Choose HSKStory for sustained graded fiction and a level path through HSK 9. Choose The Chairman's Bao for news, Readibu for web novels and imported texts, Mandarin Companion for complete books, maayot for one short daily story, or Pleco when dictionary depth matters most.
Du Chinese remains a strong broad mobile library. Its current service covers short readings, courses, and multi-chapter stories from Newbie through Master. An alternative makes sense when you want a different reading format, an explicit HSK 7-9 path, a free base reader, or tools for material you found elsewhere.
Product details were checked against official sources in October 2026. Catalogs and access terms change, so this comparison avoids exact prices.
Quick comparison
| Alternative | Reading and levels | Access |
|---|---|---|
| HSKStory | Sustained fiction; HSK 1–9; synchronized audio | Three-story allowance; account may be requested; membership |
| The Chairman's Bao | News; homepage Levels 1–6; recorded audio | Samples; subscription |
| Readibu | Web novels and imports; text-dependent difficulty; text-to-speech | Free base reader; premium tools |
| Mandarin Companion | Complete books; 150, 300 or 450 core characters; separate audio where available | Free samples; purchased books and Pleco editions |
| maayot | Short stories; HSK- and TOCFL-aligned levels; recorded audio | Free Sunday story; Standard or Pro membership |
| Pleco | Dictionary-led reading; levels and audio depend on the text | Free core; one-time add-ons and books |
These level systems do not convert neatly. If you are preparing for an exam, compare each product's current level guide with the syllabus you plan to take.
HSKStory for sustained graded fiction
HSKStory is built around multi-chapter fiction across HSK 1 through HSK 9. Editors develop, closely edit, and approve every story. The chapters stay with the same plot and characters, which suits learners who want a longer reading session instead of another standalone lesson.
The browser reader supports Simplified and Traditional Chinese. Smart pinyin follows the story's HSK level, while other modes show pinyin more broadly or hide it. Tap a word for pinyin, a definition, and HSK information, then save it for FSRS flashcard study.
Each chapter has synchronized Mandarin audio reviewed for pronunciation, pacing, and synchronization. Word highlighting follows playback. You can finish the first story without signup. The free allowance covers three stories, although continuing may require a free account. Full library access requires a membership.
HSKStory is our Editor’s pick here for sustained graded fiction and an explicit HSK 7-9 path. Its fiction focus differs from Du Chinese's broad mix, and it runs in the browser as well as native iOS and Android apps. Read the direct Du Chinese and HSKStory comparison if those two are your shortlist.
The Chairman's Bao for graded news
The Chairman's Bao turns current events into Chinese lessons across levels 1 through 6. Topics include culture, business, technology, sport, and society. Every article has a human-recorded audio track, and the reading tools include dictionary help, grammar notes, and flashcards.
The service works on web and mobile, with sample lessons available before subscribing. It is a clear change of format from Du Chinese when news is what keeps you reading.
Most lessons stand alone. That works well for topical vocabulary and short sessions, but it does not provide the same continuing plot as HSKStory or a complete graded book. See The Chairman's Bao vs HSKStory for a closer look at news and fiction.
Readibu for web novels and imported texts
Readibu helps you read Chinese web novels, public websites, and your own EPUB, PDF, or TXT files. It can add pinyin or zhuyin, convert between Simplified and Traditional Chinese, look up words, track vocabulary, and read text aloud with text-to-speech.
The base reader is free. Premium features include cloud sync, translation, quizzes, offline reading, and other study tools. A source website may still charge for its own content.
Readibu does not supply a tightly controlled graded library. Difficulty comes from the text you choose, although its analysis tools can help you judge that text. It fits readers who have started exploring native material and want support without moving the text into a course.
Mandarin Companion for complete graded books
Mandarin Companion publishes complete graded books in paperback and digital formats. Its three levels use a core of 150, 300, or 450 Chinese characters rather than an HSK vocabulary list. Many titles are available in both Simplified and Traditional Chinese.
Print books provide key-word notes and glossaries. Most titles also have Pleco editions with tap lookup and flashcard study. Some titles also have separate audiobook editions, with availability varying by title and storefront.
Choose Mandarin Companion when you want a complete book and fewer screen-based tools. The series stops at 450 core characters. Pleco editions add dictionary lookup, while HSKStory provides synchronized audio and an HSK 1–9 path. The Mandarin Companion review explains its levels and audio options in detail.
maayot for one short daily story
maayot publishes one short 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 by a native Mandarin speaker. The small daily assignment removes the need to browse a large library before reading.
That structure is also the tradeoff. maayot is designed around one brief daily session, not long fiction or an open catalog you can explore for hours.
Pleco for dictionary-led reading
Pleco starts with its Chinese dictionary and builds reading tools around it. The Document Reader can open your own material, with supported formats depending on the platform. Pleco's store also sells graded readers, dictionaries, and other Chinese texts from several publishers.
Tap a word inside a document or purchased reader to open a full dictionary entry. Audio can include recorded word pronunciation, text-to-speech, or audio supplied with a particular book.
The core dictionary is free. Reader features, extra dictionaries, voices, and books can be separate purchases. Pleco is a strong companion when you already know what you want to read and need deeper lookup tools. It is not a subscription library of original graded lessons.
What is the best free Du Chinese alternative?
HSKStory is our pick for free graded fiction, with a three-story allowance in the browser. Readibu is useful alongside it for public web content and imported files, though those texts are not tightly graded and source sites may charge.
With HSKStory, you can finish the first story without signup, but continuing may require a free account. Du Chinese itself offers free lessons, The Chairman's Bao provides samples, and Pleco's core dictionary is free while reader features and books can cost extra.
"Free" therefore describes different things: a base reader, a sample library, a complete story allowance, or a dictionary. Pick the one that gives you the material you actually plan to read.
Which alternative fits your next reading session?
- Open HSKStory when you want to follow a graded plot for several chapters or continue through HSK 7-9.
- Open The Chairman's Bao for current events, or maayot when one brief daily assignment is enough.
- Open Readibu for a web novel or imported file, and Pleco when dictionary depth is the priority.
- Pick Mandarin Companion when you want to finish a complete book with minimal screen help.
You do not have to replace Du Chinese. Keep it for broad mobile reading and add a second product for a specific gap. If you want one reader, choose the format you are most likely to open again tomorrow.
Sources checked
Product details were checked against these official sources in October 2026:
- Du Chinese, its pricing and access page, and its level guide
- The Chairman's Bao and its FAQ
- Readibu
- Mandarin Companion books and its audiobook announcement
- maayot
- Pleco and its add-on store
Further reading
- Du Chinese vs HSKStory
- Best Chinese reading apps in 2026
- Chinese graded readers for HSK 3.0
- HSK 7-8-9 advanced levels
- Find your HSK level
Read about HSKStory’s editorial approach.