Pleco Alternatives

Pleco is described as 'The ultimate Chinese learning companion - an integrated Chinese English dictionary / document reader / flashcard system with fullscreen handwriting input and live camera-based character lookups, from a company with 15 years' experience making mobile Chinese learning' and is an app. There are more than 10 alternatives to Pleco for a variety of platforms, including Web-based, Android, Mac, Windows and iPhone apps. The best Pleco alternative is Syng, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like Pleco are Hanzi Deck, maayot, MDBG English to Chinese dictionary and wenlin.

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Pleco alternatives are mainly Dictionaries but may also be Language Learning Tools or Flashcard Learning Tools.  Filter by these or use the filter bar below if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of Pleco.
Pleco iconPleco
  6
  • FreemiumProprietary
  • ...

Pleco is the ultimate Chinese learning companion - an integrated Chinese English dictionary / document reader / flashcard system with fullscreen handwriting input and live camera-based character lookups, from a company with...

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Pleco alternatives page was last updated Jan 25, 2025
  1. Syng icon
     5 likes

    Syng is a free, open source, cross platform Chinese to English dictionary and study toolset made for the desktop operating systems.

    12 Syng alternatives
    Search

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Syng iconPleco Icon

    Syng VS Pleco

    Is Syng a good alternative to Pleco?
     
    Comments about Syng as an Alternative to Pleco
     
    Guest

    I am a Linux user and interested in Chinese (TCM) language. So, for Linux the best Pleco alternative.

    Positive commentJul 1, 2019
    0
    Pleco Icon
    Syng icon
    • Almost everyone thinks Syng is a great Pleco alternative.

    • Syng is the most popular Windows, Mac & Linux alternative to Pleco.

    • Syng is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to Pleco.

    • Syng is Free and Open SourcePleco is Freemium and Proprietary
  2. Hanzi Deck icon
     1 like

    Hanzi Deck is a Chinese character learning app designed to help you master strokes writing, memorize, and build vocabulary at your own pace and choice.

    11 Hanzi Deck alternatives
    Learn and practice hanzi strokes.
    Test your mastery with blind quiz.
    +5
    Learn character compositions.

    License model

    • FreeProprietary

    Platforms

    • Android
    Hanzi Deck iconPleco Icon

    Hanzi Deck VS Pleco

    Is Hanzi Deck a good alternative to Pleco?
     
    • Hanzi Deck is the most popular Android alternative to Pleco.

    • Hanzi Deck is Free and ProprietaryPleco is Freemium and Proprietary
  3. maayot icon
     35 likes

    Mandarin learning with fun and engaging stories. Receive in your inbox a daily Chinese graded reader story with new characters, one-click dictionary, professional audio, etc.

    14 maayot alternatives
    Main Page

    License model

    • FreemiumProprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone

    maayot Features

    1.  Email Notifications
    maayot iconPleco Icon

    maayot VS Pleco

    Is maayot a good alternative to Pleco?
     
    • maayot is the most popular Web-based & iPhone alternative to Pleco.

    • maayot is Freemium and ProprietaryPleco is also Freemium and Proprietary
  4. MDBG English to Chinese dictionary icon
     2 likes

    This website offers more than just a dictionary, it offers various tools such as: flashcards, quizzes, text annotation, Chinese text input and more. The MDBG dictionary is used in many schools and universities all over the world, discover why!.

    18 MDBG English to Chinese dictionary alternatives
    MDBG English to Chinese dictionary screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeProprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Facebook
    MDBG English to Chinese dictionary iconPleco Icon

    MDBG English to Chinese dictionary VS Pleco

    Is this a good alternative to Pleco?
     
    Comments about MDBG English to Chinese dictionary as an Alternative to Pleco
     
    Guest

    I have changed from a android tablet device to a windows tablet. I needed a flexible tool where the following functionalities are supportet: add another dictionary i.e. handedict (chinese - german), screen reading in any app (like reading in PDFs, some articles, websites, other apps), support for simplified and traditional characters, the possibility to here the pronounciation.

    Positive commentNov 14, 2017
    0
    Pleco Icon
    MDBG English to Chinese dictionary icon
    • MDBG English to Chinese dictionary is Free and ProprietaryPleco is Freemium and Proprietary
  5. wenlin icon
     8 likes

    Wenlin software makes learning Chinese easier and more interesting, for begining students, life-long speakers, and scholars alike. It combines a comprehensive Chinese dictionary, a Unicode text editor, and flashcards. For MS-Windows and Macintosh.

    13 wenlin alternatives

    License model

    • FreemiumProprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    wenlin iconPleco Icon

    wenlin VS Pleco

    Is wenlin a good alternative to Pleco?
     
  6. Youdao Dictionary icon
     3 likes

    Youdao is a search engine released by Chinese internet leviathan, NetEase in 2007. It is the featured search engine of its parent company's web portal, 163.com, and lets users search for web pages, images, news, music, blogs, Chinese-to-English dictionary entries, and more.

    10 Youdao Dictionary alternatives
    Windows version

    License model

    • FreeProprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • Windows Phone
    • iPad
    Youdao Dictionary iconPleco Icon

    Youdao Dictionary VS Pleco

    Is Youdao Dictionary a good alternative to Pleco?
     
    • Youdao Dictionary is the most popular iPad & Android Tablet alternative to Pleco.

    • Youdao Dictionary is Free and ProprietaryPleco is Freemium and Proprietary
  7. ChineseSkill icon
     7 likes

    Chinese language has and does deserve its notoriety for heartbreaking difficulty. If that wasn’t bad enough, most of the resources available for learning Mandarin Chinese are expensive, and time-consuming.

    25 ChineseSkill alternatives
    ChineseSkill screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeProprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad

    ChineseSkill Features

    ChineseSkill iconPleco Icon

    ChineseSkill VS Pleco

    Is ChineseSkill a good alternative to Pleco?
     
  8. DimSum icon
     6 likes

    DimSum: a program designed to help you learn and use Chinese.

    Many people have requested versions of the tools on this website that can be run locally. DimSum is the answer to these requests. Im currently integrating most of the tools on the website into one package: DimSum. Ri.

    13 DimSum alternatives
    DimSum screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeProprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    DimSum iconPleco Icon

    DimSum VS Pleco

    Is DimSum a good alternative to Pleco?
     
  9. Hanping Chinese Dictionary icon
     3 likes

    Hanping is Android's most user-friendly offline dictionary for learning Chinese. Includes handwriting recognition, native speaker audio, stroke animations, AnkiDroid integration and much more. Free (Lite) and paid (Pro) versions available.

    12 Hanping Chinese Dictionary alternatives
    Hanping Chinese Dictionary screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreemiumProprietary

    Platforms

    • Android
    Hanping Chinese Dictionary iconPleco Icon

    Hanping Chinese Dictionary VS Pleco

    Is this a good alternative to Pleco?
     
  10. Nciku icon
     3 likes

    English Chinese dictionary, help learning Chinese language, Chinese character, and Chinese pinyin. Dictionary with Chinese handwriting recognition, pinyin translation, audio Chinese words pronunciation and mandarin MP3 making.

    11 Nciku alternatives
    Nciku screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeProprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Online
    Nciku iconPleco Icon

    Nciku VS Pleco

    Is Nciku a good alternative to Pleco?
     
  11. Chinese Tutor Dictionary icon
     1 like

    A fast & simple dictionary for looking up the pinyin of Chinese characters and words.

    10 Chinese Tutor Dictionary alternatives
    Chinese Tutor Dictionary screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeProprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Online
    Chinese Tutor Dictionary iconPleco Icon

    Chinese Tutor Dictionary VS Pleco

    Is this a good alternative to Pleco?
     
  12. YiXue Chinese Dictionary icon
     3 likes

    YiXue Chinese Dictionary is a comprehensive Chinese dictionary and learning assistant for Windows Phone.

    17 YiXue Chinese Dictionary alternatives
    YiXue Dictionary — Home page
    YiXue Dictionary — core dictionary
    +5
    YiXue Dictionary — Detailed results

    License model

    • FreemiumProprietary

    Platforms

    • Windows Phone

    YiXue Chinese Dictionary Features

    1.  Works Offline
    2.  Offline
    3.  Quiz
    4.  Quizzes
    YiXue Chinese Dictionary iconPleco Icon

    YiXue Chinese Dictionary VS Pleco

    Is this a good alternative to Pleco?
     
12 of 13 Pleco alternatives