HSKLord vs Skritter: Which Chinese App Is Right for You?

Two Apps, Two Different Goals

Before diving into a feature-by-feature comparison, it is important to understand that HSKLord and Skritter are not really competing for the same space. They are tools designed for different aspects of Chinese language learning, and comparing them directly is a bit like comparing a dictionary to a calligraphy workbook. Both are useful, but for different reasons.

Skritter is a character handwriting app. Its core value proposition is teaching you to physically draw Chinese characters on your phone or tablet screen with correct stroke order. When you study a character in Skritter, you trace each stroke in the right sequence, and the app gives you real-time feedback on whether your strokes are correct. This is a specific, valuable skill — and Skritter does it better than almost anything else on the market.

HSKLord is a vocabulary acquisition app built around spaced repetition. Its core value proposition is helping you learn, recognize, and recall Chinese words efficiently — specifically the vocabulary you need for the HSK exam system. When you study a word in HSKLord, you are training your brain to recognize it in reading, understand it in listening, and recall its meaning and pronunciation. The system schedules your reviews at scientifically optimized intervals to maximize long-term retention.

The question is not which app is "better" in the abstract. The question is which skill you need to develop: handwriting characters or recognizing vocabulary. For many learners, the answer might be both — and we will discuss that scenario later in this article.

What Skritter Does Best

Skritter has been around since 2010 and has built a strong reputation in the Chinese learning community for one thing above all else: teaching you how to write Chinese characters by hand. If you have ever tried to learn character writing from a textbook, you know how frustrating it can be to figure out stroke order, proportions, and structure on your own. Skritter solves this by turning your device screen into an interactive writing pad.

When you study a character in Skritter, the app presents a blank canvas and expects you to draw the character from memory. As you write each stroke, Skritter checks whether the stroke is correct, whether it is in the right order, and whether its shape and position are reasonable. If you get stuck, you can ask for a hint. If you draw a wrong stroke, the app shows you the correct one. This immediate feedback loop is what makes Skritter so effective for building handwriting muscle memory.

Skritter's key strengths include:

• Stroke order enforcement: The app does not just check that you drew the right shape — it checks that you drew the strokes in the correct sequence, which is essential for proper Chinese handwriting.
• Native mobile apps: Skritter has dedicated iOS and Android apps that are well-optimized for touch-based writing input.
• Character decomposition: Skritter helps you understand how characters are built from radicals and components, which deepens your understanding of the writing system.
• Spaced repetition for writing: Skritter uses its own SRS system to schedule writing reviews, so you practice characters at intervals designed to strengthen your handwriting recall.
• Audio pronunciation: Each character and word comes with native audio, so you hear the correct pronunciation as you write.

For learners who need to physically write Chinese — whether for school assignments, calligraphy practice, or personal satisfaction — Skritter is genuinely excellent. It occupies a niche that very few other apps serve well.

What HSKLord Does Best

HSKLord is built for a different challenge: learning the thousands of Chinese words you need to understand spoken and written Chinese at progressively higher levels. Rather than teaching you to draw characters, HSKLord teaches you to know them — to see a word and instantly recall its meaning and pronunciation, or to hear a word and immediately understand it.

This is the skill that matters most for reading Chinese text, listening to Chinese conversations, and passing the HSK exam. The HSK tests reading comprehension and listening comprehension, not handwriting ability. When you see the character \u8BFB (dú) on a reading passage, you need to instantly know it means "to read" — you do not need to be able to draw it from memory.

HSKLord's key strengths include:

• Complete HSK alignment: HSKLord covers all vocabulary for HSK 1 through HSK 6, plus the updated word lists for HSK 3.0. You study exactly the words you need for your target level.
• Optimized SRS algorithm: The spaced repetition system is tuned specifically for vocabulary retention, scheduling reviews at intervals that maximize long-term recall while minimizing total study time.
• Visual progress tracking: Dashboards show your progress by HSK level, letting you see exactly how many words you have mastered and how many remain.
• Built-in pronunciation: Every word includes audio so you can train your listening recognition alongside your reading recognition.
• Placement test: The placement test identifies your current level so you do not waste time reviewing words you already know.
• 5,000+ HSK words: The complete HSK vocabulary library covers everything from basic greetings to advanced academic language.

For learners focused on passing HSK exams, building reading fluency, or developing listening comprehension, HSKLord provides a direct and efficient path. Every feature is designed to get more words into your long-term memory in less time.

HSKLord vs Skritter: Feature Comparison

The following table summarizes how the two apps compare across the features that matter most to Chinese learners.

