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25 Best Mandarin Courses Online

Mandarin is the most widely spoken language in the world, and learning it online gives you flexibility to study at your own pace. This page brings together 25 courses from three major providers – Udemy, Coursera and edX – that cover everything from basic pronunciation to intermediate grammar and HSK preparation. If you are a complete beginner, the lower‑priced Udemy options such as “Systematic Chinese Mandarin Course for Beginners” ($99.99) and “Complete Chinese Course: Learn Mandarin for Beginners” ($19.99) provide step‑by‑step video lessons. For learners who prefer a university‑backed curriculum, Coursera’s offerings from Shanghai Jiao Tong University – for example “Learn Mandarin Chinese” ($49.00) and its intermediate follow‑up – combine short video modules with optional assessments. edX’s two higher‑priced tracks, “Intermediate Mandarin Essentials” and “Mandarin Essentials for Beginners”, are more intensive and include credential‑eligible assessments, suitable for students aiming for formal qualification. Prices range from $19.99 to $340.20, so you can choose a level and budget that matches your goals.

Courses compared
25
Price range
$19.99 – $340.20
Providers
Coursera, Udemy, edX
Last updated
18 Sep 2026
How these 25 courses were chosen

Every course below is a real, currently listed course from Coursera, Udemy, edX, matched to "Mandarin" by our catalog and ordered by our CourseAsk score. Courses whose own title names the topic rank above those only tagged with it.

The grade on each entry scores how much the provider publishes about the course before you pay — the length and detail of the description, whether it lists learning outcomes and objectives — and whether a named university or institution stands behind it. A is fully documented and institution-backed; E is little more than a title and a price. Courses with almost nothing published are left ungraded rather than marked down, because an unknown course and a poor one are not the same thing.

There are no star ratings on this page — the course feeds we license do not include them, and we would rather leave a column out than fill it with a number we cannot stand behind. What we do have is price: these range from $19.99 to $340.20, as listed by the provider when we last updated the page.

  1. 1
    Coursera MOOC / Non-credit Grade B University-backed

    Mandarin Chinese 3: Chinese for Beginners

    Offered by Shanghai Jiao Tong University

    Mandarin Chinese 3: Chinese for beginners is a beginner's course of Mandarin Chinese in continuation of Mandarin Chinese 2: Chinese for beginners. It uses lectures, short plays, interactive exercises and cultural tips to...

    $79.00
    listed price
  2. 2
    Coursera MOOC / Non-credit Grade B University-backed

    Learn Mandarin Chinese: Intermediate

    Offered by Shanghai Jiao Tong University

    If you have fundamental proficiency in Mandarin Chinese, join us now to practice and improve your skill of the language spoken by more than 1 billion people. This may enable you to know and do business with people from o...

    $49.00
    listed price
  3. 3
    Udemy Certificate Grade B

    Chinese Speaking Course for Beginners-Practical Mandarin

    This series is called Just Arrived,初来乍到,which includes 5 main scenarios that you may experience when you are in a Chinese spoken country for traveling, studying, a business trip or for a new job as a new comer.Each...

    $54.99
    listed price
  4. 4
    Udemy MOOC / Non-credit Grade B Lowest price here

    Complete Chinese Course: Learn Mandarin for Beginners

    The ultimate Mandarin Chinese beginner course that will teach you Chinese faster than you thought possible! Perhaps you’ve dreamed of moving or travelling to China and holding your own in real-life situations, being inde...

    $19.99
    listed price
  5. 5
    edX MOOC / Non-credit Grade C

    Business Mandarin Essentials

    Offered by MandarinX

    You’ll learn the Mandarin words and expressions that come up most often in professional settings, from greeting clients to discussing contracts. The course walks through real‑world scenarios like meetings, presentations,...

