Best apps to learn Mandarin Chinese in 2026: an honest comparison
The best app to learn Mandarin is the one that fits your goal: starting from zero, passing the HSK, reading, or casual daily practice. We compared nine popular apps using Indonesian App Store data and each app's official pages, as of 25 October 2026.
Written by the Study Chinese team. We make one of the apps on this list, so every claim about another app comes from its official page, with a source link.
Choose by goal
| Your need | App | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Starting from zero, full course | HelloChinese | A step-by-step course based on HSK levels, available in Indonesian, highly rated by thousands of users. |
| Structured course up to HSK 5 | SuperChinese | Eight levels covering HSK 1–5 according to its official site, available in Indonesian. |
| HSK 3.0 Levels 1–9 preparation | Study Chinese | HSK 3.0 courses for all nine levels and HSK 3.0 mock exams for Levels 3–9, explained in Indonesian. |
| HSK 1–6 mock exams (old format) | SuperTest | Focused on HSK 1–6 mock exams and practice questions. |
| Reading practice | Du Chinese | Graded stories with audio; the interface is in English. |
| Dictionary | Pleco | Dictionary with handwriting and camera lookup; HSK 3.0 vocabulary flashcards available. |
| Your own flashcards | Anki | A blank flashcard tool you can fill with any word list. |
| Casual, free practice | Duolingo | Every course is free; good for a short daily habit. |
Nine Mandarin apps in one table
HSK 3.0 exams start on 13 December 2026, with nine levels and new word lists (see the HSK 3.0 guide). Many apps still follow HSK 2.0 with six levels. The "HSK 3.0" column below only shows a feature when the app's official page names HSK 3.0 explicitly.
| App | Platform | Indonesian | HSK path | HSK 3.0 | Mock exams | App Store rating (ID) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HelloChinese | iOS, Android | Yes | Based on HSK levels | Not stated | Not stated | 4,92 (1.295) |
| SuperChinese | iOS, Android | Yes | HSK 1–5 | Vocabulary, levels 1–9 | Via SuperTest | 4,95 (4.496) |
| ChineseSkill | iOS, Android | Yes | Up to HSK 4 | Not stated | Not stated | 4,89 (1.370) |
| Duolingo | iOS, Android, web | Yes | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | 4,84 (111.670) |
| LingoDeer | iOS, Android, web | Yes | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | 4,83 (817) |
| Du Chinese | iOS, Android, web | No (English) | HSK-aligned content | Not stated | No | 4,91 (262) |
| Pleco | iOS, Android | No (English) | Dictionary | Vocabulary flashcards | No | 4,37 (355) |
| SuperTest | iOS, Android, web | Yes | HSK 1–6 | Not stated | Yes, HSK 1–6 | 4,91 (369) |
| Study Chinese | iPhone, iPad (Android in testing) | Yes, lesson explanations | HSK 1–6 and HSK 3.0 Levels 1–9 | Courses, Levels 1–9 | HSK 3–6 and HSK 3.0 Levels 3–9 (Plus) | 5,0 (4) |
Ratings and rating counts from the Indonesian App Store, retrieved 25 October 2026. For other apps, the Indonesian column follows the App Store language list. Study Chinese explains its lessons in Indonesian, but its App Store language list currently shows only English and Spanish. "Not stated" means we did not find it on the official page, not that the feature is definitely missing.
Strengths and limits of each app
HelloChinese
A beginner course from zero to conversational level, based on HSK levels, with game-like lessons, more than 1,000 graded stories, and speech recognition, according to its description. Available in Indonesian, with top ratings from a large user base. Its official site does not mention HSK 3.0. Source: hellochinese.cc.
SuperChinese
A structured, speaking-focused course with AI feedback: eight levels covering HSK 1–5 according to its official site and FAQ, plus HSK vocabulary for levels 1–9. For mock exams, SuperChinese points users to its sister app, SuperTest. Source: superchinese.com.
ChineseSkill
15-minute lessons with teacher notes, from zero to HSK 4 according to its official site. Good for building grammar and vocabulary foundations. Source: chineseskill.com.
Duolingo
Every course is free, with a Super subscription for no ads. Good for a daily habit, but we found no HSK coverage on its official pages. Source: duolingo.com.
LingoDeer
Grammar-focused, with native-speaker audio and lessons you can download for offline study. One free lesson; the rest needs a subscription. HSK coverage is not stated. Source: lingodeer.com.
Du Chinese
Graded stories with audio; tap a word to see its meaning. Very good for reading practice once you know basic vocabulary. The interface is in English. Source: duchinese.net.
Pleco
A Mandarin dictionary with handwriting and camera lookup, used alongside a course app. The app is free with basic dictionaries; add-ons are paid. Its Google Play release notes mention flashcards updated for the 2026 HSK 3.0. Source: pleco.com.
Anki
A spaced-repetition flashcard tool you can fill with any word list, including HSK lists. Free on desktop and Android; the iPhone version (AnkiMobile) costs Rp 499,000. Source: apps.ankiweb.net.
SuperTest
An exam-only app with HSK 1–6 mock exams and practice questions. A strong choice if you are taking the old-format exam or want lots of question practice. Its official page does not mention HSK 3.0.
Study Chinese
Our app. HSK 3.0 courses for Levels 1–9 (2025 exam syllabus, about 10,900 words) and an HSK 2.0 path from zero to HSK 6, with mock exams for HSK 3–6 and HSK 3.0 Levels 3–9. Lessons are explained in Indonesian (also English and Spanish), tones are scored on the device, and Bao the panda gives hints. Free to start; Plus is Rp 49,000 per month or Rp 499,000 per year. Limits: iPhone and iPad only for now (Android is in closed testing), and it has few App Store ratings so far. Full details on the app page.
Four questions before you download
- Which HSK exam are you taking? From 13 December 2026 the exam uses HSK 3.0 with nine levels. Choose an app whose word lists follow the 2025 exam syllabus.
- Which language are the explanations in? Mandarin grammar is quicker to understand in your own language. Check that the lesson explanations, not just the menus, are in that language.
- Do you need speaking practice? Choose an app that scores your tones, because the four tones are the biggest hurdle for beginners.
- What is your budget? Almost every app is free to start. Compare what is actually free before you subscribe.
Apps work best when used every day. Many learners combine one course app, a dictionary like Pleco, and classes with a teacher for speaking practice.
Try Study Chinese free
HSK 3.0 Levels 1–9, mock exams, and tone scoring right on your phone, explained in Indonesian with Bao the panda.