As the table makes clear, these apps have very little overlap in their core functionality. HSKLord does not teach handwriting, and Skritter is not optimized for rapid vocabulary acquisition. This is not a weakness of either app — it is a reflection of their different design goals.

Do You Need to Handwrite Chinese in 2026?

This is the central question behind the HSKLord vs Skritter decision, and it deserves an honest answer. The reality of Chinese language use in 2026 is that the vast majority of written communication happens through digital devices. When Chinese people send text messages, write emails, post on social media, or compose documents, they type using pinyin input on a phone or computer keyboard. They type the romanized pronunciation, and the device suggests the correct characters. They do not draw each character by hand.

This means that for most practical purposes, you need to recognize characters (to read them) and you need to know their pronunciation (to type them via pinyin). You do not strictly need to be able to draw them from memory. This is true for the vast majority of real-world Chinese use in business, travel, academic research, and daily life.

Even the HSK exam itself reflects this reality. The lower levels (HSK 1 and HSK 2) do not require any writing at all — they test only listening and reading. At HSK 3 and above, there are writing sections, but computer-based HSK exams allow you to type using pinyin input rather than handwriting characters. The exam is testing whether you know the right word, not whether you can draw it.

That said, handwriting has real value. There are legitimate reasons to learn to handwrite Chinese characters:

• Deeper character understanding: Writing a character forces you to internalize its structure, radicals, and components in a way that passive recognition does not. Many learners report that they remember characters better after learning to write them.
• Cultural appreciation: Chinese calligraphy is one of the great art forms of East Asian culture. Learning to write characters connects you to thousands of years of literary tradition.
• Academic requirements: Some Chinese language courses at universities require handwriting practice and test it on exams.
• Personal notes: Being able to jot down Chinese characters by hand — in a notebook, on a whiteboard, or on a sticky note — is convenient in certain situations.
• Social impression: In Chinese-speaking contexts, foreigners who can write characters by hand often earn respect and admiration. It shows a deeper commitment to the language.

The honest assessment is this: handwriting is valuable but not essential for most learners. If you have limited study time and your goal is to communicate effectively in Chinese, pass the HSK, or read Chinese text, your time is better spent building vocabulary breadth through recognition and recall. If you have more time, or if handwriting is personally important to you, it is a wonderful skill to develop alongside your vocabulary work.

Sample HSK 2 Vocabulary: Writing and Reading

Click the cards below to reveal the pinyin and English meaning. These are HSK 2 words related to writing, reading, and studying — the kind of vocabulary you would encounter in both HSKLord and Skritter, though studied very differently in each app:

Who Should Use Skritter

Skritter is the right choice if any of the following describe your situation:

• You want to learn Chinese calligraphy or handwriting as a skill. If handwriting is a goal in itself — not just a means to an end — Skritter is the best digital tool available for this purpose.
• Your Chinese course requires handwriting practice. Many university-level Chinese courses include handwriting components on exams. Skritter gives you structured practice with immediate feedback that a workbook cannot match.
• You are a visual/kinesthetic learner. Some people genuinely learn characters better by writing them. If you find that tracing characters helps you remember them in a way that flashcards do not, Skritter caters to your learning style.
• You already have strong vocabulary but weak writing. If you can read and understand Chinese text fluently but cannot write characters from memory, Skritter fills that specific gap.
• You are interested in character structure and radicals. Skritter's decomposition features help you understand how characters are built, which is fascinating from a linguistic perspective.

Skritter deserves genuine respect for what it does. The team has spent over a decade refining their stroke recognition technology, and there is nothing else quite like it. If handwriting is your priority, do not hesitate to use Skritter. It is a well-made product built by people who clearly care about Chinese character education.

Who Should Use HSKLord

HSKLord is the right choice if any of the following describe your situation:

• You are preparing for the HSK exam. HSKLord is purpose-built for HSK preparation. Every word in the system maps to a specific HSK level, and the SRS algorithm is optimized for the kind of vocabulary retention you need to pass the test.
• You want to build Chinese reading comprehension. Reading fluency requires a large recognition vocabulary. HSKLord is the most efficient way to systematically learn the 5,000+ words across HSK 1 through HSK 6.
• You want to improve your listening comprehension. Every word in HSKLord includes audio pronunciation, so you train your ear alongside your visual recognition. Over time, you build the ability to understand spoken Chinese at progressively higher levels.
• You have limited study time. SRS is specifically designed to maximize learning per minute of study time. If you can only study 15-30 minutes per day, HSKLord ensures those minutes are spent on the words that need the most reinforcement.
• You want to track your progress by HSK level. HSKLord's dashboard shows you exactly where you stand for each HSK level — how many words you have mastered, how many are in progress, and how many are left to learn.
• You are preparing for the new HSK 3.0. HSKLord already includes the updated vocabulary lists for HSK 3.0, which introduces hundreds of new words at each level. If you are targeting the new exam system, you need these updated lists.