    $340.20
    listed price
  6. 6
    Udemy MOOC / Non-credit Grade C

    Systematic Chinese Mandarin Course for Beginners

    Hi guys welcome to master Chinese with Peipei! This is a course for beginner Chinese learners to learn the basics about Chinese in a possible short time. It was designed based on HSK syllabus and covers HSK1-3 grammar po...

    $99.99
    listed price
  7. 7
    edX MOOC / Non-credit Grade C

    Mandarin Chinese for Beginners: Essentials & HSK Prep

    Offered by MandarinX

    This course is designed for those new to Mandarin Chinese, providing essential language skills and an introduction to the HSK exam format. You'll learn fundamental vocabulary, grammar, and practical phrases that will hel...

    $241.20
    listed price
  8. 8
    Coursera MOOC / Non-credit Grade C University-backed

    Learn Mandarin Chinese

    Offered by Shanghai Jiao Tong University

    Come and learn the language which is spoken by more than 1 billion people and is getting more and more learners. This may enable you to know and do business with people from one of the world's biggest economies. This spe...

    $49.00
    listed price
  9. 9
    edX MOOC / Non-credit Grade C

    Mandarin Chinese Level 1 – Mastering HSK 1

    Offered by MandarinX

    Begin your Mandarin journey with a step-by-step course aligned to HSK 1. Learn essential vocabulary, characters, and real-world phrases to speak confidently in daily life. Earn an edX certification and prepare for the of...

    $79.00
    listed price
  10. 10
    Udemy MOOC / Non-credit Grade C

    Foundational Chinese-Mandarin for Novices and Intermediates

    Master the Chinese language with our Foundational Chinese: Mandarin for Novices and  Intermediates! Learn how to speak with complete sentence structure while enhancing your Chinese vocabulary in the process. With th...

    $19.99
    listed price
  11. 11
    edX MOOC / Non-credit Grade D

    Intermediate Mandarin Essentials

    Offered by MandarinX

    This course, Intermediate Mandarin Essentials, is designed for those looking to enhance their Mandarin language skills beyond the basics. You'll engage with key vocabulary and grammar structures to better navigate everyd...

    $340.20
    listed price
  12. 12
    edX MOOC / Non-credit Grade D

    Mandarin Essentials for Beginners

    Offered by MandarinX

    This course on Mandarin Essentials for Beginners offers a welcoming introduction to the Chinese language. It's designed to help learners develop foundational skills in speaking, listening, reading, and writing Mandarin....

    $340.20
    listed price
  13. 13
    edX MOOC / Non-credit Grade D

    Mandarin Chinese Essentials

    Offered by MandarinX

    This course is your first crucial step to learning Mandarin Chinese. Learn essential skills for communicating in Chineseincluding tones, pinyin, grammar, characters, and basic structures all within the context of a busin...

    $189.00
    listed price
  14. 14
    edX MOOC / Non-credit Grade D

    Mandarin Chinese Level 1

    Offered by MandarinX

    Mandarin Chinese is rapidly becoming one of the top languages to learn, especially for business. Learnbasic language skills for business scenarios in Mandarin-speaking countries.

    $189.00
    listed price
  15. 15
    edX MOOC / Non-credit Grade D

    Mandarin Chinese for Business

    Offered by MandarinX

    Learn common Mandarin Chinese business phrases and understand Chinese culture so you can communicate professionally in the largest market in the world.

    $189.00
    listed price
  16. 16
    edX MOOC / Non-credit Grade D

    Mandarin Chinese Level 3

    Offered by MandarinX

    Advance your Mandarin Chinese by tackling different topics in dynamic business scenarios with extensive vocabulary and compound sentence structures.

    $189.00
    listed price
  17. 17
    edX MOOC / Non-credit Grade D

    Mandarin Chinese Level 2

    Offered by MandarinX

    Develop practical Mandarin skillswith extensive vocabulary, phrases and sentence structures used in daily communication and business environments.

