Apps for learning Chinese: the types and how to choose
Apps for learning Chinese do different jobs: one takes you through a syllabus, another tells you what an unknown character means, a third keeps you from forgetting words. So the question “which is the best app to learn Chinese?” is almost always better replaced with “what do I need right now?” Below is an honest breakdown by type rather than a ranking: what kinds of Chinese apps exist, what to look for, and how to put together a set that works.
What kinds of Chinese learning apps are there
With Chinese you learn several things at once, and each has its own tool.
- A course with a syllabus. Tells you what to learn today and what tomorrow. Without one, a beginner drowns in choices: where to start, how many words to take on, when to move on to characters.
- A dictionary. Answers “what is this word?” You need one from week one — for example, to check that and are what you think they are.
- Flashcards. Bring a word back just before you’d forget it. This is called spaced repetition.
- Character writing. A character you’ve written stroke by stroke sticks better than one you’ve only looked at.
- Pronunciation. In Chinese the meaning of a syllable depends on its tone, and it’s hard to judge yourself by ear — you need an outside referee.
- Conversation. Recognizing words and being able to say them yourself are different skills, and the second only grows through speaking.
One app is usually not enough: a course doesn’t replace a dictionary, and a dictionary doesn’t teach you anything in order. A good set is two or three tools that cover different jobs and don’t duplicate each other.
Apps for learning Chinese: type, job, what to look for
| Type of app | What it’s for | What to look for |
|---|---|---|
| Course with a syllabus | Takes you from zero in order: sounds, words, sentences, characters | Language of the explanations, whether it follows the HSK levels, what’s free |
| Dictionary | Look up an unknown word or character, see how it’s read and what it means | Handwriting input, audio, the language of the definitions |
| Flashcards | Keep what you’ve learned: a word comes back after a day, three days, a week | Where the words come from — a ready-made deck or your own; whether each word has audio |
| Character writing | Remember a character with your hand: stroke order and direction | Whether it checks your stroke order or only shows a model |
| Pronunciation | Hear the tones and find out whether you hit them yourself | Native-speaker recordings, a check of your own voice, feedback syllable by syllable |
| Conversation | Answer out loud and build sentences without prompts | Who you talk to — a person or a program — and whether it adapts to your level |
How to choose an app to learn Chinese from scratch
Six questions worth asking before you spend your first month on an app.
- Are the explanations clear to you? Most apps teach Chinese from English, which is convenient. Still, check whether the grammar is actually explained or you’re just expected to guess the rule from examples.
- Is there native-speaker audio? Every word should have sound. A word you’ve never heard is a word you won’t recognize in speech.
- Does it check your pronunciation? Listening to a speaker isn’t enough — the program needs to listen to you too. Why that matters is covered in our article on tones.
- Does it follow the HSK levels? If you have an exam ahead, or just want a clear measure of progress, it’s easier to follow the standard’s levels. What has changed in it is explained in the article on HSK 3.0.
- What’s free and what’s paid? More on that in the next section.
- Subscription or one-time payment? A subscription renews automatically until you cancel it. A one-time payment gives you access and charges nothing more. Before paying, check which one you’re looking at.
Free apps to learn Chinese: what to expect
Most courses make part of the content free: the first lessons are open, the rest comes after you pay. That’s a fair deal if the free part is enough to tell whether the teaching style suits you. So don’t look at the word “free” in the description — look at three things: how many lessons are open, whether audio and checks work in them, and what exactly you get for your money.
A useful trick: finish the free part of two or three courses before deciding. A week of trying things costs less than paying for a course that turns out not to fit.
Well-known apps by type
Four well-known apps, and which type each one belongs to.
- HelloChinese — a beginner course with a game-like format, available in the app stores. Some lessons are free; for the rest, check the current terms on their site.
- Duolingo — a game-like course with short daily exercises. Good for building a habit; how deeply grammar is explained is something to judge for yourself. Check the current terms on their site.
- Pleco — a Chinese–English dictionary with handwriting input: draw an unknown character with your finger and find it. It’s not a course — it has no lesson plan. Check the current terms on their site.
- Anki — flashcards with spaced repetition. You build your own decks or find ready-made ones; the program doesn’t tell you what to learn or in what order. Check the current terms on their site.
Notice: these are four different tools, not four rivals. A course, a dictionary and flashcards can live happily on the same phone.
The best app to learn Chinese — and where Nomto fits
There’s no single best one: the best app to learn Chinese is the one that does the job you need and that you open every day. Now about us, just as honestly.
Nomto is a course in the browser rather than an app you download from a store. You open the site on your phone or computer and study — there’s nothing to install.
By the types in the table, it covers several jobs at once:
- Syllabus. A course built on the levels of the new HSK 3.0 standard, from level 1 to level 6: 934 lessons and 5,400 words. A lesson takes about ten minutes. Mei, your tutor, explains everything in English.
- Audio. Every word and phrase has a recording.
- Pronunciation. Lessons have a “say it out loud” task with a check, and in the Pronunciation section you see the melody of your voice under the speaker’s, syllable by syllable.
- Writing sheets. You write a character stroke by stroke, and the order is checked.
- Review. Words come back on a schedule by themselves — no need to keep a separate flashcard deck.
What it doesn’t have: a live teacher or tasks marked by a person, scheduled classes or a group, a certificate, a course for children. And it doesn’t replace a full dictionary: the free reference pages have word lists by HSK level, but looking up a random character from a shop sign there is awkward — that’s what a dictionary is for.
The trainers and the first section of HSK 1 work without signing up, and the reference pages, including the pinyin chart and writing sheets, are open to everyone.
How to build your own set
A setup that works: a course, a dictionary and speaking practice. Step by step:
- Pick one course. It sets the order. Two courses at once means two different orders and reviewing the same things twice.
- Install a dictionary. You need it for everything you meet outside the course: a sign, a word from a song, a message from a friend.
- Decide where you’ll review words. If the course has spaced repetition, separate flashcards are optional. If not, set them up.
- Add speaking. Every day, say what you’ve learned out loud and check your tones. Once you have a stock of phrases, find a conversation partner or a tutor: a program can’t fully replace a real conversation.
- Give your set two weeks. If you open it every day, keep it. If not, change the course rather than adding a fourth app.
If you want a step-by-step plan for your first weeks, it’s in the article How to start learning Chinese.
A course with nothing to install
Nomto opens in your phone’s browser: lessons explained in English, native audio, a pronunciation check and writing sheets. Free during the beta.
Open the first lesson
