Comparison

HelloChinese vs Learn Bicol

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

HelloChinese

This app offers a fun and effective way to learn Mandarin Chinese from beginner to conversational levels. It combines game-based lessons, stories, videos, and speech recognition to help you master pronunciation, characters, and practical conversations while exploring Chinese culture.

Highlights
  • Game-based learning
  • Graded stories
  • Immersive lessons
  • Video lessons
  • Speech recognition
  • Character handwriting
  • HSK level courses
Features
Read full description

HelloChinese is the best Mandarin Chinese learning app for beginners! Featured on the App Store in New Apps We Love and Notable Education Apps! Designed in a fun and highly effective manner, HelloChinese helps you rapidly learn Mandarin Chinese from scratch to a conversational level. With HelloChinese, learners can "learn the Chinese language, explore Chinese culture" – you will not only learn Mandarin Chinese but also enjoy the process of delving into the culture intertwined with the language. Features: ◉ Game-based Chinese learning: You will never get bored. ◉ 1000+ graded stories: read engaging stories at your level! ◉ Immersive lessons help you to have real-life, practical conversations quickly. ◉ Over 2,000 videos - all featuring authentic Chinese speakers! ◉ Innovative self-adaptive learning games that incorporate Chinese cultural education. ◉ Speech recognition corrects your pronunciation and makes speaking Chinese a breeze. ◉ Handwriting specially designed to learn Chinese characters at a faster rate. ◉ Systematic courses based on HSK levels. ◉ A well-designed Pinyin (pronunciation) course for newbies. ◉ Bite-sized curriculum to fortify your Chinese listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills. ◉ Simplified and traditional Chinese(Mandarin) are both supported. ◉ Offline accessibility: Once a course is downloaded, no internet connection is required. ◉ Study progress tracking across multiple devices. With these tools at your disposal, nothing can stop you from mastering Chinese. Start on your path to fluency today! HelloChinese Premium offers: One-month subscription for $11.99 Three-month subscription for $25.99 Twelve-month subscription for $69.99 The above prices are for U.S. customers. Pricing in other countries may vary, and charges may be converted to your local currency depending on your country of residence. Once purchased, subscriptions automatically renew unless auto-renew is turned off in your iTunes Account settings at least 24 hours before the end of the payment period. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HelloChineseApp/ Privacy Policy: https://www.hellochinese.cc/privacy.html Terms of Use: https://www.hellochinese.cc/terms.html Premium users can always reach us at premium@hellochinese.cc if they need any help.

About

Learn Bicol

Master the Bicol language with interactive lessons, quizzes, and daily learning tools. Explore cultural insights and practical phrases to connect with heritage and traditions. Ideal for beginners, heritage learners, and travelers.

Highlights
  • Interactive lessons
  • Multiple choice quizzes
  • Word of the Day
  • Flashcards
  • Progress tracking
  • Cultural insights
  • Real-world conversation examples
Features
Read full description

Learn Bicol (Bikol), the language of the Bicol Region, one word at a time. Look up Bicol words in English, practise with flashcards and quizzes, and keep a daily streak going with Today's Word Challenge. BICOL–ENGLISH DICTIONARY • Search over 900 Bikol words in Bicol or in English • Browse words by letter • See each word's meaning, part of speech, dialect and an example sentence • Hear how common words are pronounced, and share any word with friends TODAY'S WORD CHALLENGE • A new Bicol word every day: pick its meaning from four choices • Build your learning streak one day at a time FLASHCARDS • Swipe through Bikol words by topic: home and family, food and dining, travel, work and school, numbers and money, days and time, weather, health, emotions, animals and nature • Tap a card to flip it and see the English meaning QUIZZES • Four quiz types: Multiple Choice, Fill in the Blank, Picture Word Match and True or False • Ten sets for each type; score 80% to unlock the next set COMMON PHRASES • Greetings, directions, food and dining, shopping and numbers, health and everyday expressions • Save your favourite phrases MORE • Bicol culture cards on festivals, food, places and legends • My Progress: your streak, best scores and quiz stats • Daily reminders and dark mode • Free to use. Sign in with Apple, Google or email to take the quizzes and save your progress and favourites A TASTE OF BIKOL • Marhay na aga! – Good morning! • Dios mabalos! – Thank you! • Iyo / Dai – Yes / No • Hain? – Where? WHO IS IT FOR? Moving to Naga, Legazpi or anywhere in Bicol for school or work, visiting family in the province, getting to know a Bicolano partner, or keeping Bikol alive while living abroad: Learn Bicol helps you understand the everyday words you hear and start using them. Dios mabalos!

Screenshots

HelloChinese4 screens
Learn Bicol4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Learn Bicol at none against HelloChinese's 13. HelloChinese's advantage is ratings volume (24K vs 2) and update cadence (weekly vs every 3 weeks). On price, rating, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. HelloChinese sells 13 in-app purchases, starting at $11.99 per month. Learn Bicol asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for HelloChinese against 5.0 for Learn Bicol. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: HelloChinese has 24K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

HelloChinese ships an update weekly, Learn Bicol every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 10, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
HelloChinese versus Learn Bicol: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHelloChineseLearn Bicol
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (24K ratings)5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews94.8% of reviews—
Number of ratings24K — better2
Update frequencyWeekly — betterEvery 3 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFreemiumFree — better
Best chart rank#118 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size98 MB19 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperHelloChinese Technology Co., Ltd.Jeff Bercasio

Customer experience

HelloChinese

All ratings23,666 ratings
Positive97.8%
Neutral0.9%
Negative1.3%
Written reviews3,791 reviews
Positive94.8%
Neutral2.0%
Negative3.2%

Learn Bicol

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

HelloChinese

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Occasional login issues
  • Inconsistent performance on older devices

Requested features

5 requests
  • More advanced lessons beyond HSK3
  • Option to toggle pinyin on a per-word basis
  • Improved review system with more customization
  • Addition of traditional Chinese characters
  • More real-life conversation practice

Learn Bicol

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

13 purchases

HelloChinese

Subscriptions10
  • HelloChinese Premium$11.991 Month
  • HelloChinese Premium+$16.991 Month
  • HelloChinese Premium+$19.991 Month
Show 7 more
  • HelloChinese Premium$25.993 Months
  • HelloChinese Premium$48.991 Year
  • HelloChinese Premium+$62.996 Months
  • HelloChinese Premium$69.991 Year
  • HelloChinese Premium+$89.996 Months
  • HelloChinese Premium+$104.991 Year
  • HelloChinese Premium+$149.991 Year
One-time3
  • 300 coins$4.99
  • 750 coins$9.99
  • 1650 coins$19.99
None

Learn Bicol

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is HelloChinese free?
HelloChinese is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Learn Bicol free?
Learn Bicol is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, HelloChinese or Learn Bicol?
Learn Bicol is rated higher. HelloChinese averages 4.9 out of 5 from 24K ratings, while Learn Bicol averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.
Do HelloChinese or Learn Bicol have ads?
Neither HelloChinese nor Learn Bicol shows ads.
Which is updated more often, HelloChinese or Learn Bicol?
HelloChinese ships an update weekly, and Learn Bicol every 3 weeks. Most recently, HelloChinese was updated on October 25, 2026 and Learn Bicol on October 10, 2026.

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