We’ve tested tons of resources for learning Chinese to help you figure out which ones are worth using and which ones should be avoided. These are our top choices.
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MOST RECOMMENDED RESOURCES FOR LEARNING CHINESE
Pimsleur
Pimsleur is one of the most popular and longest-standing resources out there for learning a foreign language. Its courses place a strong emphasis on aural and verbal communication skills, paying less attention to grammar explanations and reading or writing skills. There are over 50 language courses available with Pimsleur, and the bulk of the material is taught with audio lessons.
See our Super-Detailed Pimsleur Review
Chinese For Us
ChineseFor.Us is a much newer online Chinese course, having only covered the beginner levels so far. But, the course is very good and exceptionally thorough. Even better, it’s very affordable, costing only $9.99/mo if you subscribe for six months at a time. There are lots of interactive quizzes and well-produced videos, while also being HSK integrated. Definitely worth checking out if you’re looking for a course to get started with.
See our Super-Detailed Chinese For Us Review
Yoyo Chinese
Yoyo Chinese has several affordable online Chinese courses for sale, along with a popular Youtube channel. The courses start at the very beginning and work their way to an upper-intermediate level. They’re very thorough with lots of videos, clear explanations, interactive quizzes, and more. It’s probably the most well-known and widely used online Chinese courses.
See our Super-Detailed Yoyo Chinese Review
Du Chinese
Du Chinese is another excellent app, similar to The Chairman’s Bao, that makes it easier to practice reading (and listening) in Chinese. There are articles about lots of different and interesting topics. The app is a bit better for beginners because they also include translations for full sentences, instead of only individual words. It’s one of the best-designed app I’ve used.
See our Super-Detailed Du Chinese Review
The Chairman’s Bao
The Chairman’s Bao is one of my most used resources for studying Chinese. On their apps and website, you’ll find news stories written at various difficulty levels. These articles cover a variety of interesting topics and can be quite fun to read and listen to. Additionally, there are lots of extra features, such as comprehension exercises, flashcards, writing practice, and more.
See our Super-Detailed The Chairman’s Bao Review
HelloChinese
HelloChinese is an excellent app that makes it easy to get started studying Chinese without spending any money. They offer tons of lessons with accompanying exercises and explanations. There are also a lot of game-like features that make learning more fun. Much of the content is free, but there are also two paid plans which add in more features including games, podcasts, and more.
See our Super-Detailed HelloChinese Review
ChinesePod
ChinesePod has thousands of lessons available for anyone from absolute beginners to very advanced levels. It’s one of the best, and most often recommended resources for studying Chinese. The lessons are in the form of a podcast, typically from 10-20 minutes long. The hosts discuss a dialogue and then explain important vocabulary, grammar, and cultural information.
See our Super-Detailed ChinesePod Review
Speechling
Speechling has a number of free tools available to help you improve your Chinese, but my favorite part is that they make it easier to record yourself mimicking Chinese sentences. This makes it easier to get a lot of speaking practice and notice mistakes in your pronunciation. Their paid plans allow users to submit an unlimited number of recordings to be corrected by a teacher.
See our Super-Detailed Speechling Review
Chinese Zero to Hero!
Chinese Zero to Hero! is a course that follows the HSK Standard Course textbook series. The course takes you from HSK 1 up to HSK 6 and includes lots of videos, along with some exercises. I think it’s a really good course for independent learners that like to use several different resources to study. This way, they’re able to add some structure to their learning and avoid knowledge gaps.
See our Super-Detailed Chinese Zero to Hero! Review
Ninchanese
Ninchanese is probably the most unique Chinese course around. It’s created in a manner that’s similar to a game, where you follow a character to explore different worlds. Despite this, it’s still one of the most comprehensive courses around, covering levels from HSK1 to HSK5. There is an abundance of activities that build upon and relate to each other very well.
See our Super-Detailed Ninchanese Review
italki
italki is the most convenient and affordable way to find a Chinese tutor. Teachers set their own prices (often less than $10/hr) and set their own schedule. With hundreds of Chinese tutors available, it’s easy to find someone that’s a good fit for you. In addition, you can find free language exchange partners, get writing corrected for free, and do much more on their site and app.
