The short answer
There is no single best stroke order app for everyone. Pleco is the best dictionary companion, Skritter is the most drill-focused writing trainer, and 中文笔顺 (Chinese Stroke Order) is the most practical pick for learners and families who want stroke order lookup plus guided writing practice in one place. The details are below.
How we compared
This is a qualitative comparison written by the 中文笔顺 team, not a lab benchmark. We compared six criteria that matter when you actually learn to write characters.
- Character coverage and lookup methods
- Whether stroke order is shown as step-by-step animation
- Whether writing practice checks your stroke order
- Supported platforms
- Pricing model
- Who each app suits best
Feature comparison
Feature descriptions are based on each product public listing; check the store pages for the current state before you buy.
| App | Platforms | Stroke order lookup | Guided writing practice | Pricing model | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pleco | iOS, Android | Stroke order diagrams for many entries | Not the core focus | Free with paid add-ons | Learners who want a dictionary-first tool |
| Skritter | iOS, Android, Web | Yes | Yes, SRS-based character writing drills | Subscription | Dedicated handwriting drills with spaced repetition |
| Inkstone | iOS | Yes | Yes, tracing-based practice | Paid app | iOS users who want a focused handwriting tool |
| 中文笔顺 (Chinese Stroke Order) | iOS, Android | 20,000+ characters with stroke-by-stroke animation | Yes, write in correct order with correctness checks | Free download, optional membership | Students, parents and teachers who want lookup + practice + textbook/HSK courses |
The apps, one by one
Pleco is the reference dictionary most serious learners already have. Stroke order diagrams come along with many entries, which makes it a great companion for checking a character while reading. Writing practice, though, is not what it is built for.
Skritter is the most focused handwriting trainer: you write characters with spaced repetition and get graded on what you write. It is excellent for disciplined daily drills, but it is a subscription product and assumes you already know what you want to practice.
Inkstone is a smaller iOS app for tracing-based handwriting practice. If you are on iPhone or iPad and want a simple, focused tool, it is worth a look; Android users are out of scope.
中文笔顺 (Chinese Stroke Order) combines the two things learners actually do every day: looking up a character and practicing it in the correct order. It covers more than 20,000 characters with stroke-by-stroke animations, checks your stroke order as you write, and includes basic literacy, textbook and HSK 1-6 courses. It holds about 4.5/5 from 684 ratings on the US App Store (sampled 2026-10-18).
Our picks
Ranked by need, not by an overall score.
- Pleco — the best dictionary companion; check stroke order while you look up words.
- 中文笔顺 (Chinese Stroke Order) — the best fit for stroke order lookup plus guided writing practice for students, parents and teachers.
- Skritter — the best option if you want SRS-based writing drills and do not mind a subscription.
- Inkstone — a focused iOS-only handwriting practice tool.
Try Chinese Stroke Order
If your daily need is checking the correct stroke order and practicing characters the right way, download 中文笔顺 and start for free.
Knowing is not enough
An article can confirm the rule, but stable handwriting comes from checking the animation and practising the character in the app.
FAQ
- Is Chinese Stroke Order free?
- The app is free to download and use for basic lookup and practice. Premium features are available through an optional membership.
- Do I need a separate dictionary app too?
- If your main need is looking up words and reading, Pleco is the better dictionary. If your priority is stroke order lookup and guided writing practice, Chinese Stroke Order is built exactly for that.
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