# 51CTO vs Sololearn

The clearest difference is ads: 51CTO at none against Sololearn's shown. 51CTO also leads on monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.0). Sololearn's advantage is review sentiment (70% vs 41%). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. 51CTO sells 23 one-off in-app purchases and Sololearn sells 12 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

51CTO ships an update fortnightly, Sololearn every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | 51CTO | Sololearn |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[4.8 (82K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sololearn-learn-to-code/id1210079064/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **82K** |
| Positive reviews | 41.0% of reviews | **70.1% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 123 MB | 130 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [北京无忧创想信息技术有限公司](https://appshunter.io/developer/525383066) | [Sololearn Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/933957049) |

## What reviewers say

### 51CTO

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/51cto/id1038062672)

This platform offers a vast library of free, practical video courses for IT professionals and students. Learn programming, certifications, AI, and more from industry experts to advance your career.

**Highlights:** 80,000+ free practical video courses, Covers 22 IT categories, Taught by 800+ industry experts, Focus on practical skills and career advancement, Suitable for students to experienced IT professionals, Offline learning support

**In-app purchases (23)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1金币 | $0.99 | one-time |
| 6金币 | $0.99 | one-time |
| 3金币 | $0.99 | one-time |
| 12金币 | $1.99 | one-time |
| 18金币 | $2.99 | one-time |
| 30金币 | $3.99 | one-time |
| 25金币 | $3.99 | one-time |
| 40金币 | $5.99 | one-time |
| 45金币 | $5.99 | one-time |
| 50金币 | $6.99 | one-time |
| 93金币 | $12.99 | one-time |
| 88金币 | $12.99 | one-time |
| 98金币 | $14.99 | one-time |
| 138金币 | $19.99 | one-time |
| 158金币 | $22.99 | one-time |
| 178金币 | $24.99 | one-time |
| 208金币 | $29.99 | one-time |
| 248金币 | $34.99 | one-time |
| 298金币 | $39.99 | one-time |
| 348金币 | $49.99 | one-time |
| 448金币 | $59.99 | one-time |
| 488金币 | $69.99 | one-time |
| 998金币 | $149.99 | one-time |


### Sololearn

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sololearn-learn-to-code/id1210079064)

Learn programming languages like Python, Java, and C# through interactive lessons and hands-on practice. This app offers bite-sized courses, coding challenges, and AI-powered support to help you build practical coding skills on the go. Join millions of learners worldwide advancing their careers and creating real-world solutions.

**Highlights:** Interactive coding lessons, Hands-on coding exercises, AI-powered coding support, Mobile code editor, Community support, Personalized learning paths

**Features:** Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (12)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Sololearn PRO Monthly | $6.99 | per month |
| SoloLearn PRO Monthly | $6.99 | per month |
| Sololearn PRO Monthly | $12.99 | per month |
| SoloLearn PRO Annual | $47.99 | per year |
| PRO Annual (14 days trial) | $47.99 | per year |
| SoloLearn PRO Annual | $59.99 | per year |
| Sololearn PRO Annual | $69.99 | per year |
| SoloLearn PRO Annual | $69.99 | per year |
| Sololearn PRO Annual | $79.99 | per year |
| Sololearn PRO Annual | $79.99 | per year |
| Full access to AI courses | $97.99 | per year |
| Sololearn MAX | $119.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Fun and engaging
- 🚀 Helps get an understanding of code
- 🚀 Easy to learn and use
- 👍 Great for beginners
- 👍 Awesome learning app

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Outdated terms and lack of intelligence in verifying answers
- 🐛 Issues with the app crashing or not loading properly
- 💰 Expensive subscription, especially compared to other options
- 💰 Free version is very limited
- 🔒 Difficult to cancel subscription

**Reported bugs**

- Incorrect test answers even when the code is correct
- Inability to enter certain characters or syntax correctly
- Lessons not saving progress properly
- Landscape mode not supported on tablets
- Frequent crashes or freezes

**Requested features**

- Add more advanced courses and content
- Improve code editor and IDE functionality
- Implement better explanations and feedback for incorrect answers
- Add more programming languages like Lua
- Improve search and navigation within the app


## Frequently asked questions

### Is 51CTO free?

51CTO is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Sololearn free?

Sololearn is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Do 51CTO or Sololearn have ads?

Sololearn shows ads; 51CTO does not.

### Which is updated more often, 51CTO or Sololearn?

51CTO ships an update fortnightly, and Sololearn every 2 weeks. Most recently, 51CTO was updated on September 23, 2026 and Sololearn on September 25, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*