Inkpaper vs Du Chinese
Both teach Chinese through graded reading with pinyin, word lookup, flashcards and grammar notes. Du Chinese has the bigger library and human recordings, for a subscription of $14.99 a month. Inkpaper is free, and adds speaking practice that checks your tones and step-by-step lessons for complete beginners. If you want to read graded stories without paying, or you are starting from zero, start with Inkpaper.
| Inkpaper | Du Chinese | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | $14.99/month or $119.99/year; free plan limited to free lessons |
| What you read | Graded stories written for learners, HSK 1 to HSK 6 | Graded stories, articles and courses, Newbie to Master |
| Audio | Every word, sentence and chapter read aloud (speech synthesis, four voices) | Recorded by native speakers |
| Pinyin | Above every word, or zhuyin; can be switched off | On tap, or for hard words only |
| Word lookup | Tap any word for its meaning and sound | Tap any word for its meaning |
| Review | Flashcards with FSRS spaced repetition, both directions | Built-in flashcards with spaced repetition |
| Grammar | Sentences show the grammar they use; grammar for HSK 1 to 7–9 | Grammar explanations with examples |
| Speaking and tones | Speaking practice that checks your tones; tone listening drills | Not described on their site |
| Complete beginners | Step-by-step lessons at HSK 1–2 teach each new word before you meet it | Newbie-level readings |
| Characters | Simplified or traditional | Simplified or traditional |
| Platforms | Web, iPhone and iPad; Android in a closed test | iOS, Android and web |
Where Du Chinese is stronger
- A larger library: their site lists over 3,000 readings, including stories, articles and courses.
- Audio recorded by native speakers, where Inkpaper’s audio is made with speech synthesis.
- Levels go up to “Master”, beyond what most graded readers cover.
Where Inkpaper is stronger
- Inkpaper is free; Du Chinese’s full library is a subscription.
- Speaking practice that checks your tones, and drills that train your ear for the four tones.
- Beginners can learn a story step by step: each new word and grammar point is taught before the sentence that uses it.
- Sentences show the grammar they use, with the pattern marked in the sentence.
Which should you choose?
Choose Du Chinese if you are one of the readers who want a large library and recordings by human speakers, and are happy to pay for it.
Choose Inkpaper if you want to learn Chinese by reading graded stories, from your first words to HSK 6, for free. Start reading, no account needed for the first chapter of every story.
Questions
Is there a free alternative to Du Chinese?
Yes. Inkpaper is free and works the same way: graded stories with pinyin above every word, a meaning and recording for each word, and flashcards for the words you save. Mandarin Bean is another free option, as a website of graded readings.
Is Inkpaper or Du Chinese better for beginners?
For a complete beginner, Inkpaper: at HSK 1 and 2 it teaches every new word and grammar point of a sentence before you read it, then lets you read the chapter on your own. Du Chinese starts with Newbie-level readings.
Which has better audio?
Du Chinese uses recordings by native speakers. Inkpaper reads every word, sentence and chapter aloud with speech synthesis in four Mandarin voices, and highlights the text as it is read.
Can I use both?
Yes. Many learners read on more than one app. Inkpaper is free, so it costs nothing to add beside Du Chinese.
About Du Chinese, from Du Chinese website, Du Chinese pricing, Du Chinese on the App Store, checked on 26 October 2026. Prices in US dollars; they may differ in your country. Inkpaper is made by us, so weigh this page accordingly.