HSKLord is particularly effective for learners in the HSK 2 to HSK 5 range, where the volume of vocabulary you need to learn is large enough that a systematic SRS approach dramatically outperforms random study methods. At these levels, you are learning hundreds of new words, and the SRS algorithm ensures you do not forget earlier words as you add new ones.

Using HSKLord and Skritter Together

If you have the time and budget for both apps, they complement each other well. Here is a practical approach to using them together without doubling your study time.

Use HSKLord as your primary vocabulary tool. This is where you learn new words, build your recognition vocabulary, and track your progress through the HSK levels. Spend most of your daily study time here — typically 15 to 30 minutes doing your SRS reviews and learning new cards.

Use Skritter as a supplementary writing tool. After you have learned a batch of new words in HSKLord, select the ones you find most interesting or important and practice writing them in Skritter. You do not need to write every single word you learn — focus on high-frequency characters, characters with interesting structures, or characters you keep confusing. Ten to fifteen minutes of Skritter practice a few times per week is enough to build meaningful handwriting ability.

This approach gives you the best of both worlds: the breadth and efficiency of HSKLord's vocabulary SRS system, plus the depth and motor memory of Skritter's handwriting practice. You learn more words overall (because HSKLord is faster for pure vocabulary acquisition), and you develop handwriting skill for the characters that matter most to you.

A suggested weekly schedule:

• Daily (15-30 min): HSKLord SRS reviews + new word learning
• 3x per week (10-15 min): Skritter handwriting practice on selected characters
• Weekly: Review your HSKLord dashboard to see which HSK level words need more attention

This combined approach totals about 3-4 hours per week and gives you comprehensive Chinese vocabulary development with a meaningful handwriting component. It is an excellent routine for serious learners who want well-rounded character knowledge.

Other Factors to Consider

Price and Value

Skritter charges approximately $15 per month for its subscription, which gives you access to all of its character writing features, word lists, and study tools. HSKLord offers a free 30-day trial followed by a subscription model. Both apps represent reasonable value for what they provide, but you should weigh the cost against how much you will actually use each tool. If you only need vocabulary recognition, paying for a handwriting app is unnecessary. If you only need handwriting practice, paying for a vocabulary SRS system would be similarly wasteful.

Platform and Accessibility

Skritter has native mobile apps for iOS and Android, which makes sense given that handwriting practice works best on a touchscreen. HSKLord is a responsive web app that works on any device with a browser — phone, tablet, laptop, or desktop. For SRS vocabulary review, the web app approach means you can study from any device without installing anything, which is convenient for learners who switch between devices throughout the day.

Learning Stage

Your current stage of Chinese learning may also influence which app is more useful right now. At the beginner level (HSK 1 and HSK 2), you are learning relatively few characters, so handwriting practice is manageable and can reinforce your initial learning. As you progress to HSK 3, HSK 4, and beyond, the volume of vocabulary increases significantly, and efficient SRS-based vocabulary acquisition becomes increasingly important. Many learners start with both apps at the beginner stage and gradually shift more of their time to vocabulary acquisition as the word count grows.

Japanese and Korean Learners

It is worth noting that Skritter also supports Japanese and has historically been popular with learners studying Japanese kanji. If you are studying both Chinese and Japanese, Skritter's multi-language support could be a significant advantage. HSKLord is focused exclusively on Chinese and the HSK system, which means deeper specialization for Chinese learners but no Japanese support.

The Bottom Line

The HSKLord vs Skritter decision comes down to one question: what do you need to be able to do with Chinese characters?

If you need to recognize, understand, and recall thousands of Chinese words for reading, listening, and HSK exam success, HSKLord is the more efficient tool. Its SRS algorithm is built for exactly this purpose, and its HSK-aligned vocabulary system ensures you study the right words at the right time.

If you need to physically write Chinese characters with correct stroke order — whether for academic requirements, personal interest, or cultural engagement — Skritter is the best tool for the job. Its stroke recognition technology and interactive writing practice are unmatched.

If you want both skills, use both tools. They complement each other naturally, and combining HSKLord's vocabulary breadth with Skritter's writing depth creates a comprehensive study routine.

Neither app is objectively better than the other. They are both well-made tools that solve different problems. The best choice is the one that matches your learning goals.