The best online HSK courses in 2026, compared

What makes an online HSK course good

An HSK course has one job: get you to pass a specific level. Four things decide whether it can.

• It follows the syllabus. Every level of the HSK has a defined word list and grammar list. A course should teach those, in order, and tell you which version it follows: the older HSK 2.0 (six levels) or the new HSK 3.0 (nine levels in three stages). HSK 3.0 exams start worldwide on December 13, 2026, according to Chinese Testing International.
• It trains all the sections. Listening and reading at every level, and writing from HSK 3 up. Vocabulary apps alone leave gaps here.
• It has full mock exams. Timed papers in the real format are the only reliable way to know you are ready.
• The price fits the time you need. Most learners need several months per level, so a monthly plan and a one-time course cost very different amounts over a year.

Prices and features were checked on October 2, 2026, mostly on each provider's own site or app store page. Tutor prices vary by tutor.

The courses compared

HSK University: best structured HSK course

HSK University teaches HSK 3.0 Bands 1–3 (shown as HSK 1–3) and HSK 4–5 in 104 lessons. Lessons include new words, dialogues, grammar, reading, listening, flashcards and exercises, with 345 grammar points across the five courses. Full mock exams are generated fresh for each attempt and timed, in the HSK 2.0 paper format for now, so you can sit as many as your plan allows without memorising the answers.

The free plan never expires and needs no card. Most lessons are open; 3 lessons per course and one section in most lessons are kept for paid plans, and the free plan includes one full mock exam. Pro is $9.90 a month or $79 a year; Max ($19.90 a month) adds an AI voice tutor (60 minutes a month). The interface comes in English, Spanish, German, French, Russian and Burmese.

The honest limits: no iPhone app yet, audio is AI text-to-speech rather than native-speaker recordings, the mock exams and the HSK 4–5 courses still follow HSK 2.0 while HSK 3.0 exams start worldwide on December 13, 2026, according to Chinese Testing International, and HSK 6 and Bands 7–9 are still in development. See the courses.

Chinese Zero to Hero: best pay-once video course

Chinese Zero to Hero sells self-paced video courses for HSK 1–6 and 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. It suits learners who like a teacher explaining on video. We found no full mock exams on its official pages, so pair it with a mock exam source.

Peking University on Coursera: best free university-style course

Peking University's HSK courses on Coursera cover HSK 1 to 6 as video courses with assignments. The HSK 1 course is free to enrol in, with a paid certificate, and has 4.9 stars from about 2,700 ratings on Coursera. You study at your own pace, and the course does not say it follows the new HSK 3.0 levels, so check it against the version of the exam you will sit.

BizHan: courses plus AI practice

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

Tutors: best for speaking

A tutor is the most flexible option and the best way to practise speaking with real feedback. Tutor marketplaces list HSK tutors who set their own prices, so costs vary widely. A tutor works best on top of a course: the course covers the syllabus, the tutor covers conversation and feedback.

How to choose

• You have a test date: a syllabus course with mock exams, such as HSK University (Max or Ultra if you want a mock every week or two), and a mock exam in the format of your sitting every one or two weeks in the final month.
• You prefer video and want to pay once: Chinese Zero to Hero, plus mock exams from elsewhere.
• You want free and university-style: Peking University on Coursera, or HSK University's free plan.
• Speaking is your weak point: add a tutor, or an AI voice tutor, to any of the above.

Not sure which version of the exam you will take? Our HSK 3.0 guide explains the difference, and the official source is Chinese Testing International. For apps rather than courses, see the best HSK apps in 2026.

Questions people ask

What is the best online HSK course?

For a structured course with mock exams, HSK University: HSK 3.0 Bands 1–3 and HSK 4–5 in 104 lessons, with a free plan (we make it). For a pay-once video course, Chinese Zero to Hero. For a free university course, Peking University on Coursera.

Is there a free online HSK course?

Yes. HSK University has a free-forever plan that opens most lessons in each of its five courses (HSK 1–5) with no card, and Peking University's HSK 1 course on Coursera is free to enrol in, with a paid certificate.

How long does an online HSK course take per level?

It depends on the level and your hours. Lower levels take weeks to a few months of regular study; HSK 4 and 5 usually take several months each. A course with full mock exams tells you when you are ready better than any estimate.

Do online HSK courses follow HSK 3.0?

Some do. HSK University teaches HSK 3.0 Bands 1–3 as full courses. Many older courses still follow the HSK 2.0 levels 1–6, which are being replaced: HSK 3.0 exams start worldwide on December 13, 2026, so check which version your test centre offers.