Chinese learners
The best app to learn Chinese
Lingden, Duolingo, Babbel, Memrise, and Anki — compared specifically for Chinese learners. We make one of them, but we'll tell you when each alternative is the better pick.
What matters specifically for Chinese
Mandarin tones are non-negotiable for being understood. Pinyin + audio + IPA all reinforce the same tone information from different angles.
The right app for Chinese isn't just the most popular one — it's the one that handles Chinese-specific quirks well. Below: which app gets each angle right.
The ranking
1. Lingden — for pronunciation-first learners
Every Chinese word has IPA pronunciation, per-word audio, and shows up in a real sentence with English translation + word-by-word breakdowns. Curated A1–B2 deck. Free to start with no ads.
Best for: learners who want to actually speak Chinese understandably, not just translate single words.
Try Lingden free →2. Anki — for DIY power users
Free SRS engine, unlimited customization, no curated Chinese content. You build your own deck from textbooks, films, or articles.
Best for: Chinese learners studying a specific book or field-specific vocabulary that no curated deck covers.
Compare Lingden vs Anki →3. Babbel — for lesson-style learners
Structured 15-minute Chinese lessons with grammar instruction + dialogues. No IPA. No real spaced repetition. Most expensive of the mainstream apps.
Best for: learners who prefer guided lessons over flexible flashcard-style review.
Compare Lingden vs Babbel →4. Memrise — for audio-first learners
Strong native-speaker audio on every Chinese card, but no IPA and variable content quality across decks. Heavy ads on the free tier.
Best for: ear-training without caring about IPA-level pronunciation analysis.
Compare Lingden vs Memrise →5. Duolingo — for casual / beginner habits
Best free tier of any Chinese app. Single-word and simple-phrase drilling. Gamification builds habit but doesn't scale past A2 for most learners.
Best for: Chinese beginners building a daily habit before graduating to a more serious app.
Compare Lingden vs Duolingo →The 60-second test
Install two of these apps. Use each for one week. The app you actually open every day — that's your winner. There's no algorithmic test that beats real friction. Lingden is free to try with no card.
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