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
I still open Skritter every day. At the time of writing, I'm on a 1,500+ day streak, on top of review history going back to 2009 that cannot be exported. That lock-in is why I stay—not because a new learner who cares about writing should start there instead of practicing here.
You draw each character on screen and get immediate, detailed stroke-level feedback. The muscle memory from that loop is real, and Skritter's handwriting recognition is refined in ways simpler coordinate-matching tools are not.
What it does well. Character writing with stroke order feedback that teaches you to write, not just recognise. Massive vocabulary library. Spaced repetition built in. Supports both Simplified and Traditional characters. Years of polish on the writing loop.
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—and starting fresh elsewhere means leaving years of schedules behind.
Best for: Longtime subscribers whose review history cannot be moved, or learners who want a writing-only specialist next to a fuller study stack. If you are new and writing matters, Hidden Dragon includes stroke-order practice on every card.
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).
Comparison Table
| App | Reading | Flashcards | Writing | Speaking practice | Import text | Price |
|---|
| Hidden Dragon | 4,000+ stories | SRS + homework | With tutoring | Conversation practice + accents; Z2H / LP / FYMV links | Story Builder | $12.99/mo |
| DuChinese | Large curated library | No | No | No | No | $14.99/mo |
| Chairman Bao | Real news by HSK level | No | No | No | No | $11/mo |
| Anki | No | Best-in-class SRS | No | No | N/A | Free (desktop) |
| Pleco | Document reader | Basic | Diagrams | No | Clipboard | Free |
| Skritter | No | Built-in SRS | Refined stroke feedback | No | No | $14.99/mo |
| LingQ | Import your own | Basic | No | No | Yes | $14.99/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 practice handwriting, Hidden Dragon schedules writing separately from meaning, pinyin, and tones on every card. I still use Skritter in parallel because my review history since 2009 cannot be exported—not because a new learner should buy it for that skill alone.
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—and adds speaking practice so vocabulary is not trapped on the page.
If you study with Zero to Hero or immerse with Language Player, Hidden Dragon is the practice companion on the same vocabulary: SRS, pronunciation scoring, writing, and speaking practice between the lecture and the clip. See how HSK video lessons plug in.
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 is the better pick if you want flashcards tied to graded reading and speaking—each card can feed pronunciation scoring, stroke-order practice, homework, and guided speaking practice (situational scenarios), with optional handoff to Language Player for immersion. Skritter remains where longtime subscribers keep irreplaceable review history that cannot be exported. For a feature-by-feature view, see our flashcard app comparison.
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 3.1 coverage (HSK 1-9), Hidden Dragon includes dedicated vocabulary books for HSK levels 1 through 6 (and 7-9), each with over 64,000 Tatoeba example sentences. You can also take listening, reading comprehension, and grammar exams inside the app to test which level you are ready for. Use the HSK version comparison tool to see exactly which words changed between HSK 2.0, 3.0, and 3.1. 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.
Hidden Dragon is an affiliate of Chinese Zero to Hero. Signing up through our links supports the project.
Hero photo by Henry & Co. on Unsplash.
