The best Chinese AI app right now is Qwen Chat from Alibaba, and you can have it running in English in about two minutes.
DeepSeek is my second pick, and Kimi from Moonshot AI is my third.
I've tested the models behind all three on GoldieBench and wired them into my own AI agents, so this isn't a list I copied from somewhere else.
This post gives you the ranked list first.
Then it walks you through setting up the top three apps step by step, and finally shows you how operators like us plug the same models into an agent.
Top 3 Picks At A Glance
- 🥇 Qwen Chat is the best Chinese AI app overall, because it's free, it works in English and it runs the highest-scoring Chinese model family on my bench.
- 🥈 DeepSeek is the best free everyday app, and its API is one of the cheapest ways to power an agent.
- 🥉 Kimi is the best Chinese AI app for slides, deep research and long documents.
How I Ranked Them
I ranked each app on four things an operator actually cares about.
The first is the quality of the model behind it, measured on GoldieBench wherever I have real scores.
The second is whether you can sign up and use it in English from outside China.
The third is cost, including how generous the free tier is and how cheap the API is.
The fourth is whether you can take the same model and run it inside your own agents.
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The 10 Best Chinese AI Apps, Ranked For Operators
1. Qwen Chat by Alibaba
Qwen Chat is Alibaba's free AI assistant on the web, and it runs the Qwen model family.
Qwen 3.8 scores 8.10 on GoldieBench, which is the best result for any fully tested Chinese model.
Best for: One free app that handles chat, coding and analysis.
Price: It's free on the web, and many Qwen models have open weights.
2. DeepSeek by DeepSeek
DeepSeek is the free chat app that put Chinese AI on the map, and it now runs V4.1-Flash, released on 10 September 2026.
Its V4.1 models aren't scored on GoldieBench yet, so I can't give you a bench number for them.
Best for: Free everyday chat and very cheap API calls for agents.
Price: The app is free, and V4.1-Flash is listed at $0.15 per million input tokens on OpenRouter.
3. Kimi by Moonshot AI
Kimi is Moonshot AI's assistant, and it now runs Kimi K3, which scores 7.89 on GoldieBench.
It has Slides, Deep Research, Docs, Scheduled tasks and Plugins built into the web app.
Best for: Research, reports, slide decks and long documents.
Price: It has a free tier and paid memberships, and the K3 API is $3 per million input tokens.
4. Z.ai Chat by Zhipu
Z.ai is Zhipu's international chat app, and it currently runs GLM-5.3-Flash.
GLM-5.2 scores 7.77 on GoldieBench, and the GLM-5 weights are open under the MIT licence.
Best for: Free chat with a model you can also self-host.
Price: The web chat is free.
5. MiniMax Agent and Hailuo AI by MiniMax
MiniMax Agent is a general AI agent, and Hailuo AI is MiniMax's video app, which now runs the H3 video model.
The MiniMax M3 language model scores 7.97 on GoldieBench.
Best for: AI video and creative work.
Price: Hailuo works on credits with paid plans.
6. LongCat by Meituan
LongCat is Meituan's free chat app, and it runs LongCat-2.0, an open 1.6-trillion-parameter model.
It averages 8.12 on GoldieBench, but only across four tasks, so treat that as provisional.
Best for: Builders who want a strong free open model to try.
Price: The web chat is free.
7. MiMo Studio by Xiaomi
MiMo Studio is Xiaomi's web app for its open-weight MiMo-V2.6 models.
MiMo-V2.6 Pro scores 6.35 on GoldieBench, but it's very cheap to run.
Best for: Cheap, high-volume agent work.
Price: The Pro API is $0.435 per million input tokens.
8. Yuanbao by Tencent
Yuanbao is Tencent's assistant, and it's built into the WeChat world.
It's mainly for Chinese-speaking users, and Tencent's open Hy3 coder scores 6.76 on GoldieBench across seven tasks.
Best for: WeChat users.
Price: It's free to use in China.
