Best Classical Chinese Apps

249+ iOS apps curated and reviewed

4.1 avg rating
17 free apps
Updated August 2026

The best classical chinese apps on iPhone average 4.1★ across 249+ titles — we've ranked them by what real users actually keep on their phones. Updated August 2026.

Compare top Classical Chinese Apps (August 2026)

#AppPriceRatingAdsIn-App PurchasesUpdated
1Classical ChineseClassical ChineseFree2.0★ (1)YesYesMay 2026
2Four Great Classical NovelsFour Great Classical NovelsFree4.9★ (8)NoYesMay 2026
3Classical Chinese Words2026Classical Chinese Words2026$0.29NoNoAug 2026
4Pleco Chinese DictionaryPleco Chinese DictionaryFree4.7★ (1.9K)NoYesAug 2026
5Chinese Poetry & CultureChinese Poetry & Culture$1.99NoNoAug 2026
6Du Chinese: Read&Learn ChineseDu Chinese: Read&Learn ChineseFree4.9★ (4.5K)NoYesAug 2026
7Hanzio: Learn ChineseHanzio: Learn ChineseFreeYesYesAug 2026
8Chinese Words & WritingChinese Words & Writing$1.99 was $2.99NoNoMay 2026

Top Picks for Classical Chinese

Classical Chinese#1

Classical Chinese by Yangguang Ma

Learn Classical Chinese Easily
Editor's Choice
📚 Education
2.0(1 ratings)
FreeAdsIn-App Purchases
Classical Chinese screenshot 1
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Classical Chinese screenshot 5

This app offers a comprehensive approach to learning Classical Chinese. It provides multi-level text annotations, author biographies, intelligent Q&A, and detailed word explanations to make learning efficient and enjoyable.

Four Great Classical Novels#2

Four Great Classical Novels by 世木 林

Chinese Classic literature
Strong Contender
📚 Books
4.9(8 ratings)
FreeIn-App Purchases
Four Great Classical Novels screenshot 1
Four Great Classical Novels screenshot 2
Four Great Classical Novels screenshot 3
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Explore four of China's most celebrated classical novels in multiple languages. Customize your reading experience with adjustable font sizes, background colors, and screen brightness. Ideal for literature enthusiasts and those learning Chinese.

More Classical Chinese apps to explore

4
Pleco Chinese Dictionary
Pleco Chinese Dictionary
Pleco Chinese Dictionary
Handwriting, OCR, flashcards
Free

This app is a comprehensive tool for learning Chinese, offering integrated dictionaries, document reading, and flashcard features. It supports various input methods including handwriting and OCR, with extensive dictionary options and pronunciation guides.

Integrated dictionaries with over 110,000 entriesFull-screen handwriting inputLive OCR for word lookup
🔍 Reference
(1.9K)
free with in-app purchases
5
Chinese Poetry & Culture
Chinese Poetry & Culture
Chinese Poetry & Culture
AI Insights · Pinyin · Recite
$1.99

Explore classical Chinese poetry with AI-powered explanations, Pinyin, and cultural context. Practice recitation, take quizzes, and learn about poets. Your learning history is kept private on your device.

Classical Chinese poems with annotationsAI-guided explanations in your languagePinyin support for characters
📚 Education
(0)
paid
6
Du Chinese: Read&Learn Chinese
Du Chinese: Read&Learn Chinese
Du Chinese: Read&Learn Chinese
Read Mandarin at any level
Free

Learn Mandarin Chinese through engaging stories with integrated tools for reading and listening comprehension. Access definitions, pinyin, native audio, and translations instantly. Build vocabulary with a built-in dictionary and flashcards.

