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The Best Chinese Language Learning

Updated May 2026·Experts: PCMag, CNET · Community: ChineseLanguage user

Best Free AppDuolingo

Duolingo

If you're starting from zero, Duolingo is the obvious first move. It won't make you fluent, but nothing else keeps you coming back daily as effectively, and it's free.

What holds up

  • Completely free with 37 languages including Mandarin Chinese
  • Highly motivating streak system and gamified design keeps learners consistent
  • Can test out of lessons that are too easy, no wasted time on basics
  • Short 4-minute lessons fit into any schedule

What to know

  • Won't get you to fluency alone, needs to be paired with speaking practice
  • Chinese course has less content depth than Spanish or French
  • Grammar explanations are minimal compared to classroom learning
Expert verdict
Thanks to its clear structure, engaging exercises, and unique features, Duolingo is simply the best free app for learning a new language or sharpening your skills.
PCMagView source
Expert verdict
As a regular Duolingo user, I enjoy the app's colorful interface and short, game-like exercises. The app doesn't restrict how many languages you can try to learn at the same time.
CNETView source
From the community
started with the owl, upgraded to pleco and anki. reading with du chinese, then added weekly speaking sessions with boraspeak, italki, and a ton of netflix and youtube with subtitles.
r/ChineseLanguage userView source
From the community
while duolingo is repetitive and gets you nowhere, hello chinese keeps teaching you new content while reminding you of what you previously studied
r/ChineseLanguage userView source
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Best Dictionary & Lookup ToolPleco

Pleco

Pleco isn't a course, it's the backbone of every serious Chinese learner's toolkit. The community recommends it more consistently than any other single resource, and for good reason.

What holds up

  • Powerful Chinese-English dictionary with audio pronunciation and stroke order
  • OCR feature lets you point your camera at Chinese text to instantly look up characters
  • Flashcard system built in for vocabulary review
  • Free core app with optional paid add-ons

What to know

  • Not a structured course, requires pairing with other learning resources
  • Interface feels dated compared to modern apps
  • Advanced features like OCR require paid add-ons
From the community
pleco should occupy at least 50% alone lol
r/ChineseLanguage userView source
From the community
Pleco had good OCR before iOS did, so helpful a decade ago when I was studying.
r/ChineseLanguage userView source
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Best for Vocabulary with Spaced RepetitionAnki

Anki

Anki is the unsexy but undeniably effective backbone of advanced Chinese study. Every serious learner in the community uses it, set it up right and it will carry you further than any app alone.

What holds up

  • Spaced repetition algorithm scientifically optimizes when you review each card
  • Fully customizable, build decks for characters, tones, sentences, or audio
  • Massive library of pre-made Chinese decks available for free
  • Desktop and mobile versions available (free on Android, one-time fee on iOS)

What to know

  • Steep learning curve to set up effectively, not beginner-friendly out of the box
  • iOS app costs $24.99 (though Android and desktop are free)
  • Requires discipline, it's a tool, not a guided course
From the community
Use Anki to learn individual words, and full sentences. Setup your cards so you have English text, pinyin and Chinese Audio fields (just use one of the TTS addons to get Audio).
r/ChineseLanguage userView source
From the community
anki, downloaded a corpus of Chinese sentences presented naturally from digital sources, performed analytical statistics on the data and formulated anki cards based on the frequency of characters and phrasings. Very useful for uncommon proverbs
r/ChineseLanguage userView source
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Best for Live Conversation PracticeiTalki

iTalki

Apps can only take you so far, iTalki is where real progress happens. The community is unanimous: if speaking and listening are your goals, get a tutor on iTalki and do it early.

What holds up

  • Huge pool of both professional teachers and community tutors at various price points
  • Flexible scheduling, book lessons on your own timeline
  • Can find tutors specializing in business Chinese, HSK prep, or casual conversation
  • Trial lessons available to find the right tutor before committing

What to know

  • Quality varies widely between tutors, requires trying several to find a good fit
  • More expensive than app-based learning
  • Listening comprehension remains hard even with regular tutoring
Expert verdict
Speaking and interacting with others is a crucial part of learning a language, and Lingoda offers hour-long lessons with excellent instructors and compelling teaching materials to get you there.
PCMagView source
From the community
Go to iTalki and try out a range of tutors (at least 10), doing a single lesson with each. Then pick 1 man and 1 women from your candidates and do 1 lesson with each of them each week (so 2 lessons a week).
r/ChineseLanguage userView source
From the community
I've seen italki getting mentioned quite frequently but if you've had good experiences with specific platforms, tutors, or learning strategies that work for busy schedules, please share.
r/ChineseLanguage userView source
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Best Structured Course for BeginnersRosetta Stone (Mandarin)

Rosetta Stone (Mandarin)

Rosetta Stone is the most professionally designed beginner course for Mandarin. It won't replace a tutor, but if you want a structured foundation without the chaos of piecing together free resources, it delivers.

What holds up

  • Includes Mandarin Chinese in its 23-language catalog
  • Polished, distraction-free interface with accurate content
  • Optional live tutoring sessions available as an add-on
  • Lifetime subscription covers all languages, good value if you plan to learn more

What to know

  • No placement test, everyone starts from scratch
  • Exercises can feel repetitive over time
  • Teaches phrases like 'The boy eats rice' regardless of cultural context, less nuanced than competitors
  • Pricey at $239/year or $399 lifetime (though discounts are common)
Expert verdict
Rosetta Stone is one of the most popular language apps, and for good reason. Its clear design and structure make it simple to use, and you'll undoubtedly learn plenty of words, phrases, and concepts if you work through the lessons faithfully for a few months.
PCMagView source
Expert verdict
Rosetta Stone is best suited for beginners
PCMag (Best Apps roundup)View source
From the community
I tried Duolingo, Anki, random YouTube videos but none of it sticks when it comes to speaking. I need real conversation practice and accountability or I just fall off after a week.
r/ChineseLanguage userView source
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