9. Doubao and Dola by ByteDance
Doubao is ByteDance's hugely popular assistant in China, and Dola, formerly called Cici, is its separate overseas app.
Reports say Dola isn't available in some markets, including the United States.
Best for: Chinese-speaking users who want a polished all-rounder.
Price: It's free to use.
10. Baidu's Wenxin Assistant by Baidu
Baidu's assistant runs the ERNIE models, and ERNIE 5.1 was released in May 2026.
It's built for Chinese users, and ERNIE isn't on GoldieBench yet.
Best for: Chinese-language search and research.
Price: It's free to try.
The Chinese AI Apps Compared At A Glance
| App | English web app | Free tier | Model you can also use in agents | GoldieBench score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Qwen Chat | Yes | Yes | Qwen 3.8 via OpenRouter | 8.10 |
| DeepSeek | Yes | Yes | V4.1-Flash via the DeepSeek API | Not scored yet |
| Kimi | Yes | Yes | Kimi K3 via the coding plan or API | 7.89 |
| Z.ai | Yes | Yes | GLM via the Z.ai coding plan | 7.77 (GLM-5.2) |
| MiniMax | Yes | Credits | MiniMax M3 via the API | 7.97 |
| LongCat | Yes | Yes | LongCat-2.0 open weights | 8.12 (4 tasks) |
| MiMo Studio | Yes | API pricing | MiMo-V2.6 via OpenRouter | 6.35 (Pro) |
| Yuanbao | Mainly Chinese | Yes | Hy3 via OpenRouter | 6.76 (7 tasks) |
| Doubao and Dola | Dola only | Yes | Not benched | Not on the board |
| Baidu's assistant | Mainly Chinese | Yes | ERNIE 5.1 via Baidu's API | Not on the board |
🔥 Want my exact profiles for Qwen, DeepSeek and Kimi? Inside the AI Profit Boardroom, I've got step-by-step videos showing how I plug Chinese models into Hermes and my Agent OS. You also get four coaching calls a week with 3,400+ members. → Get access here
How To Set Up Qwen Chat, The Best Chinese AI App
This is the one I'd set up first, and it takes about two minutes.
Step 1: Open the web app
Go to chat.qwen.ai in any browser.
The interface loads in English, so you don't need to translate anything.
Step 2: Create your account
Sign up with your email or a supported sign-in option.
Once you're in, your chats are saved to that account.
Step 3: Pick your model
Use the model menu at the top of the chat to choose which Qwen model answers you.
I'd start with the largest model on offer for hard questions and switch to a faster one for quick tasks.
Step 4: Give it a real job
Don't test it with "hello", because that tells you nothing.
Give it a task you'd normally pay someone for, such as rewriting a sales page or explaining a spreadsheet.
Step 5: Save your best prompts
When a prompt works, save it in a notes file so you can reuse it.
That habit is what turns a chat app into a repeatable system.
How To Set Up DeepSeek
DeepSeek is the easiest of the lot, because the free app needs almost no setup.
Step 1: Get the app
Download DeepSeek from your phone's app store, or use the web version linked from deepseek.com.
Step 2: Sign in
Create an account and you can start chatting straight away.
Step 3: Use the reasoning and search options
Switch on the reasoning option for harder problems and the search option when you need fresh information.
Leave them off for quick questions, because answers come back faster.
Step 4: Get an API key if you build tools
If you want DeepSeek inside your own agents, create a key on DeepSeek's API platform and top up a small balance.
The API is where DeepSeek really shines, because it's so cheap to run for long jobs.
How To Set Up Kimi
Kimi is the one I'd pick for research and presentations.
Step 1: Open kimi.com
Go to kimi.com and sign up.
Step 2: Choose the right tool
Use Deep Research when you need a long, sourced report on a topic.
Use Slides when you want a deck built from a prompt or a document.
Use Docs when you want to work through a long file.
Step 3: Schedule repeat work
Kimi has a Scheduled section, so you can set a recurring task instead of asking for the same thing every week.
