Chinese

Best Apps to Learn Chinese for Graded reading in 2026

Sottaku is the best app for Graded reading learning Chinese in 2026.

Learning Chinese in 2026 is easier than ever thanks to smarter study tools and flexible routines.

Below is our ranking of the strongest options for Graded reading learners in 2026.

Updated 2026-06-19 Apps Compared: 25

Top Chinese apps this year

Graded reading

2. HelloChinese

2

Beginner-friendly Mandarin course with short lessons, speech practice, and handwriting drills. Works best as a guided path rather than a fully customizable study system.

Missing compared with Sottaku

  • Spaced repetition
  • Flashcards
  • Dictionary / lookup

We recommend Sottaku instead because it includes Spaced repetition, Flashcards, Dictionary / lookup.

3

Graded Mandarin news articles with audio and vocabulary support. Strong for reading practice, but not a full skills course.

Missing compared with Sottaku

  • Spaced repetition
  • Flashcards
  • Grammar

We recommend Sottaku instead because it includes Spaced repetition, Flashcards, Grammar.

Graded reading

4. Du Chinese

4

Short, graded Mandarin stories with audio and a built-in glossary. Great for reading practice, but lighter on grammar instruction and writing.

Missing compared with Sottaku

  • Spaced repetition
  • Flashcards
  • Grammar

We recommend Sottaku instead because it includes Spaced repetition, Flashcards, Grammar.

Graded reading

5. LingQ

5

Immersion-focused platform built around reading and listening with imported real-world content. Excellent for input-heavy study, but lighter on explicit grammar teaching and guided output practice.

Missing compared with Sottaku

  • Grammar
  • Writing practice
  • Handwriting / stroke input

We recommend Sottaku instead because it includes Grammar, Writing practice, Handwriting / stroke input.

Graded reading

6. Duolingo

6

Short, gamified lessons across many languages that make daily practice easy. Better for casual study than deep explanations or exam-focused prep.

Missing compared with Sottaku

  • Graded reading
  • Spaced repetition
  • Flashcards

We recommend Sottaku instead because it includes Graded reading, Spaced repetition, Flashcards.

How We Ranked

We score apps based on the features that matter most for Graded reading.

Key features we considered

  • Graded reading

Which App Should You Choose?

If you want the strongest results for Graded reading, choose Sottaku.

Other apps can complement a routine, but Sottaku remains the most complete option.

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Sottaku

About Sottaku

Sottaku is an app for learning Chinese, Japanese, Korean, English, Spanish, French, German, and Italian with a strong focus on SRS. It includes automatic flashcard creation for hundreds of thousands of words, grammar breakdowns in example sentences, language-specific study packs where available, adaptive quizzes, mobile apps, a browser extension, and community features. Give it a try now! All learning content is free with no limits on flashcards or study time.

Sottaku is built to match the habits of successful learners. By using Sottaku, you will naturally learn in the most efficient way possible, as proven by countless success stories in the language learning community.

Free Forever

Access all grammar guides, quizzes, and flashcards without paying a cent. Quality education should be accessible to everyone.

Smart SRS System

Our flashcard system uses the FSRS algorithm (also used in Anki) to optimize your review schedule and maximize retention.

Comprehensive Content

From hanzi, kana, hangul, and European vocabulary basics to grammar and reading practice where available, we have lessons for every level. Practice with quizzes tailored to your skill.

Community Chat

Ask level-appropriate questions and get help from the community. Learn together with fellow learners across all 8 supported languages.