See our Super-Detailed italki Review
Chinese Grammar Wiki
The Chinese Grammar Wiki is an amazing resource that’s completely free to use. Grammar points are organized according to difficulty levels. Each grammar point includes very easy to understand explanations and lots of examples. There are over 2000 articles, starting at the A1 level and advancing to the C1 level. This site is definitely worth checking out.
Pleco
Pleco is a must-have resource for anyone studying Chinese. This iOS and Android dictionary app is impressively powerful and filled with useful features – some of which are free and others require paid add-ons. With Pleco, it’s easy to look up words, get example sentences, make flashcards, read Chinese documents, look up words from your phone’s camera, and so much more.
Lingodeer
LingoDeer is a bit less well-known than some popular apps like Duolingo, but one that I like much more. It started out with teaching Asian languages and does so better than many apps. It’s a really enjoyable app to use because of their variety of exercises, crystal clear audio recordings, grammar explanations, and all the review opportunities. There’s also an extra ‘Stories’ section for Mandarin learners.
See our Super-Detailed Lingodeer Review
Tandem
Tandem is a language exchange app created to connect learners from around the world. You can teach someone the language you speak and they’ll help you learn the language you’d like to learn. It comes with lots of useful features (as well as a large, active user base) to make connecting with other users easy and facilitate language practice. There’s also a tutoring service offered in the app for those who are interested.
See our Super-Detailed Tandem Review
All Chinese Reviews
- 17 Minute Languages Review: I Wouldn’t Recommend Using It
- Assimil Review — A Fresh Look at a Longstanding Resource
- Busuu Review: Some Courses Are Better Than Others
- Chinese For Us Review – Comprehensive and Affordable Courses
- Chinese Learn Online Review – Choose Another Course Instead
- Chinese Zero to Hero! Review – A Structured and Affordable Online Course
- ChineseClass101 Review – Good But Not Great
- ChinesePod Review – Great for Improving Listening Comprehension
- ChineseSkill Review – A Duolingo Style App for learning Chinese
- Clozemaster Review: Limited Focus But Fun Way To Grow Vocab
- Coffee Break Chinese Review – Is It Right For You?
- Cudoo Review — I Wouldn’t Even Use it if it Were Free
- Drops App Review – Decent As A Supplementary Resource
- Du Chinese Review: Learn With Interesting Content, And App’s User Interface Is Top-notch
- Duolingo Chinese Review – Free, But Still Not Worth Using
- Duolingo Review: Useful But Not Sufficient – 2 Language Learners Test It (With Video)
- Earworms Review – A Unique Idea But Lacks Substance
- eChineseLearning Review – Not My First Choice
- FluentU Review — More Expensive than the Competition
- Fluenz Review – Academic Approach With Thorough Explanations
- Glossika Review – Not Cheap But Useful
- GoEast Mandarin Online Course Review: Self-Study + Personal Instruction
- Hanbridge Mandarin Review – Online Chinese Classes
- HelloChinese Review – Start Learning Chinese for Free
- HelloTalk Review – Make Friends & Practice Languages
- HiNative Review: Useful But Not Exceptional Q&A App
- italki Review – The Good, The Bad, & The Just Alright
- LanguagePod101 — All Languages, Pod101 and Class101
- Learn Chinese From Movies – Review
- Ling Review — Gamified Practice in Less Common Languages
- Lingo Bus Review – Mandarin Lessons Designed For Kids
- Lingodeer Review – A Better Alternative To Duolingo, Busuu, Rosetta Stone, etc.
- LingQ Review – Extensive Reading Made Easy
- Living Language Online Course Review – Not Very Good
- Mandarin Blueprint Review — A Unique Teaching Method
- Mango Languages Review – Pretty Good For Beginners
- Memrise Review – Useful But Don’t Overuse It
- Michel Thomas Method Review – Avoid At All Costs
- Mimic Method Review: Trying Out The Elemental Sounds Courses
- Mondly Review – Made Significant Improvements Made in 2022
- Ninchanese Review – Playing Games to Learn Chinese
- Pimsleur Chinese review: 100% Focus on Speaking So You Can Learn to Speak Mandarin
- Pimsleur Review — Learn While You… Do Just About Anything
- Preply Review – Tutors Created Tailored Lesson Plans for You
- Rocket Chinese Review – Improved But Other Courses Are Better
- Rosetta Stone Mandarin Chinese Review: Check Alternatives Before You Commit To It
- Rosetta Stone Review — Updated and Improved…And Needs More Improvement
- Rype App Review: I Wouldn’t Recommend It To Anybody
- Skritter Review: Solid Chinese and Japanese Writing Practice
- Speaky Review: Better Than Other Language Exchange Apps?
