Best Mandarin Learning Apps For Beginners

250+ iOS apps curated and reviewed

4.8 avg rating
20 free apps
Updated October 2026

From beginner-friendly picks to power-user tools, our mandarin learning apps for beginners list covers 250+ iPhone apps updated through October 2026. Compare ratings, prices, and screenshots in one place.

Compare top Mandarin Learning Apps For Beginners (October 2026)

#AppPriceRatingAdsIn-App PurchasesUpdated
1HelloChinese - Learn ChineseHelloChinese - Learn ChineseFree4.9★ (24K)NoYesOct 2026
2ChineseSkill - Learn ChineseChineseSkill - Learn ChineseFree4.8★ (15K)NoYesOct 2026
3Laoshi: Learn Chinese & HSKLaoshi: Learn Chinese & HSKFree4.6★ (798)NoYesOct 2026
4Duolingo: Learn LanguagesDuolingo: Learn LanguagesFree4.7★ (5.5M)YesYesOct 2026
5Monkey King MandarinMonkey King MandarinFree—NoYesSep 2026
6Spark MandarinSpark MandarinFree—NoNoJun 2026
7Mandarin Master HSK FlashcardsMandarin Master HSK FlashcardsFree—NoYesJun 2026
8Sviatix: Learn MandarinSviatix: Learn MandarinFree—NoNoMay 2026

Top Picks for Mandarin Learning Apps For Beginners

4.9😊(24K ratings)
FreeIn-App Purchases
HelloChinese - Learn Chinese screenshot 1
HelloChinese - Learn Chinese screenshot 2
HelloChinese - Learn Chinese screenshot 3
HelloChinese - Learn Chinese screenshot 4
HelloChinese - Learn Chinese screenshot 5
HelloChinese - Learn Chinese screenshot 6

This app offers a fun and effective way to learn Mandarin Chinese from beginner to conversational levels. It combines game-based lessons, stories, videos, and speech recognition to help you master pronunciation, characters, and practical conversations while exploring Chinese culture.

What We Love

  • 🚀 Easy to learn
  • 👍 Engaging and fun
  • 👍 Helpful for beginners
  • 👍 Good for pronunciation practice
  • 👍 Useful for learning Chinese characters
  • 👍 Effective teaching methods
  • 👍 Convenient for on-the-go learning
  • 👍 Comprehensive learning experience

Room to Improve

  • 🐛 Inconsistent speech recognition
  • 🐛 Audio quality issues in some videos
  • 💰 Paywall limits access to full content
  • 💰 Premium subscription is expensive
ChineseSkill - Learn Chinese#2

ChineseSkill - Learn Chinese by YIYAN TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.

#1 Mandarin & Cantonese App
Strong Contender
📚 Education
4.8😊(15K ratings)
FreeIn-App Purchases
ChineseSkill - Learn Chinese screenshot 1
ChineseSkill - Learn Chinese screenshot 2
ChineseSkill - Learn Chinese screenshot 3
ChineseSkill - Learn Chinese screenshot 4
ChineseSkill - Learn Chinese screenshot 5
ChineseSkill - Learn Chinese screenshot 6

Master Mandarin Chinese with interactive lessons, smart reviews, and AI-powered speaking practice. Learn Pinyin, Hanzi, vocabulary, and grammar for work, travel, or HSK exams. Improve listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills.

What We Love

  • 👍 Great app for learning Chinese
  • 🚀 Comprehensive and effective learning approach
  • 💡 Helpful explanations and grammar notes
  • 👍 Engaging and fun learning experience
  • 👍 Versatile features (pinyin, characters, writing practice)
  • 👍 Excellent value, lots of free content

Room to Improve

  • 🐛 Occasional crashes or glitches
  • 🔒 Concerns about subscription cancellation and account issues
  • 💰 Paid subscription required to access all features
  • 🤔 Some lessons feel repetitive or lack progression
  • 💬 Desire for more audio/speech practice features
Laoshi: Learn Chinese & HSK#3

Laoshi: Learn Chinese & HSK by Laoshi Inc.

Flashcards, Grammar & Writing
Worth Considering
📚 Education
4.6(798 ratings)
FreeIn-App Purchases
Laoshi: Learn Chinese & HSK screenshot 1
Laoshi: Learn Chinese & HSK screenshot 2
Laoshi: Learn Chinese & HSK screenshot 3
Laoshi: Learn Chinese & HSK screenshot 4
Laoshi: Learn Chinese & HSK screenshot 5
Laoshi: Learn Chinese & HSK screenshot 6

Master Mandarin Chinese with smart flashcards, comprehensive grammar explanations, and character writing practice. Prepare for HSK exams and track your progress with scientifically optimized review intervals. Supports importing custom decks.

More Mandarin Learning Apps For Beginners apps to explore

FAQ about Mandarin Learning Apps For Beginners

What are the best mandarin learning apps for beginners for iPhone?
HelloChinese - Learn Chinese tops our mandarin learning apps for beginners ranking as of October 2026, with a 4.9-star average from 24K App Store ratings, and it's free to download.
Yes — 20 of the top mandarin learning apps for beginners we rank are free to download, including HelloChinese - Learn Chinese and ChineseSkill - Learn Chinese.
HelloChinese - Learn Chinese has no ads and offers in-app purchases, according to its App Store listing as of October 2026.
We track 250+ mandarin learning apps for beginners on the iOS App Store as of October 2026, ranked by rating, recency, and analysis of real user reviews.