    $189.00
    listed price
  18. 18
    Coursera MOOC / Non-credit Grade A University-backed

    Chinese for HSK 3 PART I

    Offered by Peking University

    大家好!Hi, everyone, welcome to join our Chinese for HSK Level 3 course. This is CHEN Li and LU Yun, and we are very happy to meet you here! Chinese for HSK 3 is a 10-week course. It consists of two parts: Part I, which...

    $79.00
    listed price
  19. 19
    Coursera MOOC / Non-credit Grade A University-backed

    Chinese for HSK 1

    Offered by Peking University

    Nǐ hǎo! 你好!Welcome to Chinese for HSK Level 1 - a Chinese course for beginners. My name is YU Bin. I am very happy to meet you here! HSK stands for Hànyǔ (Chinese) Shuǐpíng (level) Kǎoshì (test), which is the most imp...

    $79.00
    listed price
  20. 20
    Coursera MOOC / Non-credit Grade A University-backed

    Chinese for Beginners

    Offered by Peking University

    Immerse yourself in the captivating world of Chinese culture and language with our ABC Chinese course for beginners. This comprehensive course provides an introduction to Mandarin phonetics and essential daily expression...

    $49.00
    listed price
  21. 21
    Udemy MOOC / Non-credit Grade A University-backed

    6-Tone Phonetic System-A breakthrough in Language Learning

    Offered by City University of Macau

    The 6-Tone Concept is known also as The Theory of the Hexatave. It is a theory discovered by Mr. Edward P.H. Woo, Director of the Centre for Research in Linguistic Studies, City University of Macau.In this book, we expla...

    $29.99
    listed price
  22. 22
    Coursera MOOC / Non-credit Grade A University-backed

    Chinese for HSK 3 PART II

    Offered by Peking University

    大家好!Hi, everyone, welcome to join our Chinese for HSK Level 3 course. This is CHEN Li and LU Yun, and we are very happy to meet you here! Chinese for HSK 3 is a 10-week course. It consists of two parts: Part I, which...

    $79.00
    listed price
  23. 23
    Coursera MOOC / Non-credit Grade A University-backed

    Learn Chinese: HSK Test Preparation

    Offered by Peking University

    This specialization consists of three elementary language courses, aims to improve your Chinese language skills effectively and systematically. This specialization introduces everyday language and includes activities to...

    $49.00
    listed price
  24. 24
    Coursera MOOC / Non-credit Grade A University-backed

    Chinese for HSK 6

    Offered by Peking University

    HSK六级课程旨在通过学习HSK六级相关内容提高学习者的汉语水平,并帮助学习者在HSK六级考试中获得好成绩。 HSK六级慕课课程共12周,分为两个部分。 第一部分:汉语知识与技能课。侧重于教六级水平的汉语语言知识,训练表达技能,以HSK真...

    $49.00
    listed price
  25. 25
    Udemy Certificate Grade B

    HSK 4 Chinese Grammar Made Easy

    Notice: The following sample books are available for free and have been added to the resources section of Lecture 1. (Updated on April 01, 2023)HSK 4 Chinese Grammar PDF Book Sample;Theme-based Chinese Vocabulary for Bas...

