On this page
  1. What to look for in an HSK app
  2. The apps at a glance
  3. Features compared
  4. Hanzi By Heart
  5. Pleco
  6. Anki
  7. Hack Chinese
  8. Skritter
  9. Du Chinese
  10. HelloChinese
  11. SuperChinese
  12. Duolingo
  13. Which app is right for you?
  14. Questions and answers
  15. Sources

Short answer For the new HSK (HSK 3.0, from 13 December 2026), use an app with the word lists of the 2026 exam syllabus. Hanzi By Heart, Pleco and Hack Chinese have them, and for Anki there are shared decks made by users. Skritter has first lists for the 2026 syllabus, and Du Chinese is updating its HSK labels. Courses such as HelloChinese, SuperChinese and Duolingo teach Chinese step by step, with grammar and speaking practice. For the exam, combine a course with a vocabulary trainer.

About this comparison: We compare features that you can check yourself, as of 19 October 2026, and we link a source for each claim. Prices and features change, so check the app's own page before you pay.

What to look for in an HSK app

  • The right word list. The new exam follows the HSK syllabus from November 2025: 300, 500, 1,000, 2,000, 3,600 and 5,400 words for levels 1–6 (cumulative). Some apps still use the older 2021 framework, where level 1 alone has about 500 words. Our guide HSK 3.0 vs. HSK 2.0 explains the changes.
  • Spaced repetition. The app should plan your reviews for you. See what spaced repetition is.
  • All three skills. Reading a word, understanding it when you hear it and writing it from memory are different skills. See why writing is its own skill.

The apps at a glance

AppBest forWord lists for HSK 3.0 (2026)PlatformsPrice model
Hanzi By HeartHSK words: reading, listening, writingYes, levels 1–6iPhoneSubscription with free trial, or one-time purchase
PlecoDictionary and reading helpYes, as flashcardsiPhone, iPad, AndroidFree, paid add-ons
AnkiFree, flexible flashcardsShared decks made by usersComputer, Android, web, iPhoneFree; the iPhone app is a one-time purchase
Hack ChineseLearning many words fastYesWeb browserPaid after a 21-day free trial
SkritterHandwritingDecks for the 2021 framework, first lists for 2026Web, iPhone, AndroidSubscription with a 7-day free trial
Du ChineseGraded reading and listeningHSK 3.0 labels in progressiPhone, Android, webFree chapters, subscription
HelloChineseStarting from zeroCourse based on the new HSK standardiPhone, AndroidFree download, subscription
SuperChineseCourse with speaking practiceCourse for HSK 1–5, vocabulary up to HSK 7–9iPhone, AndroidSome lessons free, subscription or lifetime
DuolingoA daily habitNot organised by HSK leveliPhone, Android, webFree with ads, subscription

Features compared

Six features that matter for the HSK, checked on 19 October 2026 on the providers' own pages:

AppHSK 3.0Writing3 skillsTextbookOfflineOne-time
Hanzi By Heart✓✓✓✓✓✓
Pleco✓◐◐?✓✓
Anki◐◐◐?✓✓
Hack Chinese✓✗???✗
Skritter◐✓◐✓◐✗
Du Chinese◐✗?✗✓✗
HelloChinese?◐?✗✓✗
SuperChinese?◐?✗✓✓
Duolingo✗??✗?✗

✓ yes · ◐ partly, or only with your own setup · ✗ no · ? the provider gives no information

  • HSK 3.0: word lists of the 2026 exam syllabus, levels 1–6.
  • Writing: you write characters from memory, and the app checks your strokes.
  • 3 skills: reading, listening and writing each have their own review schedule.
  • Textbook: words by lesson of the official New HSK Course (新HSK教程), levels 1–3.
  • Offline: you can study without an internet connection.
  • One-time: full access for a one-time payment.

What "partly" means here: Pleco has stroke order tests, and separate scores per test type need your own scorefiles. In Anki, it depends on the shared deck, and writing quizzes need an add-on such as máobǐ. Skritter has first lists for the 2026 syllabus. It schedules writing, reading, meaning and tones separately but has no listening part, and offline you can review but not add new words. Du Chinese is updating its labels to HSK 3.0. HelloChinese and SuperChinese have handwriting practice but do not say whether you write from memory with checked strokes.

Hanzi By Heart

Best for: learning the HSK 3.0 words for levels 1–6 on the iPhone, with reading, listening and writing trained separately.

