# ToneMaster: HSK Flashcards — Learn Mandarin Vocabulary

> Visual Mandarin tone learning app with HSK curriculum and offline access. (iPhone/iPad app by Matthieu Lebas.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tonemaster-hsk-flashcards/id6760612044 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Matthieu Lebas](https://appshunter.io/developer/1885320682)
- Category: Education, Travel
- Price: Free with in-app purchases
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 15.0 · 55 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2026-03-19
- Data updated: 2026-09-27
- Monetization: freemium
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tonemaster-hsk-flashcards/id6760612044/reviews.md

## What is ToneMaster?

Master Mandarin tones with colors.

Struggling to tell mǎ (horse) from mà (to scold)? ToneMaster turns HSK vocabulary into visual flashcards where every tone has its own color. See a character, hear the word, and instantly recognize its tone — the method that finally makes Mandarin tones stick.

HOW IT WORKS
Each card shows the character, its pinyin with tone marks, and clear audio. Review the card, and ToneMaster schedules it again with spaced repetition, right before you would forget it. You remember more while studying less.

COMPLETE HSK 1-9 COVERAGE
• 10,693 unique words across all nine HSK levels
• 11,086 unique example sentences to learn words in context
• Pinyin with tone marks on every card
• Spaced repetition that adapts to what you forget

WHY COLOR-CODED TONES WORK
Each of the four tones — plus the neutral tone — is highlighted in its own color. Your eye learns the tone as you read, so correct pronunciation becomes automatic. Linking a color to a sound gives your brain an extra handle to hold on to — exactly what tones lack when you only ever read them on a page.

AUDIO YOU CAN TRUST
Every word and sentence includes clear audio generated by neural speech synthesis, so you always hear the right pronunciation. HSK 1 audio is built in; HSK 2-9 audio packs download on demand and then play offline.

FREE TO START, ONE-TIME PURCHASE
HSK 1 is completely free. A single one-time purchase unlocks all of HSK 2-9. No subscription.

PRIVATE BY DESIGN
No ads. No tracking. No account. No analytics. Just you and your flashcards — your progress stays on your device.

WHO IT'S FOR
• Complete beginners starting from zero with HSK 1
• Students preparing for an HSK exam at any level
• Learners who keep confusing similar-sounding tones


WHY TONES ARE SO TRICKY
In Mandarin, a single syllable can carry several meanings depending on its tone — the same sound spoken four ways means four different things. When you only read a tone on a page, your eyes have nothing to hold on to. ToneMaster fixes that by giving every tone a color you can recognize at a glance.

DAILY REVIEW
A few minutes a day is enough. ToneMaster includes a daily review of ten quick tone questions,. Finish a set and you get a shareable result grid to track your progress day by day.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q: Do I need to know any Chinese to start?
A: No. HSK 1 starts from absolute zero, with pinyin and audio for every word.

Q: Is the audio recorded by a real person?
A: The audio is generated by neural speech synthesis, so every word and sentence is clear and consistent.

Q: Can I study offline?
A: HSK 1 is embedded and available offline. For HSK 2-9, download each audio pack once and it plays offline afterwards.

Q: Is ToneMaster free?
A: HSK 1 is completely free. A single one-time purchase unlocks HSK 2-9 — there is no subscription and no recurring cost.

Q: Does the app show ads or track me?
A: No. There are no ads, no tracking, no account, and no analytics. Your progress is stored locally on your device.

Q: How does spaced repetition work?
A: Cards you find hard come back sooner, and cards you know well come back later. ToneMaster schedules each review right before you would forget it, so your effort goes exactly where it is needed.


Start building your color memory for tones today.

Download ToneMaster, start with HSK 1 for free, and watch the tones become automatic.

## Key features

- Visual tone color-coding
- 5,000+ words and phrases
- Native audio pronunciation
- HSK 1-9 curriculum
- Offline learning
- Distraction-free interface

## Pricing and in-app purchases

Base price: Free.

**One-time purchases**

| Purchase | Price | Type |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Tone Master Pro | $4.99 | one-time |



## Frequently asked questions about ToneMaster

### How does ToneMaster help with Chinese tones?

ToneMaster uses a unique visual color-coding system to help you see and associate tones with sounds naturally. This method aims to improve your pronunciation and listening skills instantly by making tones less abstract.

### What HSK levels does ToneMaster cover?

ToneMaster offers comprehensive content for HSK levels 1 through 9. It includes over 5,000 words and phrases, each with native-quality audio and contextual example sentences.

### Can I use ToneMaster offline?

Yes, ToneMaster is 100% offline, meaning you can learn anywhere without requiring an internet connection. Your learning progress is saved directly on your device as there are no accounts to manage.

### What is the pricing model for ToneMaster?

ToneMaster follows a freemium model. You can start learning HSK 1 for free, and unlock the entire curriculum for HSK 2-9 with a single, one-time lifetime purchase. There are no subscriptions involved.

### How often is ToneMaster updated?

The latest version of ToneMaster is 1.4.3, and it was last updated on June 20, 2026. Updates typically focus on improving the learning experience and expanding content.

### What devices is ToneMaster available on?

ToneMaster is available for iPhone, iPad, and iPod devices. It is designed for iOS users looking to master Mandarin tones.

### Is ToneMaster suitable for young learners?

ToneMaster has an age rating of 4+, making it suitable for a wide range of learners, including younger students who are beginning their Chinese language journey.

### Does ToneMaster collect user data?

No, ToneMaster prioritizes user privacy. It does not require accounts and explicitly states 'No data collection, no tracking,' ensuring a private learning experience.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 1.6.2 — 2026-09-23

Spaced repetition is now real: cards you find hard come back sooner, cards you know well come back later. Reminders work again and stay off until you turn them on. 207 missing HSK 7-9 words restored (11,086 cards in total).

### 1.6.1 — 2026-09-18

Technical update: internal reliability fixes and a more considerate review prompt. No price change, no feature removed.

### 1.6.0 — 2026-09-11

• Cross-promotion with FlowTone (companion tone game)
• Privacy policy updated with full transparency
• Performance improvements and bug fixes

### 1.5.0 — 2026-08-31

NEW : Daily Review - 10 tone questions a day, share your results.
Fixed : HSK 2-9 audio downloads.

### 1.4.3 — 2026-06-20

fix paywall bugs

## Apps similar to ToneMaster

| App | Rating | Price | Category |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [ToneMaster: Learn Mandarin](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tonemaster-learn-mandarin/id6755132209) | — | Free | Education |
| [HSK Hanzi](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hsk-hanzi/id6757961808) | 5.0 (1) | Free | Education |
| [Nana Pinyin Tutor](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nana-pinyin-tutor/id6759814717) | — | Free | Education |
| [TOPIK Pass](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/topik-pass/id6760578241) | — | Free | Education |
| [3000 Glyphs—Chinese Flashcards](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/3000-glyphschinese-flashcards/id6758643335) | — | Free | Education |
| [Weave Chinese](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/weave-chinese/id6756037968) | — | Free | Education |

## More apps by Matthieu Lebas

- [FlowTone: Chinese Tone Game](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/flowtone-chinese-tone-game/id6773288738)

All apps by Matthieu Lebas: https://appshunter.io/developer/1885320682

## Related topics

[ka chinese tones](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/ka-chinese-tones)

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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 2026-09-27.*