Extensive library of Mandarin storiesContent for all learning levelsInstant pinyin, definitions, and translations
📚 Education
(4.5K)
free with in-app purchases
7
Hanzio: Learn Chinese
Hanzio: Learn Chinese
Hanzio: Learn Chinese
Master Chinese Characters
Free
📚 Education
(0)
8
Chinese Words & Writing
Chinese Words & Writing
Chinese Words & Writing
Let's learn Chinese language !
$1.99
$2.99 | 33% OFF
📚 Education
(0)
9
Chinese Poetry for Kids
Chinese Poetry for Kids
Chinese Poetry for Kids
50 Classics · Audio · Meaning
Free

This app introduces children to 50 classic Chinese poems with audio, explanations, and practice tools. It offers a focused learning experience for young learners and families, with an option to unlock all content.

50 selected Chinese poetry classicsAudio recitation with pause/resumePlain-language meaning and commentary
📚 Education
(0)
free with in-app purchases
10
古文观止 - 古文国学学习
古文观止 - 古文国学学习
古文观止 - 古文国学学习
by zhenyu song
Free

Master classical Chinese prose with daily 5-minute study sessions. This app offers 222 essential essays with professional audio, detailed explanations, and contextual notes. Track your progress and analyze writing patterns to build a strong literary foundation.

Daily study units with audioCharacter-by-character explanationsContextual notes
📚 Education
(1)
free
11
Langpal話朋 - Chinese Phrasebook
Langpal話朋 - Chinese Phrasebook
Langpal話朋 - Chinese Phrasebook
Learn Cantonese, Mandarin & 英文
Free
📚 Education
(0)
12
Yoyillo: Learn Chinese Offline
Yoyillo: Learn Chinese Offline
Yoyillo: Learn Chinese Offline
Chinese Characters Made Easy
Free
📚 Education
(0)
13
Chinese To Pinyin - Un
Chinese To Pinyin - Un
Chinese To Pinyin - Un
Convert Chinese To Pinyin
Free
$1.99 | 100% OFF

This app converts Chinese characters to Pinyin, supporting both simplified and traditional scripts. It offers advanced handwriting recognition, OCR for image text, and an accurate pronunciation guide. Export your work as PDFs and learn offline.

Simplified and Traditional character supportExport to PDFHandwriting recognition
📚 Education
(1)
freemium
14
Dragontone - learn Chinese
Dragontone - learn Chinese
Dragontone - learn Chinese
Most practical App to learn CN
Free
📚 Education
(0)
15
Stele: Chinese Flashcards
Stele: Chinese Flashcards
Stele: Chinese Flashcards
Learn Chinese, simply.
Free
📚 Education
(0)
16
Learning Chinese Stroke Order
Learning Chinese Stroke Order
Learning Chinese Stroke Order
Learn to Write Characters
Free
📚 Education
(0)
17
Chinese Type - Pinyin  Layout
Chinese Type - Pinyin  Layout
Chinese Type - Pinyin Layout
Traditional Classical Layout
Free
🔧 Utilities
(0)
18
Daily Chinese Word
Daily Chinese Word
Daily Chinese Word
A Chinese word, every morning
Free
📚 Education
(0)
19
古文言文翻译
古文言文翻译
古文言文翻译
文言文翻译器
Free
🔍 Reference
(3)
20
OneShot Chinese - HSK Vocab
OneShot Chinese - HSK Vocab
OneShot Chinese - HSK Vocab
Hanzi, HSK 1-6 & Speaking
Free
📚 Education
(0)

FAQ about Classical Chinese

What are the best classical chinese apps for iPhone?
Classical Chinese tops our classical chinese apps ranking as of August 2026, with a 2.0-star average from 1 App Store ratings, and it's free to download.
Yes — 17 of the top classical chinese apps we rank are free to download, including Classical Chinese and Four Great Classical Novels.
Classical Chinese shows ads and offers in-app purchases, according to its App Store listing as of August 2026.
We track 249+ classical chinese apps on the iOS App Store as of August 2026, ranked by rating, recency, and analysis of real user reviews.
Classical Chinese employs a multi-level annotation system for texts, detailed word explanations with etymology, and an intelligent Q&A feature to address learning obstacles. It also includes author biographies to provide historical and cultural context.
While the description doesn't explicitly detail progress tracking features, the app categorizes articles from beginner to advanced, suggesting a structured learning path. Learners can select annotation detail levels to suit their background.