HSK level. Hidden Dragon offers over 4,000 stories with grammar analysis and a Story Builder that turns any text into a graded reader.
What is the best Chinese flashcard app?
Anki is the most powerful and customisable, but requires setup time. Hidden Dragon offers SRS flashcards with pronunciation scoring, writing practice, and homework built into every card. Skritter is best if your focus is character writing specifically.
Is Anki good for learning Chinese?
Anki is excellent for spaced repetition vocabulary study. Its weakness is that it only handles one piece of the learning puzzle. You will need other tools for reading, speaking, listening, and writing practice. Many serious learners use Anki alongside a graded reader and a pronunciation tool.
Which app is best for HSK preparation?
For full HSK 3.0 coverage (HSK 1-9), Hidden Dragon covers all 11,092 words with level tagging. Anki has community-made HSK decks that are comprehensive but require self-management. DuChinese and Chairman Bao grade their reading content by HSK level.
We built Hidden Dragon because we wanted reading, vocabulary, and flashcards to work as one connected system. If it sounds like what you need, try it for free. If another app on this list is the better fit, use that instead. The only wrong choice is the app you stop using.
Hero photo by Henry & Co. on Unsplash.