Hanzi By Heart has all 5,400 words of HSK 3.0 levels 1–6 from the 2026 exam syllabus, with example sentences and audio for every word. The audio is synthetic speech. You review every word three ways: reading, listening, and writing from memory with checked strokes. Each skill has its own spaced repetition schedule (FSRS). The app works offline and is available in 15 languages. If you use the 新HSK教程 textbooks, you can study levels 1–3 lesson by lesson. You can pay monthly or yearly (7 days free on the yearly plan), or once. Limits: no levels 7–9, no grammar course and no Android app.

Pleco

Best for: looking up words and reading Chinese texts.

Pleco is a dictionary app with a document reader and flashcards. You can use it next to any other app on this list. In May 2026, the Pleco team added flashcards for the new HSK (2026) to the iOS app; for Android, they were in the beta version then. The app is free; the flashcard system and recordings by native speakers are paid add-ons.

Anki

Best for: learners who want a free tool and full control.

Anki is a general flashcard program with strong spaced repetition, including the FSRS scheduler. Anki has no official HSK deck. You download a shared deck made by other users. Check which list the deck follows (2021 framework or 2026 syllabus) and whether it has audio. Anki is free on the computer, on Android and on the web. The iPhone app, AnkiMobile, is a one-time purchase.

Hack Chinese

Best for: learning large numbers of words fast.

Hack Chinese is a vocabulary trainer with spaced repetition. It has word lists for the 2026 HSK syllabus, starting with the 300 words of level 1. It runs in the web browser. After a 21-day free trial, it is paid.

Skritter

Best for: writing characters by hand.

In Skritter, you write each character on the screen, and the app grades your strokes in real time. Reviews use spaced repetition. Skritter has HSK 3.0 study decks for the 2021 framework and first lists for the 2026 syllabus, so check which version a deck follows. Skritter is a subscription with a 7-day free trial.

Du Chinese

Best for: reading and listening practice.

Du Chinese has graded stories and articles from beginner to advanced, with audio by native speakers, a pop-up dictionary and flashcards. In October 2026, it started to update its HSK labels to HSK 3.0. You can read some chapters for free; the full library needs a subscription.

HelloChinese

Best for: starting from zero.

HelloChinese is a playful course with handwriting practice and videos with native speakers. According to its Google Play description, Main Course 2.0 is based on the new HSK standard. According to its App Store release notes from August 2026, the course covers more than 2,500 words and 430 grammar points. The app is free to download; Premium is a subscription.

SuperChinese

Best for: a structured course with speaking practice.

The main course has 8 levels and covers HSK 1 to 5. A separate vocabulary course goes up to HSK 7–9. Lessons check your pronunciation. Some lessons are free; the full course needs PLUS, for 1 month, 12 months or lifetime.

Duolingo

Best for: a daily habit and a relaxed start.

Duolingo's Chinese course is a general course and is not organised by HSK level, so you have to find out yourself which HSK words you still miss. It has a tab for character practice, and its practice lessons use spaced repetition. Duolingo is free with ads; Super and Max are paid subscriptions.

Which app is right for you?

  • You prepare for an HSK 3.0 exam on an iPhone: Hanzi By Heart for the words, Pleco as your dictionary.
  • You want a free tool and do not mind some setup: Anki with a shared deck that follows the 2026 syllabus.
  • Writing matters most to you: Skritter, or Hanzi By Heart, which checks your strokes as one of three skills.
  • You study on a computer: Hack Chinese or Anki.
  • You start from zero: a course such as HelloChinese or SuperChinese. Add a vocabulary trainer when you know the basics.
  • You want to read more: Du Chinese.

A good setup combines three tools: a dictionary, a course or a reader, and a vocabulary trainer with spaced repetition.

Questions and answers

Which apps have the HSK 3.0 word lists? As of October 2026: Hanzi By Heart (levels 1–6), Pleco (flashcards), Hack Chinese, and Anki through shared decks. Skritter has first lists for the 2026 syllabus, and Du Chinese is updating its labels.

Is Duolingo enough for the HSK? Not on its own. The course is not organised by HSK level, so it does not show you which words of your level you still miss.

Is Anki good for the HSK? Yes, if you choose a good deck. Make sure that it follows the 2026 exam syllabus (level 1 has 300 words) and not the 2021 framework (level 1 has about 500 words).

Are there official HSK 3.0 textbooks? Yes: the New HSK Course (新HSK教程) from the Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press, authorised by the Center for Language Education and Cooperation and Chinese Testing International. As of October 2026, booksellers list the books for levels 1 to 3 and books 4A and 4B.

Sources