HSKStory is our Editor’s pick for Chinese reading: multi-chapter fiction graded from HSK 1 to HSK 9. Start with its three-story free allowance. Du Chinese has a broad mix of structured readings. The Chairman's Bao focuses on graded news, while Pleco works well when a dictionary is the center of your reading setup. Readibu helps with web novels and imported texts. maayot gives you one short story each day.
All six can be useful, but they solve different problems. This guide compares their level systems, audio, reading tools, and access models so you can choose by reading goal.
How this comparison was checked
Product details were checked against official sources in October 2026, including first-party app listings. Catalogs, free allowances, and subscription terms change, so this guide uses rounded counts and avoids exact prices.
Learning to read Chinese from zero
Start with sounds, tones and a few common characters, then read a short passage with audio. HSKStory’s HSK 1 shelf gives you connected stories, full pinyin when needed and word-tap definitions. Read one scene, listen again, then try it with less pinyin. If every sentence needs several lookups, return to an easier passage and a structured beginner lesson.
What to compare in a Chinese reading app
A level label is useful only when you know what it means. Some apps use HSK levels, some use their own bands, and tools such as Pleco can open material from several publishers. If you are preparing for an exam, check the app's current level guide against the syllabus you plan to take.
Audio also varies. You may get a complete chapter that follows the text, a recording for one short lesson, word pronunciation, or text-to-speech. These formats support different kinds of practice, so a simple "has audio" label does not tell the whole story.
Reading tools matter when they keep you in the text. Pinyin controls, one-tap definitions, script conversion, saved words, and imports can remove friction. The useful set depends on whether you are reading a graded story, a news lesson, or a novel you found elsewhere.
Access is the last practical check. Look at what you can read before paying, which platforms are supported, and whether the content you want is included or sold as an add-on.
HSKStory: multi-chapter graded fiction
HSKStory is built around editor-developed fiction across HSK 1 through HSK 9. Editors develop, closely edit, and approve every story. The focus is sustained reading: stories have multiple chapters, recurring characters, and plots that continue beyond a single lesson.
The reader can display Simplified or Traditional characters. Smart pinyin shows help based on the story level, while the other modes show pinyin for everything or hide it. You can tap a word for pinyin, a definition, and HSK information, then save it for later study with FSRS spaced repetition.
Each chapter has synchronized Mandarin audio, and word highlighting follows playback. Mandarin audio is reviewed for pronunciation, pacing, and synchronization.
HSKStory runs in any browser, and the iOS and Android apps add offline story and audio downloads with background playback.
The browser has a three-story allowance. You can finish the first story without creating an account, although continuing may require a free account. Any story you start remains readable. Full library access requires a membership. HSKStory is a good fit if you want longer graded fiction, including material above HSK 6. It is less useful if your main goal is current events or short cultural explainers.
If reading is one part of a broader study routine, compare the full Chinese learning stack.
Browse by level: HSK 1 | HSK 2 | HSK 3 | HSK 4 | HSK 5 | HSK 6 | HSK 7 | HSK 8 | HSK 9
Du Chinese: broad structured reading
Du Chinese covers six levels from Newbie through Master. Its current site lists more than 3,000 readings and more than 80 graded stories. The library includes short lessons, longer stories, dialogues, and material about Chinese language and culture.
The reading tools include recorded lesson audio, word lookup, pinyin controls, flashcards, and grammar explanations. Du Chinese is available on the web, iOS, and Android. The service offers free lessons, with a subscription for wider access.
Du Chinese suits learners who want a large choice of topics and formats in one place. Its level guide maps Newbie through Master approximately to HSK 1–6, but does not name a syllabus version. For HSK 3.0 fiction and a path through HSK 7–9, choose HSKStory.
For a closer look at the different reading formats, see Du Chinese vs HSKStory.
The Chairman's Bao: graded news
The Chairman's Bao turns current events into graded Chinese lessons. Its site lists more than 10,000 lessons across levels 1 through 6, covering subjects such as culture, technology, business, and sport.
Lessons include human-recorded audio, one-tap dictionary help, and flashcard tools. The service works across web and mobile platforms, and institutions can request classroom access. Sample lessons are available before subscribing.
This is a fit for learners who want regular news and topical vocabulary. The tradeoff is the format: most lessons stand alone, so it does not provide the same long narrative arc as a multi-chapter story.
