The best HSK apps in 2026: 12 compared honestly

How we compared them

We looked at what decides whether an app gets you through the HSK. Does it follow the exam syllabus, including the new HSK 3.0 bands? Does it have full mock exams in the exam format? Does it teach lessons, or only drill words? What is free, and what does the rest cost?

Prices and features were checked on October 2, 2026, mostly on each product's own website or app store listing. Prices change, so check before you buy. Where we relied on other sources or could not confirm something, we say so.

One thing to know up front: we make HSK University. We put it first because it combines a structured HSK 3.0 course, full mock exams and a permanent free plan in one place. We list its weak spots too, and for several needs another app is the better choice.

The 12 HSK apps at a glance

1. HSK University: best for a complete HSK course

What it is. An online course built around the HSK syllabus: HSK 3.0 Bands 1–3 (shown as HSK 1–3) and HSK 4–5 in 104 lessons. Lessons cover vocabulary, grammar, reading, listening, flashcards and exercises, with 345 grammar points across the five courses. Full-length mock exams are generated fresh for each attempt and timed, following the HSK 2.0 paper format for now.

Why it stands out. It teaches HSK 3.0 Bands 1–3 as full courses rather than word lists (HSKGo, the official HSK app, also covers the first HSK 3.0 levels). The free plan is permanent and needs no card: most lessons are open, with 3 lessons per course and one section in most lessons kept for paid plans. The interface comes in English, Spanish, German, French, Russian and Burmese.

Watch out for. There is no iPhone app yet (web, Android and Windows only). Audio is AI text-to-speech, not native-speaker recordings. The mock exams and the HSK 4 and 5 courses still follow HSK 2.0, while HSK 3.0 exams start worldwide on December 13, 2026, according to Chinese Testing International, so check which version your sitting uses. HSK 6 and Bands 7–9 are not out yet. The free plan includes one full mock exam in total; Pro adds one a month, Max three a week and Ultra is unlimited.

Price. Free plan. Pro costs $9.90 a month or $79 a year; Max costs $19.90 a month and adds the AI voice tutor (60 minutes a month); Ultra costs $49 a month. See the courses.

2. SuperTest (HSK Online): best for drilling exam questions

SuperTest, also sold as HSK Online, is an exam-practice app that advertises over 300,000 HSK practice questions, plus mock tests in the exam format. It comes from the same developer as SuperChinese and has 4.7 stars from about 1,000 ratings on the US App Store. Its levels follow the older HSK 1–6, and we found no mention of the HSK 3.0 bands on its site. It is free to start; VIP plans run from $5.99 to $109.99, monthly to lifetime, in the App Store. Pick it for question practice, especially on an iPhone.

3. Migii HSK: best for the number of mock exams

Migii's App Store listing advertises more than 180 HSK mock exams for levels 1–6, says HSK 3.0 is now available, and describes an AI study assistant called MiA that gives writing feedback and grammar help. Migii's site also lists HSK 7–9. It is free to start; premium starts at $14.99 for 3 months, and there is a lifetime option. Of the apps here, it states the highest number of mock exams.

4. HSKLord: best for HSK 3.0 vocabulary

HSKLord is a spaced-repetition vocabulary app whose study lists follow the 2021 HSK standard (HSK 3.0), level by level up to 7–9. It is focused: words, reviews and a short placement test, with no full mock exams. After a 7-day trial the free tier gives 10 new cards a day; its bundles cost $59. It works well next to a course.

5. Hack Chinese: best for serious vocabulary review

Hack Chinese is a vocabulary trainer with word lists for both HSK 2.0 and HSK 3.0. It does one job, spaced-repetition review of words, and suits learners who already have a course and want a stronger memory system. It is a paid subscription; its official pricing page showed no price when we checked, so confirm on the site.

6. BizHan: best for AI-driven practice

BizHan combines HSK courses for levels 1–9, flashcards, timed mock exams with scoring, and AI conversation practice. It is free to start; we found no published prices.

7. SuperChinese: best for speaking practice

SuperChinese is a conversation-first app with AI pronunciation and speaking feedback from its assistant, CHAO. Its site and its App Store listing describe its levels differently (HSK 1–5 equivalent on the site, nine HSK levels in the store), so check which syllabus a level follows before relying on it for the exam. It lists no full mock exams. Plus costs $11.99 a month, $69.99 a year or $149.99 lifetime on its website; App Store prices differ.

