Why InputDojo
HelloChinese is a genuinely good beginner course, and if you are starting Mandarin from zero it will serve you better than InputDojo will — it teaches pronunciation, tones and grammar in a sensible order with speech recognition. InputDojo is not a course and does not try to be. It is what you use once a course has given you a foundation and the problem changes from "teach me" to "give me mileage": import real content, read it with one-tap lookups, and build a reviewed vocabulary that maps onto HSK levels. At $11.99/mo for HelloChinese Premium against a permanently free HSK track here, many learners end up running the free tiers of both.
Feature comparison
| Feature | InputDojo | HelloChinese |
|---|---|---|
| Teaches from zero | No — assumes a foundation | Yes, its main strength |
| Tone and pronunciation drills | No | Yes, with speech recognition |
| Structured lesson path | Study plans, not a course | Yes |
| Read arbitrary real content | Yes | No |
| Free HSK vocabulary tracking | Free, full lists | Broadly aligned, not tracked |
| AI grammar chat in context | Yes, on Ultimate | No |
| Free tier | Full exam tracks, permanent | Yes — substantial free course |
| Pricing | Free tier, paid optional | $11.99/mo · $69.99/yr |
Based on publicly available HelloChinese feature documentation as of 2026. Compare directly before choosing.
Best for
Learners who have finished or outgrown a beginner course and want to start reading real Chinese. Absolute beginners should start with HelloChinese and come back.
FAQ
Should I quit HelloChinese for this?+
Not if you are still early. They cover different stages, and running both is common — course for new material, reader for mileage.
Does InputDojo help with tones?+
It shows pinyin and reads text aloud, but it has no pronunciation scoring. HelloChinese is better at that.
What HSK level should I be before switching?+
Around HSK 2–3 is where importing real content starts to pay off rather than frustrate.