See The Chairman's Bao vs HSKStory for a closer comparison of news and fiction reading.
Pleco: dictionary-led reading
Pleco starts with a Chinese dictionary, then adds reading and study tools around it. Its Document Reader can open your own files, and the add-on store sells graded readers and other Chinese texts. Tapping a word opens the full dictionary entry without leaving the text.
Pleco also has a flashcard system with spaced repetition, recorded word pronunciation, and optional text-to-speech voices. Some reader add-ons include their own audio, while others rely on word audio or text-to-speech, so audio support depends on the material.
The core dictionary is free. The free app includes basic clipboard reading. Reader upgrades, extra dictionaries, voices and books are one-time add-ons. Pleco fits readers who already have texts or want to buy books from several publishers inside a dictionary-centered setup. It is not a subscription library of original graded lessons.
Readibu: web novels and imported texts
Readibu is designed for Chinese web novels and other authentic texts. You can browse supported sites or import EPUB, PDF, and TXT files. The app adds pinyin or zhuyin, word lookup, and Simplified or Traditional conversion.
Readibu also includes text-to-speech, an HSK-level breakdown, and vocabulary export. The base app is free. Premium features include options such as cloud sync, offline reading, translation, and quizzes.
Readibu does not supply a library of tightly graded beginner stories. The difficulty comes from the text you choose, although its level analysis can help you judge that text before reading. It fits intermediate and advanced learners who want help reading novels or material found elsewhere.
maayot: a short daily reading habit
maayot publishes one Chinese story each day. Its app listing describes six levels from Beginner 1 to Advanced 2, aligned with HSK and TOCFL. The website still shows three broader bands. Check the current level guide before relying on a label.
Each lesson includes one-tap definitions, a quiz, a writing prompt, and a professional recording. The short daily format keeps the commitment small and predictable.
maayot is a good fit if choosing from a large library gets in the way of reading. It gives you one clear task for the day. Learners who want long stories or a large archive to browse may prefer a different primary reader.
Chinese reading app comparison
| App | Reading and levels | Free and paid access |
|---|---|---|
| HSKStory | Multi-chapter fiction; HSK 1–9; synchronized audio | Browser plus iOS and Android apps; three-story allowance, then membership; account may be requested |
| Du Chinese | Mixed lessons and stories; Newbie to Master; recorded audio | Free lessons; subscription |
| The Chairman's Bao | Graded news; Levels 1–6 on the homepage; recorded audio | Free samples; subscription |
| Pleco | Dictionary-led reading; difficulty varies by text; word and text-to-speech | Free dictionary and basic reader; one-time upgrades and books |
| Readibu | Web novels and imports; text analysis; text-to-speech | Free base reader; premium tools |
| maayot | Short stories; HSK- and TOCFL-aligned bands; recorded audio | Free Sunday story; Standard or Pro membership |
Which app fits your reading goal?
- Choose HSKStory for multi-chapter graded fiction, especially if you want a path that continues through HSK 7, 8, and 9.
- Choose Du Chinese for a broad collection of structured readings across several formats.
- Choose The Chairman's Bao for graded news and current-events vocabulary.
- Choose Pleco when dictionary depth, your own files, or separately purchased readers matter most.
- Choose Readibu for web novels and imports. Choose maayot when one short daily story is easier to maintain than browsing a library.
You do not need to choose one app forever. Choose based on what you want to read next.
Can you use more than one app?
Yes. A learner might use HSKStory for longer fiction and The Chairman's Bao for news, or read in another app while keeping Pleco nearby for deeper dictionary entries. The tools overlap, but their libraries and reading formats do not.
Start with the format you are most likely to open regularly. Add a second app when you have a specific gap, such as news, longer stories, imported novels, or better dictionary support.
Sources checked
Product details were checked against these official sources in October 2026:
- Du Chinese, pricing and access, and its level guide
- The Chairman's Bao and its FAQ
- Pleco's add-on store
- Readibu and its App Store listing
- maayot
Further reading
- What's your HSK level? Free quiz
- Chinese graded readers for HSK 3.0
- Chinese Breeze graded readers
- Mandarin Companion graded readers
- What is HSK 3.0?
Read about HSKStory’s editorial approach.