# HSK Hero - Chinese Characters — user reviews

> 103 indexed App Store user reviews of HSK Hero by Handtechnics, rated 4.40/5 from 168 ratings.

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hsk-hero-chinese-characters/id1105794226/reviews
- App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hsk-hero-chinese-characters/id1105794226.md
- Rating breakdown: 5★ 94 · 4★ 58 · 3★ 10 · 2★ 2 · 1★ 4

## What do users think of HSK Hero?

Overall sentiment: positive

**Pros**

- 👍 Intuitive and well-designed interface
- 🎮 Engaging game format makes learning fun and addictive
- 📚 Effective character and vocabulary recognition practice
- 💰 No subscription required, one-time purchase
- 🎯 Organized by HSK levels for structured learning
- 📱 Portable and convenient for on-the-go practice
- 🔄 Remembers progress and where you left off
- ✅ Free version provides substantial content
- ⚡ Simple and easy to use
- 🌐 Ability to switch between simplified and traditional characters

**Cons**

- 💸 High purchase price ($39) relative to app simplicity
- 🚫 Limited free version content requires paid unlock
- 📊 No detailed results or statistics after completing levels
- 🔍 Lacks comprehensive dictionary or character breakdown features
- 🎯 Large level sizes (100-400 words) difficult for daily sessions
- 🔤 Missing audio pronunciation for pinyin and word intonation
- 📱 Incompatible with some devices (iPad Mini 6)
- 🔐 Accidental in-app purchase issue with unclear payment confirmation
- ❌ Incorrect/invalid support email address
- 🔇 Sound feature advertised but non-functional

**Commonly reported bugs**

- Sound feature not working despite being advertised
- App incompatible with iPad Mini 6
- Invalid support email address
- Accidental purchase without clear confirmation dialog
- Missed characters completely hidden instead of faded

**Most requested features**

- Review mode for missed characters after each session
- Ability to toggle between simplified/traditional on any screen
- Audio pronunciation for pinyin and word intonation
- Dictionary lookup or character breakdown feature
- Detailed results showing correct and incorrect answers
- Practice mode focused on frequently missed characters
- Reverse mode: identify pinyin given Chinese characters
- Radical practice sections
- Smaller level chunks for better daily practice sessions
- Character stroke sketching feature
- Integration with dictionary apps like Pleco
- Limit on wrong attempts before revealing correct answer

## Newest reviews (14 of 103)

### 4/5 — so close to being great

*2024-11-18, version 4.9*

I pretty much have the exact same comments as others…

1) Don’t completely hide the missed characters

2) There should be a mode to go over the ones you missed

But so far so good, I am learning the characters much more quickly this way. A good supplement to duolingo!

### 4/5 — One design choice makes me sad, otherwise excellent

*2023-05-15*

Props for a solid app. I’m sad I can’t switch the display back and forth between classical and simplified on any screen, whenever I feel like it. That would delight me beyond expressing.

### 4/5 — Free version is really great

*2021-04-04, version 4.4*

Would pay for the full thing but it’s a bit expensive. Free version is really good though!

### 4/5 — Definitely try it out

*2021-02-23*

This is a pretty good tool to practice character recognition. It's very simple and could really shine with some improvements like a dictionary/breakdown feature.  You need to buy the full pack to really make use of it, but I think it's worth the exercise if you want an alternative to flash cards. You can figure out if you want to buy it or not by playing the first few levels.

### 4/5 — Please refund my money

*2021-01-23*

I just downloaded the app and played one level and when the level ended I wanted to go to the next level and the unlock all button came up I unknowingly clicked it not knowing that it’ll cost that much 🤦🏾 and my iPhone uses Face ID to pay so before I knew it boom they deducted the money from my mom’s card I never meant it.. please take all your privileges back and refund the money. 

Thanks

### 4/5 — Good

*2020-12-16, version 4.4*

To make it better, could here be a round about the characters you struggle with the most?

### 4/5 — Good app

*2019-12-04*

Suggestion:   At the beginning, you breaking up in 25 for hsk1 and Hsk2.  50 for hsk3, 100 for hsk4, 200 for hsk5 and 400 for hsk6.
100, 200, 400 is too much for a daily session, i would appreciate to can split it in smaller part. That is the only reason why I give 4 stars instead of 5.

