Best Flashcard Apps for Chinese Learners (2025 Edition)
3 min read

Learning Chinese is an exciting (and sometimes overwhelming) journey. Between characters, tones, and grammar, there’s a lot to remember — and flashcards can make a huge difference. But not every flashcard app is built with Chinese learners in mind.
That’s why we’ve tested the most popular flashcard apps out there and picked the ones best suited for Chinese in 2025. Whether you’re learning Mandarin for school, travel, or personal growth, these apps will help you stay consistent and actually retain what you learn.
What Makes a Great Flashcard App for Chinese?
Chinese has some unique challenges compared to other languages, so here’s what a great flashcard app should offer:
- Character support → Easy to create and study 汉字.
- Pinyin + tones → Support for phonetic spelling and tonal accuracy.
- Audio → Clear text-to-speech or native recordings.
- Spaced repetition (SRS) → Automatic review scheduling for better memory.
- Flexibility → Ability to add your own words, notes, and example sentences.
Top Flashcard Apps for Chinese in 2025
1. Mora 🌟
A modern, lightweight flashcard app built specifically for language learners. Mora is especially friendly for beginners in Chinese, with features that make tones and characters easier to remember.
Why it’s great for Chinese:
- Handwriting input (perfect for practicing characters or tones in Pinyin).
- Built-in text-to-speech, so you can hear Mandarin words instantly.
- Spaced repetition with both front-to-back and back-to-front study modes.
- Examples & notes field → Add context, grammar tips, or sample sentences.
- Import & export decks via CSV — easy to share with friends or tutors.
👉 Try it here: usemora.co
2. Anki
The classic, highly customizable flashcard app. Anki is powerful, but the setup can feel overwhelming.
Why it works for Chinese:
- Huge community decks (HSK levels, characters, etc.).
- Add-ons for stroke order, audio, and tone colors.
- Strong spaced repetition algorithm.
Downside: Not very beginner-friendly — takes time to configure.
3. Pleco
More than just a dictionary, Pleco also has flashcards built in.
Why it’s great for Chinese:
- Directly create flashcards from dictionary lookups.
- Supports handwriting input for characters.
- Paid add-ons for audio, stroke order diagrams, and SRS.
Downside: UI feels dated, and full features require paid extensions.
4. Quizlet
Quizlet is simple and widely used, but less tailored to Chinese.
Why it works for Chinese:
- Easy to create and share decks.
- Large public library of existing flashcard sets.
- Works well for quick memorization.
Downside: Lacks advanced features like tone marking or handwriting.
5. Memrise
Memrise combines flashcards with short videos from native speakers.
Why it’s great for Chinese:
- Real-life context with native pronunciation.
- Gamified learning makes practice engaging.
- Ready-made Chinese courses available.
Downside: Limited control for custom decks — better for casual learners.
Final Thoughts
If you want the most control and depth, Anki is still unbeatable. If you’re looking for a dictionary + flashcards, Pleco is essential. But if you want something modern, clean, and lightweight, Mora is an amazing choice — especially if you’re just getting started with Chinese.
👉 Check out Mora here and see if it helps make Chinese a little less intimidating.