Step 4: Upgrade only when you hit limits
Start on the free tier and only pay when you're using it every day.
How Operators Plug Chinese Models Into An AI Agent
The apps are great, but the real power comes from using the same models inside an agent that does work for you.
I do this with Hermes Agent, and if you haven't set it up yet, my guide on how to set up Hermes Agent in one click gets you there fast.
A Hermes profile is just a small config file that says which model to use and where its memory lives.
For Qwen, my profile points at qwen3.8-max through OpenRouter, which is one account that can reach hundreds of models.
For DeepSeek, I use a DeepSeek API key, because the official API is the cheapest and most reliable route.
For Kimi, I use the Kimi coding plan, because K3 is included in it and there's no per-token bill.
Once each profile exists, switching brains is one click instead of a new setup.
That's how I run several Chinese models side by side and send each job to the one that's best at it.
If you'd rather have this whole system done for you, my Hermes Agent OS free guide shows what the dashboard looks like.
Operator Rules For Using Chinese AI Apps Safely
Every operator should follow a few rules with these apps.
First, never paste client data, passwords or private files into any consumer chat app.
Second, remember that DeepSeek's privacy policy says user data is stored on servers in China.
Third, use the open weights when you need privacy, because you can run them on your own machine or a host you trust.
Fourth, check your client contracts, because some businesses ban Chinese AI services outright.
Fifth, test every model on your own real tasks, because a benchmark score is a guide and not a guarantee.
Which Chinese AI App Should You Set Up First?
Set up Qwen Chat first if you want one app that does everything.
Set up DeepSeek next if you plan to build tools, because the API is so cheap.
Set up Kimi when your work involves research, reports or slide decks.
Leave Yuanbao, Doubao and Baidu's assistant unless you read Chinese, because they're built for users inside China.
Related Reading
- How to set up Hermes Agent in one click gets an agent running so you can plug these models into it.
- The free Hermes Agent OS shows the dashboard where I switch between model profiles.
- My Claude Obsidian setup shows you how to give any of these models a long-term memory.
Also On Our Network
- 🌐 Using the best Chinese AI app for real business work
- 🌐 Ten Chinese AI apps scored and ranked
- 🌐 Which Chinese models plug straight into an Agent OS
- 🌐 The GoldieBench scores behind every Chinese AI app
FAQ: Best Chinese AI App
What is the best Chinese AI app to set up first?
Set up Qwen Chat first.
It's free at chat.qwen.ai, it works in English, and the Qwen 3.8 family behind it scores 8.10 on GoldieBench.
Do I need a Chinese phone number to use Chinese AI apps?
You don't need one for the international apps.
Qwen Chat, DeepSeek, Kimi, Z.ai, MiniMax Agent and LongCat all have English web apps.
Can I use Chinese AI models inside Hermes Agent?
Yes, you can, because a Hermes profile simply names a model and a provider.
I run Qwen through OpenRouter, DeepSeek through its own API and Kimi through the Kimi coding plan.
Is it safe to put work data into Chinese AI apps?
Keep client data, passwords and private files out of every consumer chat app.
For sensitive work, run open-weight models locally or through a host you trust.
Which Chinese AI app is best for slides and research?
Kimi is the best for slides and research.
Its web app has Slides, Deep Research, Docs, Scheduled tasks and Plugins built in.
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About Julian
I'm Julian Goldie, an SEO entrepreneur, author and founder of the AI Profit Boardroom, which has 3,400+ members.
I help business owners scale with AI agents, automation and SEO.
- I've built Goldie Agency into a seven-figure SEO and link building agency.
- I've grown my YouTube channel to 400,000+ subscribers.
- I run GoldieBench, where I score AI models on real one-shot builds.
- I wrote "Link Building Mastery", which is available on Amazon.
→ Get my best AI training inside the AI Profit Boardroom
Set up Qwen Chat today, add DeepSeek and Kimi when you need them, and you'll be running the best Chinese AI app like an operator.
