Scenario Matrix
| Scenario | HelloChinese | Pleco | Duolingo | Pimsleur | |---|---|---|---|---| | 3-month prep before trip | ✅ Best structured | ⚠️ Supplement | ⚠️ Weak for Chinese | ⚠️ Good audio | | Daily 15-min commute | ⚠️ Needs screen | ⚠️ Good for reading | ✅ Best | ✅ Best | | Learning to read menus | ⚠️ Some | ✅ Best (camera OCR) | ⚠️ Limited | ❌ None | | Tone recognition mastery | ✅ Best | ❌ Not a teacher | ⚠️ Weak | ✅ Best audio | | Speaking confidence (survival) | ✅ Best | ❌ Not a teacher | ⚠️ Weak | ✅ Good | | Character writing ability | ⚠️ Limited | ⚠️ Dictionary only | ⚠️ Basic | ❌ None | | Budget (free tier) | ⚠️ Limited free | ✅ Free core | ✅ Best free | ❌ No free | | iOS + Android | ✅ Both | ✅ Both | ✅ Both | ✅ Both |