The best Chinese reading app depends on what you want to read. HSKStory is for multi-chapter graded fiction. 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
HSKStory publishes this comparison. Product details were checked against official sources in July 2026, including first-party app listings. Catalogs, free allowances, and subscription terms change, so this guide uses rounded counts and avoids exact prices.
The recommendations are based on the kind of reading each product supports. They are not a claim that one app is right for every learner.
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.
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 names have their own documented mapping, so exam-focused learners should read the current level guide rather than assuming that every label matches a particular HSK syllabus.
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 teachers can assign lessons and follow student progress. Sample lessons are available before subscribing.
This is the clearest fit on the list 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. Document Reader features, dictionaries, voices, and books are sold as 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 documented bands cover Beginner at HSK 1 through 3, Intermediate at HSK 4 through 5, and Advanced at HSK 6 and above.
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 | Best use | Level system | Audio | Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HSKStory | Multi-chapter fiction | HSK 1-9 | Synchronized chapters | Three-story free allowance; account may be requested; membership |
| Du Chinese | Broad structured reading | Newbie to Master | Recorded lesson audio | Free lessons; subscription |
| The Chairman's Bao | News and current events | Levels 1-6 | Human-recorded lessons | Samples; subscription |
| Pleco | Dictionary-led reading | Varies by text | Word audio, TTS, some book audio | Free dictionary; paid add-ons |
| Readibu | Web novels and imports | Text analysis | TTS | Free base app; premium features |
| maayot | One short story daily | HSK-based bands | Recorded lesson audio | 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 July 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