- Speechling Review – I Didn’t Know I Was Saying That Wrong!
- StoryLearning Chinese Uncovered Review
- Super Chinese Review — An Interactive Mandarin App
- Tandem Review: A Tinder-esque Language Exchange App?
- The Chairman’s Bao Review – Learn From The News
- Transparent Language Review – Not Exciting, But Language Offering Is So Vast That You May Need It
- TutorMing Review – I’m Currently A Student
- uTalk Review – For Beginners Who Want To Learn Key Words & Phrases
- Verbling Review: Online Classes With Helpful Revision Tools
- WaiChinese Review – Improve Your Chinese Pronunciation
- WordSwing Review – Study Chinese With Text Adventure Games
- Yabla Review — Affordable and Effective Video-Learning
- Yoyo Chinese Review: An Exceptionally Detailed Look At Their Courses
- Zizzle Review – Remember Chinese Characters Easily
All Chinese Mini Reviews
- 50 Languages Mini-Review: Basically an online phrasebook
- AmazingTalker Mini Review: Not Our Top Pick for Web Classes
- Anki Mini-Review: The Go-To SRS Flashcard App
- Arch Chinese Mini-Review: Meh. Could Be Better, Could Be Worse
- Bab.la Mini-Review: Use WordReference or Linguee Instead
- Beelinguapp Mini-Review: Reading & Listening Practice
- Bilingual Oxford Dictionaries Mini Review: Handy Apps
- Bluebird Languages Mini-Review: Over 160 Languages Available
- Brainscape Mini-Review: Adaptive Flashcards
- CaptionPop Mini-Review: Use The Free Version
- Chineasy App Mini Review: Enjoy Learning Chinese Characters
- Chinese Boost Mini-Review: Has Helpful Blog Posts About Learning
- Chinese Breeze Mini-Review: Not as Engaging as Mandarin Companion
- Chinese Grammar Wiki Mini-Review: One of the Best Grammar Guides
- ChineseSkill Word Mini-Review: Simple, Premade SRS Flashcards
- Complete Language Lessons Mini Review: Almost Useless
- Conversations by StoryLearning Mini-Review: There are Cheaper Options
- Coursera Mini Review: Great for Beginners, but Limited Options
- DeerPlus Mini Review: Fun Supplementary App
- Dig Mandarin Mini-Review: Thorough But Dry HSK Courses
- DLI Courses Mini-Review: Free With a Strong Focus on Pronunciation
- Domino Chinese Mini-Review: The Answer to Your Struggles
- Easy Languages Mini-Review: Interviews Around The Globe
- edX Mini-Review: Worth It If You Audit, Maybe Not If You Pay
- Eggbun Mini-Review: Excellent for Understanding Hangul
- Encore!!! Language Learning Mini-Review: Basically a Phrasebook
- Everyday Chinese Mini-Review: Some Good Hits for Every Miss
- Flowlingo Mini-Review: Has Potential, Still Developing
- Forvo Mini-Review: Audio Pronunciation of Millions of Words
- FunEasyLearn Mini-Review: Build Vocabulary The Fun Way
- Glosbe Mini-Review: Thousands of Languages With Some Errors
- Hacking Chinese Course Mini-Review: Great Advice for a High Price
- Hanping Chinese Dictionary Mini-Review: Good, But it’s No Pleco
- Hanzi Grids Mini-Review: Customizable and Simple to Use
- HanziCraft Mini-Review: Use the Free Website, Not the Paid App
- Hey! Lingo Mini-Review: Has Useful Phrases
- Hit Chinese Mini-Review: Immersion practice for Beginners
- HSK Online Mini-Review: The Best Chinese Test Prep App
- iChineseReader Mini-Review: Leveled Reading for K-12 Schools
- iLanguages Mini-Review: Almost Identical to Learn 101
- iLoveLanguages Mini-Review: Another Phrasebook SIte
- iMandarinPod Mini-Review: Messy Presentation, But Great Content
- Instant Immersion Mini-Review: No Longer a Good Investment