8. HelloChinese: best for complete beginners

HelloChinese is a polished beginner app with short, game-like lessons and speech recognition, and 4.9 stars from about 23,000 ratings on the US App Store. Its main course is organised by HSK levels, following the older HSK guidelines, but it lists no mock exams, so it is a strong start rather than an exam plan. Premium costs $11.99 a month or $69.99 a year.

9. Chinese Zero to Hero: best for video lessons

Chinese Zero to Hero sells self-paced video courses for HSK 1–6, plus a newer HSK 7–9 course. It has free courses, and you pay once for the rest: from $33 per course, $180 for the HSK 1–4 bundle and $295 for the Ultimate bundle. We found no full mock exams on its official pages.

10. Pleco: the dictionary to keep on your phone

Pleco is a Chinese dictionary, not a course, and it is widely used by learners at every level. The core app is free, with paid add-ons and bundles whose prices vary by store. Use it next to whatever you study with.

11. Anki: best free flashcards

Anki is a free flashcard program for desktop and Android (the iPhone app costs $24.99), with community-made HSK decks. It is powerful and free on most devices, but you build your own routine, and deck quality depends on who made the deck.

12. Du Chinese: best for reading practice

Du Chinese is a graded reader: short stories and articles at increasing levels, with audio. It has 4.9 stars from about 4,600 ratings on the US App Store, some free lessons, and costs $14.99 a month or $119.99 a year for the rest. Reading speed matters in the HSK reading section, but this is a reader, not an exam course.

Also worth knowing

• The official HSK app: HSKGo describes itself as the app from the team behind the HSK exam and says it is built on the new HSK 3.0 syllabus; it covers the first levels so far.
• Free mock exams on the web: hskmocktest.com offers free HSK 3.0 mock tests for levels 1–9. HSK Mock (hskmock.com) describes itself as the official platform for practising HSK and YCT tests and sells test codes.
• Writing characters: Skritter teaches handwriting with HSK 3.0 decks, at $14.99 a month or $99.99 a year.
• University video courses: Peking University's HSK courses on Coursera; the HSK 1 course is free to enrol in, with a paid certificate.

Which HSK app should you pick?

• Starting from zero, aiming for HSK 1–3: a structured course such as HSK University, plus Pleco. If you only want to try Chinese first, HelloChinese.
• Exam in three months: work through your level's course, take a full mock exam every one or two weeks in the format of your sitting, and drill weak sections with SuperTest or Migii.
• Vocabulary is the bottleneck: HSKLord or Hack Chinese next to your course, or Anki if it has to be free.
• Speaking matters most: SuperChinese, or HSK University's AI voice tutor on the Max plan.
• You only have an iPhone: SuperTest, Migii or HSKLord today. HSK University has no iPhone app yet.

Does it matter if an app follows HSK 3.0?

Yes. HSK 3.0 exams start worldwide on December 13, 2026, according to Chinese Testing International. It replaces the old six levels with nine levels in three stages and a much bigger word list. Check which version your sitting uses before you book; the official source is Chinese Testing International. Our HSK 3.0 guide explains what changed, and the HSK University vs Duolingo vs HelloChinese comparison goes deeper on those three.

Questions people ask

What is the best app for the HSK exam?

For a complete course, HSK University: HSK 3.0 Bands 1–3 and HSK 4–5 in 104 lessons with full mock exams and a free plan (we make it). For drilling exam questions, SuperTest. For a large number of mock papers, Migii HSK. For vocabulary only, HSKLord or Hack Chinese.

Is Duolingo enough to pass the HSK?

Not on its own. Duolingo's Chinese course is not organised by HSK level and has no HSK mock exams. It can be a daily warm-up, but you also need the HSK vocabulary, grammar and timed exam practice from something built for the test.

Which HSK apps support HSK 3.0?

HSK University teaches HSK 3.0 Bands 1–3 as full courses, and HSKGo, the official HSK app, covers the first HSK 3.0 levels. Migii says HSK 3.0 is now available. HSKLord, Hack Chinese and Skritter have HSK 3.0 word lists, and hskmocktest.com and HSK Mock offer HSK 3.0 mock tests. SuperTest's levels follow the older HSK 1–6.

What is the best free HSK app?

For a free structured course, HSK University's free plan opens most lessons in each of its five courses (HSK 1–5) with no card. Anki is fully free on desktop and Android if you build your own flashcard routine, and hskmocktest.com has free mock exams.

Is there an HSK app with an AI tutor?

Yes. HSK University has AI chat on every plan and an AI voice tutor on its Max and Ultra plans. BizHan and SuperChinese have AI speaking practice, and Migii has an AI study assistant for writing and grammar.