# Readibu - Chinese novel reader — Read Chinese web novels > Chinese web novel reader with integrated language learning tools. (iPhone/iPad app by Lingyi Chen.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/readibu-chinese-novel-reader/id1474518982 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [Lingyi Chen](https://appshunter.io/developer/1443252218) - Category: Education, Books - Price: Free with in-app purchases - Rating: 4.80/5 from 152 App Store ratings · 27 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 17+ - Requires: iOS 13.0 · 88 MB - Languages: American English - Released: 2019-08-09 - Data updated: 2026-08-31 - Monetization: freemium - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/readibu-chinese-novel-reader/id1474518982/reviews.md ## What is Readibu? Discover new stories and worlds in Chinese! Ready to move beyond flashcards and graded readers? Readibu is your portal to the world of popular Chinese web novels, short stories and children stories enjoyed by native readers — or bring your own books and read them the same way. From historical to sci-fi or romance to horror, there's always something good to read. Readibu is a Chinese reading app where you can: 1. Explore popular web novels, short stories, and children stories from native Chinese sites — browse by ranking, category, or search 2. Import your own EPUB, PDF, or TXT files and read them alongside your web library 3. Tap on characters for definitions 4. Open web pages in a reader for immersive reading 5. Absorb the language while you're immersed in gripping adventures Supported features: • Tap for dictionary • Text-to-speech • Simplified and traditional conversion • Pinyin/zhuyin display over words • Add custom url to display in reader • Import EPUB, PDF, and TXT files into your library • Organize your reading with collections, bookmarks, and history • Check the difficulty of any text with HSK-level breakdowns • Look up words in Pleco, MDBG, Yellow Bridge, Baidu Translate, and more • Export saved vocabularies • Auto-detect next chapter • Auto-save last page you were on • Back up and restore your library and vocabulary ================================ ENHANCE YOUR READING EXPERIENCE WITH READIBU PREMIUM • Cloud sync - Sync subscription, library, bookmarks, vocabs and reading progress between devices • Sentence Translation - Unlimited translation by Google Translate • Image Search - Display image search results for selected text • Offline Reading - Download pages for reading offline • Quiz Mode - Quiz your pinyin, tones, and definitions of words you looked up before • Smart Name Recognition - Detect names of people, orgs and places in content • Syntax Analysis - Analyze syntax of sentence Free trials included with all plans! 1-month subscription: $4.99 per month 3-month subscription: $9.99 per month 12-month subscription: $47.99 per year Payment will be charged to iTunes Account at the end of your free trial period. Your subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current billing period or trial. Your account will be charged for renewal within 24 hours before the end of the current period. You can manage and cancel subscriptions in your Itunes Account settings. Privacy Policy: https://www.readibu.com/privacy Terms & Conditions: https://www.readibu.com/terms Have questions? Feel free to contact us at support@readibu.com. ## Key features - Explore Chinese web novels - Tap for character definitions - Reader mode for web pages - Pinyin/zhuyin display - Text-to-speech - Offline reading (Premium) - Sentence translation (Premium) ## Pricing and in-app purchases Base price: Free. **Subscriptions** | Subscription | Price | Period | | --- | --- | --- | | Readibu Monthly Premium | $4.99 | per month | | Readibu Yearly Premium | $47.99 | per year | | Readibu 3-Month Premium | $9.99 | per 3 months | ## Recent user reviews (10 of 27) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/readibu-chinese-novel-reader/id1474518982/reviews.md ### 5/5 — Amazing. Read out loud and to yourself. *2026-06-19, version 2.2.1* I wish this was talked about more, I would have had an easier time learning mandarin. No AI slop, and using publicly available stories/articles, with options for zhuyin and pinyin (and traditional or simplified). The subscription is very affordable so I may give it a shot, but the free version is extremely usable, unlike most things I’ve tried so far. I hope readibu gets a bigger user base. ### 5/5 — Amazing app, can still improve *2026-03-07, version 2.2.1* I really enjoy the idea of this app and it works very well. I can already feel my reading comprehension and motivation going way up, it’s amazing for learners. You can import your own materials, and it provides easy to access sites with more, the best of both worlds. However, the audio doesn’t work for me, dictionaries won’t play it back. Also, this is not necessary, but I’d like stronger support for the site Archive