### 5/5 — HSK Hero

*2019-10-29*

I just love this app and the audio is a great help. I am actually starting to learn Mandarin. It’s just so much fun to play and learn at the same time.

### 5/5 — Very useful and handy

*2019-07-01, version 2.4*

Easy to use and interactive

### 5/5 — recommended

*2019-04-21, version 2.3*

addictive，educational fun.  I have just made purchase to unlock all levels and it’s working nicely.

### 4/5 — Fun and effective

*2019-04-20, version 2.3*

A nice additional way to study on the move

### 4/5 — Solid addition to Chinese app tools

*2019-03-03*

I found this more productive and easy to use for a quick dose of Chinese studying. Also, no sign in is required.  It would be great if it allowed review of the missed items. The best part is it remembers where you left off.

### 5/5 — This App is a Breakthrough for Me

*2019-02-13*

HSK Hero makes learning the characters, pinyin and vocabulary so much easier. I can use it throughout the day and keep learning and progressing. I live and work in China so I need to be able to read and talk! It is enjoyable and well worth 20 bucks!

### 5/5 — HSK is a great app!

*2018-11-24, version 2.2*

HSK has been the best app (for me) to learn Chinese! Thank you!

## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated)

### 1/5 — 太贵 Too expensive for a simple app.

*2020-06-27, version 4.2*

It is a useful app, I would buy it for $15USD or less.  It is not worth the $39 purchase price.

### 1/5 — Zero Sound

*2020-02-04, version 4.1*

There’s no sound in the app. Why offer it if it doesn’t work? Also, the support email address offered is invalid.

### 2/5 — Takes to long.

*2020-06-05, version 4.2*

Because there is a level with 400 words😰🥵😥

### 3/5 — Reverse

*2021-01-09, version 4.4*

It would be great if the app also had a way of picking out the right pinyin given the chinese characters. 

Please implement!!!

### 3/5 — It’s a good app

*2019-06-22, version 2.4*

This app is helping me to learn the words and find them in text as well.

Why 3 Stars ?
End of each study the app does not give you list of correct nor incorrect. Please consider this request.

More review later as I use the app to improve my Chinese, stay tuned.

### 3/5 — Simple and effective

*2019-04-03, version 2.3*

A useful tool alongside other learning methods. Works nicely.

### 3/5 — Great

*2017-06-15, version 1.26*

Great for reviewing characters

### 3/5 — Not good or bad

*2017-02-19, version 1.26*

Just as boring as flash cards.

### 3/5 — Good idea but!

*2016-08-28*

Would be nice if we could hear the sound of chinese word as well as examples of how words used in sentences . Thank you

### 3/5 — Pretty good

*2016-06-12, version 1.11*

Not too bad

## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated)

### 5/5 — Great App

*2026-04-02, version 5.2*

I use this app all the time to keep practicing the words I have already learned.

### 5/5 — Great learning tool

*2025-12-29, version 5.2*

Recommend using this with your learning, helps keep your mind on the characters instead of being on social media. Price is not bad if you compare it to time spent on irl lessons. Plus no subscription so even better.

### 5/5 — Best app for HSK!

*2025-06-25, version 5.2*

Super intuitive and well designed.

### 5/5 — Great Practice App

*2025-06-15, version 5.2*

Very nice

### 5/5 — Great learning tool

*2024-11-12, version 4.9*

Recommend using this with your learning, helps keep your mind on the characters instead of being on social media. Price is not bad if you compare it to time spent on irl lessons. Plus no subscription so even better.

### 5/5 — Great!

*2023-01-16, version 4.4*

This is just what I’ve been looking for. Fun and easy way to learn Characters.

### 5/5 — Best non-dictionary app for learning words, but…

*2022-05-04*

This truly is a great app for learning vocabulary. Use it in conjunction with a good Chinese dictionary (I like Pleco).  Only one complaint: it doesn’t work on my iPad Mini 6. 
How about it, tech support?

### 5/5 — O&&

*2021-01-30, version 4.4*

It was awesome !!!👍🥳

### 5/5 — Additions

*2020-02-23*

Could you add a practice sections for radicals?

### 5/5 — Plenty to practise for free

*2020-02-08, version 4.1*

It’s an easy, fun way to practise.  There are quite a lot of words that can be practise on the free version.

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-20.*