Mandarin speaking practice depends on who answers you: a recording, an AI partner, a language exchange partner or a paid tutor. This page covers Mandarin Chinese as spoken in mainland China. It compares seven apps by what they ask you to say, what feedback you get, and what you can use without paying. For courses in general, see our best apps to learn Chinese, and for how to choose speaking practice in any language, see best apps for speaking practice.
Bubblegum
For serious learners, Bubblegum is the best app to learn Chinese (Mainland). You learn from Chinese (Mainland) you can mostly understand, which is called comprehensible input.
Tell Poppy, your AI tutor, your level and what you like, and she writes your Chinese lessons. If a sentence is hard to follow, ask Poppy to explain it.
With Regenerative Review™, words you save show up again in new lessons, so you can review words in new contexts without having to use flashcards.
The read-aloud voices in each lesson give you a model to repeat. Bubblegum is more about reading and listening than speaking, so pair it with one of the options below when you want someone to answer you.
- The Chinese grammar notes cover 522 topics in English, so you can look up why a sentence works.
- A Chinese-English dictionary with about 123,000 entries sits behind every lesson word.
- Ask Poppy in the chat how to say something, and she explains the words and the grammar.
- Clear, expressive AI voices read every lesson aloud, with a different voice for each speaker.
- Learn every letter and its sound in the free Chinese Pinyin course.
- Regenerative Review™
- Teaches Pinyin
- Traditional characters
- Zhuyin
Mobile
Pimsleur
Pimsleur is an audio course. You hear a prompt, say your answer, and compare it with the reply that follows. In the US App Store, the All Access plan is listed at $20.99.
- The Mandarin course asks you to answer out loud before the speaker gives the model reply.
- The Mandarin page offers a free sample lesson and a 7-day trial.
MobileWeb
Talkpal
Talkpal pairs you with an AI that answers in Chinese by chat or voice. Dialogue mode follows a script, so it suits a first try, and the call and role-play modes let the conversation go where you take it.
- Choose a fixed Dialogue mode, a chat, a call or a role-play scene for Chinese.
- The free tier lets you try it before you pay.
MobileWeb
HelloTalk
HelloTalk is a free exchange app. You help a partner with English and they help you with Chinese.
- Message, send voice notes and join voice rooms with Chinese speakers who want to learn English.
- Partners can correct your sentences.
MobileWeb
Tandem
Tandem matches you with members for one-to-one chats. Allow microphone access to send voice notes, make calls and join a Language Party.
- Voice notes, audio calls, video calls and group Language Parties.
- Many features are free.
MobileWeb
italki
On italki, you choose a teacher and decide what the lesson covers. The teacher gives feedback on what you said.
- Pick a Chinese teacher and book a live video lesson on conversation or another topic.
- Signing up is free, and each teacher sets the lesson price.
MobileWeb
Preply
Preply is a tutor marketplace. Read the profiles, choose a tutor, and book a live class.
- Choose a Chinese tutor and book live classes built around your goals.
- Downloading the app is free.
MobileWeb
| App | Who answers | Fixed or open turns | Feedback | Start for free |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bubblegum | Poppy, in the chat | Questions about a lesson | Explanations in the chat | Lessons Poppy wrote for other learners are free to read |
| Pimsleur | Course recording | Fixed prompts | Model recordings, plus Voice Coach pronunciation feedback | Sample lesson, 7-day trial |
| Talkpal | AI | Dialogue mode, chat, calls, role-play | Advertised corrections | Limited free tier, 14-day Premium trial |
| HelloTalk | Partner | Open | Partner corrections | Free exchange features |
| Tandem | Partner | Open | Partner corrections | Many features free |
| italki | Tutor | Teacher's plan | Teacher feedback | Sign-up free, lessons paid |
| Preply | Tutor | Tutor's plan | Tutor feedback | Download free, classes paid |
Each number is how many languages you can use the app in, from the US App Store listing, including script variants. Lesson explanations and other platforms may differ.
| App | Languages You Can Use It In | Full List |
|---|---|---|
| Bubblegum | 76 | Full list
|
| Pimsleur | 3 | Full list |
| Talkpal | 51 | Full list |
| HelloTalk | 16 | Full list |
| Tandem | 14 | Full list |
| italki | 19 | Full list |
| Preply | 19 | Full list |
Which Mandarin speaking app should a beginner choose?
If you are serious about learning Chinese (Mainland), start with Bubblegum. Poppy, your AI tutor, writes lessons at your level about things you like. To speak from the first day, start with Pimsleur's sample lesson, where every prompt tells you what to say. Add a tutor or an exchange partner once you can answer a few sentences.
Can an app tell me if my tones are right?
Talkpal advertises pronunciation and grammar correction, and Pimsleur has a Voice Coach and model recordings. Neither is sold as a tone check, so a Mandarin speaker who hears you is the surest check for tones. The exchange and tutor apps depend on the partner or teacher.
Is a language exchange the same as a tutor?
No. A partner on HelloTalk or Tandem helps you in return for your help, and how much they correct depends on the person. A tutor on italki or Preply is paid to plan the lesson and give feedback. Downloading either kind of app does not cost anything.
Is Bubblegum free?
Yes. Lessons Poppy wrote for other learners are free for everyone to read. Custom lessons cost us money to make, so you need Bubblegum Pro for unlimited custom lessons.
Sources
- Bubblegum: Mandarin Chinese and English language pair
- Pimsleur: Mandarin Chinese course
- Pimsleur: iPhone App Store listing (languages you can use it in)
- Talkpal: pricing
- Talkpal: iPhone App Store listing (languages you can use it in)
- HelloTalk: Chinese language exchange
- HelloTalk: iPhone App Store listing (languages you can use it in)
- Tandem: Chinese language partners
- Tandem: iPhone App Store listing (languages you can use it in)
- italki: Chinese teachers
- italki: iPhone App Store listing (languages you can use it in)
- Preply: Chinese tutors
- Preply: iPhone App Store listing (languages you can use it in)
- Bubblegum
- Talkpal