- Integrated Chinese Textbook Mini-Review: Colourful and Practical
- Internet Polyglot Mini-Review: Word Lists With Games
- iTranslate Mini-Review: 5 Apps To Support Communication
- L-Lingo Mini-Review: Textbook Content, Depends On Your Style
- Lang Workbooks Mini Review: Thorough Writing Practice
- LangCorrect: Unlimited, Free Writing Practice With Feedback
- Langu Mini Review: A Quality-Focused italki Alternative
- Language Learning WIth Netflix Mini-Review: Easy to Use
- Laoshi Mini Review: Great Resource for Learning Chinese Vocabulary
- Learn WIth Oliver Mini-Review: Simple With Lots of Content
- Learn101 Mini-Review: A Re-Formatted Version of iLanguages
- Learning Chinese Through Stories Mini-Review: Fun Immersion
- Lingo Mastery Conversational Dialogues Mini Review: Dual-text
- Lingo Mastery Short Stories Mini-Review: Lots of Unique Words
- LingoHut Mini-Review: Good Intentions, So-So Follow Through
- Lingua Boost Mini-Review: Use Pimsleur Instead
- Linguee Mini-Review: Best Dictionary for Formal Language
- Loecsen Mini-Review: Phrasebook App For Absolute Beginners
- Maayot Mini-Review: Best For Those Who Struggle To Stay Motivated
- Mandarin Companion Mini-Review: Engaging for Beginners
- Mandarin Corner Mini-Review: Well Organized, Engaging Content
- Mandarin HQ Mini-Review: Accessible, Real Spoken Chinese
- Manga Mandarin Mini-Review: Learn HSK Content The Fun Way
- Master Any Language Mini-Review: No Words To Describe the Nope
- Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar Mini-Review: Extremely Thorough
- My Language Exchange Mini-Review: Millions of Active Users
- mylingua Mini Review: Content That Matches Your Skill Level
- New Practical Chinese Reader Mini-Review: Great Value
- Open Learn Mini-Review: Very Specific Course Topics
- OPLingo Mini Review: Community Driven, Non-Profit
- Optilingo Mini-Review: Use if You Absolutely Love Slideshows
- Outlier Linguistics Mini-Review: Master Chinese Characters
- Pleco Mini-Review: The One Chinese App Everyone Needs
- Polly Lingual Mini-Review: Phrasebook With Simple Games
- Practical Audio-Visual Chinese Mini-Review: Learn From Taiwan
- Readlang Mini-Review: A Must-Have For Language Lovers
- Reverso Translation Mini-Review: Best for French learners
- Scripts Mini-Review: Flashy and Fast-Paced
- ShuoShuo Chinese Mini-Review: Chinese Made Simple
- Simply Learn Mini-Review: Spaced Repetition Phrases For Travelers
- Speed Learning Languages Mini-Review: Nope, Nope, Nope
- Speekoo Mini-Review: Dip Your Toes in a Language and Culture
- Strokes International Mini Review: Pricy but Comprehensive
- Sublearning Mini-Review: There Are Better Uses For Your Time
- SuperMemo Mini-Review: Not to Be Confused With Super-Memo
- Tales and Traditions Mini-Review: The Next Step in Graded Readers
- Tatoeba Mini-Review: A Community Writing Sentences in Context
- Verbix Mini-Review: Adequate for Less-Studied Languages
- Vocabulearn Mini Review: Unlikely to Teach You a Language
- Vocly Mini-Review: Expand Your Vocabulary in Less Common Languages
- WordReference Mini-Review: Thorough and Professionally Translated
- Write Alphabet Mini-Review: Try Our Other Recommendations Instead
- Xue Bai Mini-Review: Enjoyment Depends On Your Learning Style
- YellowBridge Mini-Review: Thorough With an Outdated Interface
- YouGlish Mini-Review: Thousands of Words in Context From YouTube
- Zhongwen Chrome Extension Mini-Review: Simple With Many Shortcuts