Best Chinese Learning Apps for Beginners That Don’t Make You Feel Dumb or Bored

Let’s be real—learning Chinese can feel like climbing a wall made of squiggly symbols and tones that all sound the same. 😵‍💫

But the good news? There are actually some amazing apps out there that make learning Chinese less painful—and even kind of fun.

This guide skips the boring flashcards and dead-serious grammar drills. Instead, we’ll cover apps that are beginner-friendly, designed with real humans in mind (yes, even ones who mix up “ma” and “ma” constantly), and actually help you get around in China.

1. 🐼 Duolingo: Great for Absolute Beginners (but Limited)

If you’re just starting and want to learn how to say hello, order coffee, or impress your Chinese date with “nǐ hǎo”—Duolingo is a great warm-up app.

• ✅ Pros: Easy, gamified, fun, and free
• ❌ Cons: Not enough depth, no speaking practice, and sometimes weird sentences

Use it like a starter snack, not the full meal.

2. 🧠 ChineseSkill: Like Duolingo, But Made for Chinese

This app is built specifically for Mandarin learners—and it shows. It has better sentence structure, more useful daily topics, and tons of voice/audio features.

• ✅ Pros: Native-speaker audio, character writing practice, culture tips
• ❌ Cons: Some features locked behind paywall, UI a bit dated

If Duolingo feels too “Western,” give this one a shot.

3. 🔤 Pleco: Your Lifesaver Dictionary App

Pleco isn’t exactly a learning app—it’s more like your survival kit. But you will 100% need it in China.

• ✅ Pros: Ridiculously powerful offline dictionary, handwriting input, flashcard support
• ❌ Cons: Not “fun” or gamified—it’s a tool, not a teacher

Use it when you’re lost in translation or trying to read a street sign.

4. 🎧 HelloChinese: The Best All-in-One for Serious Beginners

This is the app most expats in China end up using. Why? Because it teaches real-life Chinese, fast.

• ✅ Pros: Great speaking and listening practice, grammar explained clearly, voice recognition
• ❌ Cons: Some lessons feel repetitive, subscription model

Think of this as your main course if you’re serious about actually using Chinese in real life.

5. 📝 Skritter: Best for Writing Chinese Characters

If you’re interested in writing Chinese (like actually remembering how to write characters)—Skritter is gold.

• ✅ Pros: Teaches stroke order, spaced repetition, great for visual learners
• ❌ Cons: Not free, niche focus (writing vs. speaking)

Use this if you want to go beyond reading and actually write like a local.

6. 🧪 Bonus: Memrise, Ninchanese & Hack Chinese

These apps aren’t as well-known, but they’re loved by certain learners:

• Memrise: Natural conversation phrases + videos
• Ninchanese: Gamified and quirky, but oddly effective
• Hack Chinese: Great for vocab and spaced repetition drills

Final Tips 📱

Learning Chinese is a long game, and no single app will get you fluent. But mixing a few of these—like HelloChinese + Pleco + Skritter—is a solid beginner combo.

Also, don’t forget to practice with real people. Apps are great, but ordering noodles at a street stall and actually being understood? That’s the real win. 🍜😎