    $39.99
    listed price

Best Mandarin Courses Online compared

# Course Provider Offered by Price
1 Mandarin Chinese 3: Chinese for Beginners Coursera Shanghai Jiao Tong University $79.00 View →
2 Learn Mandarin Chinese: Intermediate Coursera Shanghai Jiao Tong University $49.00 View →
3 Chinese Speaking Course for Beginners-Practical Mandarin Udemy $54.99 View →
4 Complete Chinese Course: Learn Mandarin for Beginners Udemy $19.99 View →
5 Business Mandarin Essentials edX MandarinX $340.20 View →
6 Systematic Chinese Mandarin Course for Beginners Udemy $99.99 View →
7 Mandarin Chinese for Beginners: Essentials & HSK Prep edX MandarinX $241.20 View →
8 Learn Mandarin Chinese Coursera Shanghai Jiao Tong University $49.00 View →
9 Mandarin Chinese Level 1 – Mastering HSK 1 edX MandarinX $79.00 View →
10 Foundational Chinese-Mandarin for Novices and Intermediates Udemy $19.99 View →
11 Intermediate Mandarin Essentials edX MandarinX $340.20 View →
12 Mandarin Essentials for Beginners edX MandarinX $340.20 View →
13 Mandarin Chinese Essentials edX MandarinX $189.00 View →
14 Mandarin Chinese Level 1 edX MandarinX $189.00 View →
15 Mandarin Chinese for Business edX MandarinX $189.00 View →
16 Mandarin Chinese Level 3 edX MandarinX $189.00 View →
17 Mandarin Chinese Level 2 edX MandarinX $189.00 View →
18 Chinese for HSK 3 PART I Coursera Peking University $79.00 View →
19 Chinese for HSK 1 Coursera Peking University $79.00 View →
20 Chinese for Beginners Coursera Peking University $49.00 View →
21 6-Tone Phonetic System-A breakthrough in Language Learning Udemy City University of Macau $29.99 View →
22 Chinese for HSK 3 PART II Coursera Peking University $79.00 View →
23 Learn Chinese: HSK Test Preparation Coursera Peking University $49.00 View →
24 Chinese for HSK 6 Coursera Peking University $49.00 View →
25 HSK 4 Chinese Grammar Made Easy Udemy $39.99 View →

Prices shown are the provider's listed price when we last updated this page. Confirm on their site before enrolling.

What the prices here tell you

The 25 priced courses on this page run from $19.99 to $340.20, with the middle of the range around $79.00 — a spread of $320.21. That is a wide gap for one subject. A higher price on this page usually reflects who is behind the course rather than how much material it contains, so it is worth opening two or three at different price points and comparing their syllabus before deciding.

Who is behind these courses

These courses come from Coursera, Udemy and edX. The platforms differ in how they sell: some charge once per course, others expect a subscription, and the listed price is not always what you pay at checkout after a promotion. 3 of these are produced by a named university or institution, including Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Peking University and City University of Macau — which usually means a fixed syllabus and a recognised certificate, rather than an individual instructor’s own course.

Before you enrol

Open the provider’s own page and check three things this comparison cannot tell you: when the course was last updated, what the syllabus actually covers in its later sections, and what recent learners say. Prices shown here are the provider’s listed price when we last rebuilt this page on 18 September 2026 — they change often, and a promotion can move them substantially. We earn a commission if you enrol through our links, which costs you nothing and never affects the order courses appear in.

Frequently asked questions

What Mandarin proficiency levels are covered by the courses on this page?
The selection spans beginner material, such as the Udemy starter courses, through intermediate content like Coursera’s “Learn Mandarin Chinese: Intermediate” and the edX “Intermediate Mandarin Essentials”. Some courses also include preparation for HSK exams, which bridges beginner and intermediate levels.
How do Udemy, Coursera and edX differ in their teaching approach?
Udemy courses tend to be video‑driven and self‑paced without formal assessments. Coursera provides university‑backed modules, short videos and optional quizzes, often linked to a recognised institution. edX offers more structured programmes with credential‑eligible assessments and a stronger academic focus.
Can I study these courses on my own schedule, and are there any enrolment deadlines?
All the courses listed are designed for self‑paced learning, so you can start whenever you like and progress at your own speed. None of the courses on this page impose fixed enrolment deadlines, although some may have optional assessment windows if you choose to pursue a certificate.
What should I consider when choosing between cheaper Udemy options and the higher‑priced edX programmes?
Consider your learning goals: if you need a quick introduction or casual practice, the lower‑priced Udemy courses may be sufficient. If you want a more rigorous curriculum, formal assessment, or a credential that could be recognised by employers or academic institutions, the edX programmes, despite their higher cost, provide that depth and accreditation.

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