of our Own which is an American fanfiction site but with a lot of Chinese language works. In general, though, it’s a highly useful, fun, and well-designed app. ### 5/5 — PDF/ePUB Feature Request *2026-03-01, version 2.2.0* Instead of web urls, I hope the app can also support PDFs and ePUBs as well. ### 5/5 — Amazing Chinese Reader *2025-12-14, version 2.0.10* I love this so much thank you for making it so easy to use and applicable for all sorts of Chinese content ### 5/5 — Fantastic App *2025-11-01, version 2.0.7* I used this app to progress from my HSK4 plateau to easily mastering HSK5. I’m a big fan of 武侠小说，after reading about 50万汉字 I’ve found my sense of tones has completely changed. My reading speed has increased several fold, and my listening comprehension is also far greater. The most important factor is just read for pleasure, and make sure to click on any word you don’t recognize AND any word you are not crystal clear of the tones on. Great and useful app, plus the definitions I find are more accurate than even Pleco’s! ### 4/5 — Нельзя использовать одну учетку на другом устройстве *2025-06-27* Отличная читалка, но не без недостатков ### 5/5 — Not half bad *2025-04-23, version 1.9.0* It's really good with a lot of interesting stories at varying levels which I found helpful. There are a few paywalls but they mostly improve the experience rather than leaving the app unusable. Was really helpful personally, and the best Chinese reading app I found by far ### 5/5 — Really excellent for learning *2025-02-23, version 1.9.0* The built in links are great, but the best feature is the ability to point it to a search engine and read any webpage. There should be a URL bar on the home screen! It does a good job at parsing words and the HSK ratings for built-in readings are nice, too. Definitely a good learning tool. ### 4/5 — Pretty good for serious learners *2025-01-01, version 1.9.0* The UI and built in dictionary makes translating easy. I would’ve bought the pro version if the offline mode worked. Also, it would be great if there was a greater variety of reading materials, or if users were able to upload our own books. ### 5/5 — Great for Chinese learning *2024-05-15* Excellent way to find and read short stories graded appropriately. Very helpful to be able to tap words or phrases for a quick definition. Exporting tapped words is a helpful feature too! ## Frequently asked questions about Readibu ### What is Readibu? Readibu is an application designed for reading Chinese web novels, short stories, and children's stories. It aims to help users absorb the Chinese language while enjoying engaging content from native Chinese websites. ### What are the key features of Readibu? Key features include exploring popular Chinese novels, tapping on characters for definitions, opening web pages in a reader mode for immersive reading, text-to-speech functionality, pinyin/zhuyin display, and simplified/traditional Chinese conversion. Premium features offer sentence translation, offline reading, and more. ### How much does Readibu cost? The app offers a free version with core reading features. Premium features are available through a subscription model, with options for 1-month, 3-month, and 12-month plans. Free trials are included with all plans. ### What devices is Readibu compatible with? The app is available on iOS devices, as payments are processed through iTunes Account. Users can manage and cancel subscriptions within their iTunes Account settings. ### Who would benefit from using Readibu? Readibu is ideal for Chinese language learners who want to move beyond traditional learning methods and immerse themselves in authentic content. It's also suitable for native Chinese speakers looking for a convenient way to read web novels and stories. ## Version history (last 5 releases) ### 2.3.2 — 2026-07-23 We added some of the most requested features! • Import Your Books: Bring your own EPUB, TXT, and PDF books into the library • Tablet Support: A redesigned experience for larger screens • Paged Reading Mode: Swipe or tap to turn the pages of your book • Full Library Backup: Export your whole library — books, reading progress, and vocabulary Thanks for using Readibu! ### 2.2.1 — 2026-03-05 Novel/story titles in Discover now come with English translations. Thanks for using Readibu! ### 2.2.0 — 2026-02-25 We added some awesome new features! • Discovery: Browse and search directly from popular web novel and story sites • Collections: Organize your bookmarks into custom collections • Reading Status: Set the reading status of your bookmarks • Ratings: Rate bookmarks from 1 to 5 Thanks for using Readibu! ### 2.1.4 — 2026-02-02 We fixed a bug with chapter navigation. Thanks for using Readibu! ### 2.1.3 — 2026-02-01 We fixed a bug with last page mode data and reader font weight style. 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User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-31.*