1. Rocket Chinese
There are few, if any, Chinese courses as comprehensive as Rocket Chinese. This three-level program is perfectly suited to Mandarin students looking for structure – it walks you from the absolute basics right through to an advanced level of Chinese. This course option is at the top of my recommendations for Mandarin Chinese learners.
2. ChineseClass101
1ChineseClass101 is a really popular online resource for learning Mandarin Chinese. Less of a structured course, and more of a mishmash of topic-based podcast lessons, this is a great option for anyone heading to China.
3. Yoyo Chinese
Yoyo Chinese has been around for a long time and is one of the most popular, well-respected course platforms for learning Chinese. The Yoyo Chinese courses are enjoyable and really easy to follow with really clear explanations.
4. Mandarin
Angel has done a superb job putting together this Chinese course.Its main strengths are the high quality videos and the fact that unlike other course options, it has a one-time, inexpensive fee to join.
5. Glossika Mandarin
Glossika’s one of the most unique and powerful learning tools available for learning Mandarin Chinese. Its founder, Mike Campbell, is a fluent Mandarin speaker and the team is based in Taiwan. This Chinese course uses a unique learning algorithm that trains listening and conversational fluency. It comes with a 7-day free trial, but then has a $30 a month fee.Suitable for all levels of Mandarin, though lower-level learners may find it difficult to understand in the beginning.
6. Pimsleur (Mandarin Chinese)
Pimsleur’s a timeless favorite for learning Mandarin Chinese using spaced repetition recall. The lessons focus on practical vocabulary and expressions one might need in various scenarios. This includes greetings, common phrases, and vocabulary you might need when visiting China.
The Pimsleur method prepares you for the necessary Mandarin you need to get by visiting China in a short period of time. This is one of the best online Chinese courses despite its age, and is an affordable program that can be subscribed to, or buy the full program which includes 30 lessons.