Pleco
The Chinese dictionary every serious learner installs first, and never uninstalls.
What it actually is
A free, offline-capable Chinese-English dictionary with stroke-order animations, handwriting and audio search, plus paid add-ons for OCR (point your camera at a menu or sign), document reading and extra dictionaries. The free version alone is better than any competitor; the paid bundles are one-time purchases rather than a subscription. Its flashcard system is powerful but fiddly — many people pair Pleco for lookup with a separate SRS. Simplified and traditional both supported.
Who it suits
Every Chinese learner, from day one to near-native: it is the lookup tool you keep open while reading, watching or chatting. The paid add-ons are most worth it for learners who read real material on paper or screen and want camera lookup and a tap-to-define document reader.
Who should skip it
Nobody should skip the free dictionary, but it is not a course: it will not teach you in any order, and beginners who install only Pleco will have a reference with nothing to look up. Desktop-first readers may prefer a browser dictionary or extension.
What it costs
The dictionary app is free; add-ons are one-time purchases, no subscription. Pleco's own store lists OCR, Document Reader and Flashcard System at US $9.99 each, Basic Bundle US $24.99, Professional Bundle US $49.99; via Google Play the bundles are US $29.99 and $59.99.
Checked 29 Sept 2026 on the official pricing page. Prices change and can differ by country.
How it compares
What it covers
- Reading
- Vocabulary
Listed for
Official links
Similar tools
Sources
Prices and features above come from these pages, read on 29 Sept 2026. The judgements are ours.