I use Mango. The “premium” version is free with my local library card, it’s like a better version of flash cards. Anki is still pretty good. I used to use Duolingo but since Google bought them they have been evil
this post was submitted on 10 Mar 2026
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Whatever you can stick to over time is really the best option, since you won't learn if the method you chose doesn't work for you.
That said, anki flashcards are great for learning and remembering new words. They work well if you are studying slowly over time or have to cram over a few weeks e.g. for an HSK test in the case of Chinese.
For Chinese, HelloChinese is pretty good.
I bought the Pimsleur polish course and it works really well, it uses a scientifically proven method developed by a professional linguist. Only problem is it costs about $50 per course, but it's a one time purchase for permanent access, so at least it's not a subscription.
I'd highly recommend using Preply, I've been using it for 2 separate languages over the last few months and have had a lot of success. One of the cheaper mediums for getting a 1 on 1 tutor, no app can beat that kind of interaction imo.
I'm also learning mandarin (and spanish). The comprehensible input method I've found is really the best and simplest way. You can read about it and why it works from the ppl over at dreamingspanish.
For Mandarin I highly recommend https://www.vidioma.com/ . Videos are categorized by difficulty, and it keeps track of what ones you've already watched.
For Spanish, dreamingspanish.com . They do a phenomenal job and have hundreds of entertaining videos on so many topics and difficulties.
Comprehensible input is becoming a cult and I've seen good evidence this method does not really work.
Here's the latest video in a series from a skeptic trying dreaming Spanish, he's 800 hours in and he's... well behind 800 hours in a classroom, at least.
I didn't watch that video, but I can say it's working for me. I've tried to do classroom learning (grammar exercises, vocab memorization), and flash card method, and it's not as fast or enjoyabe as this. I can actually stand in a group of spanish speakers and understand most of what's being said, which wasn't something I could do for years of study in other ways.
Also if some random youtuber is blanket demonizing CI, that's entirely anecdotal, because there have been many studies comparing its performance to other learning methods.
Also if some random youtuber is blanket demonizing CI,
I think this is the kind of accusation you shouldn't make as someone who admitted to not even checking out the YouTuber in question. He's not "blanket demonizing CI" he's running an extremely long, intensive experiment to test the claims people make in favor of this method, and the results are not particularly impressive.
If he just wanted to "blanket demonize" anything he wouldn't bother dedicating so much of his life to it (it certainly doesn't make him much money!) he's doing it because he's passionate about language learning and wants to understand different methods of learning and their pros and cons.
CI is, by the way, of course a good component of learning a language. You should be using it. But the idea that it is, on its own, an effective method with no other studying or supplementation strikes me as obviously absurd, as shown by the YouTube series in question.
I found a YouTube link in your comment. Here are links to the same video on alternative frontends that protect your privacy:
While it's not an answer to your question, I recommend Hepsima's videos. He's a Finnish guy who speaks in Mandarin with people from China. His videos motivate me to learn Mandarin, and maybe when I reach a more advanced level, I'll also speak with people from China like him to practice.
I found a YouTube link in your comment. Here are links to the same video on alternative frontends that protect your privacy: