Tomyo or Duolingo for Chinese
These are services with different goals. Duolingo builds a daily habit and gives you the basics of communication across a dozen languages at once. Tomyo does Chinese only and takes you through the HSK levels. The choice does not depend on which is "better" but on what you need: to keep going, or to pass an exam.
| Duolingo | Tomyo | |
|---|---|---|
| Goal | Language basics and a daily habit | Progress through the HSK levels |
| Languages | Many, from English to Japanese | Chinese only |
| Format | Short lessons with game mechanics | A session built on spaced repetition |
| Course for Russian speakers | Yes, 1.69 million learners | Russian and English |
| Barrier to entry | Minimal, you can start at once | You have to pick a level |
| Free tier | With ads and an energy limit | No ads, one session a day |
| What the paid tier adds | Removes ads and the energy limit | More sessions, all material |
Different goals
Duolingo describes its method as short lessons with game mechanics whose purpose is to form a habit: points, levels, reminders. Keeping the user coming back is the product’s stated aim.
Tomyo is built around a different question — not "how do I keep going" but "what exactly should I study today to reach the HSK level I need". Hence the spaced repetition over a personal vocabulary, the separate schedule for handwriting, and the material tied to exam levels.
One service for every language against one language
Duolingo teaches a dozen languages, and the Chinese course lives inside that shared platform. That is a plus if Chinese is not the only language you are learning: everything in one place, one habit for all of it.
Tomyo does Chinese only, and the whole service is assembled around its specifics: tones, pinyin, stroke order, radicals as the parts a character is made of. The flip side is that it is useless for a second language.
Interface language
Duolingo’s Chinese course for Russian speakers does exist: according to the official course page it has 1.69 million learners. Going through English is not required there.
What it costs
Both services have a limited free tier and a paid one that lifts those limits. What differs is the limits themselves.
On Duolingo free lessons come with ads and an energy limit: attempts are spent, and when they run out the lesson has to wait. The Super Duolingo subscription removes the ads and lifts the limit — the App Store description puts it as "no ads" and "Unlimited Energy".
In Tomyo the free plan has no time limit and runs without ads: one session a day with reviews is always available. Plus removes the cap on the number of sessions and opens grammar, radicals and the rest of the material. In both cases, then, what you pay for is speed rather than access to the language.
Can you use both
Yes, and for many people it is a sensible arrangement: Duolingo keeps the daily rhythm and the general basics, Tomyo runs the vocabulary and the progress through HSK. Progress is not shared between them — these are two independent schedules.
When Duolingo is the better choice
- You can study for free without buying anything: the paid subscription removes ads and the energy limit but is not required in order to study.
- A Chinese course for Russian speakers exists, and it is one of the most popular — 1.69 million learners.
- The game mechanics and reminder system are worked out in detail and aimed at sustaining a daily habit.
- One service for every language — if Chinese is not the only one you study, you will not need a second app.
- A huge company with resources smaller services do not have: audio, research, constant updates.
- A minimal barrier to entry — you can start within a minute, with no level to choose and nothing to configure.
When Tomyo is the better choice
- The programme is tied to HSK 1–6: it is clear which exam level your vocabulary corresponds to.
- Chinese only — the whole service is shaped around characters, tones and pinyin rather than a template shared with every other language.
- Character handwriting runs on a separate schedule, independent of recognising the word.
- Spaced repetition over your own personal vocabulary, including the words you added yourself.
- Dialogues and texts are built from the words you have already covered.
- Payment by Russian card.
Frequently asked questions
Can you learn Chinese with Duolingo?
There is no public data on the level the Duolingo course takes you to, so it cannot be assessed. The verifiable difference is in what each is for: Duolingo builds a habit and gives you the basics, Tomyo takes you through the HSK levels and works with a personal vocabulary.
Does Duolingo have Chinese for Russian speakers?
Yes. The official course page for Russian speakers lists Chinese with 1.69 million learners. Going through English is not required.
Which is cheaper?
You can study for free in both. On Duolingo the free tier comes with ads and an energy limit, and the Super subscription removes them. In Tomyo the free plan has no ads and no time limit but allows one session a day; Plus from 399 RUB a month lifts that limit and opens the rest of the material.
Does Tomyo prepare you for the HSK exam?
The material is laid out by HSK 1–6 and the vocabulary follows the official lists, so you can see which level your progress corresponds to. It is not an exam-prep course that walks through task formats — it is a study programme tied to the exam’s levels.
Should you drop Duolingo if you start Tomyo?
Not necessarily. They do not get in each other’s way: Duolingo has strong retention mechanics, Tomyo has vocabulary work and reviews. The only inconvenience is two independent study schedules you will have to keep in mind.
What are the alternatives to Duolingo for learning Chinese?
For Chinese, Duolingo is replaced by specialised services: HelloChinese is a lesson-based course with speech recognition and video, Tomyo is an HSK-level programme with spaced repetition, Anki is flashcards you assemble yourself. Unlike Duolingo, all of them work with Chinese only.