Hello Chinese is beautiful, futile, and a tad pricey.
The colorful main screen is similar to Duolingo.
New vocabulary is taught through multiple choice screens like these (similar to Rosetta Stone's method, except Rosetta Stone uses no English). Multiple choice vocabulary development is very poor at locking into memory. Hello Chinese has no SRS flashcard system.
Translation exercises are similar to those in Chinese Skill. Thankfully, Hello Chinese does show pinyin and hanzi (Chinese characters) side by side. The video transcription exercises are nearly worthless for vocabulary memorization but are helpful for understanding a variety of accents.
There's also a section that teaches how to draw the more common hanzi. (But will drawing the character one time actually lock anything into your memory?)
Only one speaking lesson is available, unless you buy a subscription. "Premium" is $9 a month / $60 a year and "Premium+" is $20 a month / $150 a year.
Here's a screen shot from the one free speaking lesson. You don't have to speak from memory - just read the script that has been demonstrated and displayed for you. The app grades you on your pronunciation, and unlike some apps which are either too lenient or too picky, this one is pretty good.
Bottom line: Hello Chinese has a gorgeous, well designed interface but will do little to lock anything into your memory. Your time is better spent on other learning tools. Curious which ones I recommend? Click here.
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