Comparison

TCB | Read Chinese to Learn vs Traverse

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

Head to head
About

TCB | Read Chinese to Learn

This app offers over 9,500 news-based lessons to enhance Chinese reading skills. It provides content for all proficiency levels, with daily updates and features like offline study and a one-tap dictionary. Improve fluency and vocabulary through interactive exercises and detailed lesson breakdowns.

Highlights
  • 9,500+ news-based lessons
  • Offline study mode
  • One-tap dictionary
  • Reading and listening exercises
  • Vocabulary tracking
  • Stroke order and writing practice
  • Cross-platform study
Features
Read full description

The Chairman’s Bao (TCB) features 9,500+ news-based lessons to improve Chinese reading, with more published daily. Learn Chinese with beginner, intermediate and advanced level news to practice and improve fluency. New Release in October 2023! Brand new app release with improved user interface, new features and greater study personalization options! Key Platform Features: 1. 9,500+ News-Based Lessons 2. Brand New User Interface 3. New: Study Offline Mode: Learn on the go! 4. Test Your Skills: Reading and listening exercises for each lesson 5. One-Tap Dictionary: Look up and save any word 6. Retention Tools: Track vocabulary study and lesson progress 7. Stroke Order & Chinese Writing: View and practice stroke order to improve writing 8. Cross-Platform Study: App and website 9. Lesson Package: Explore keywords, grammar explanations, idioms, and proper nouns for each lesson. 10. Bonus Content: Chinese myths and legends, beginner video series and more! Free sample lesson at each level of proficiency. TCB offers a Premium service for paid subscribers. Terms of Use: https://www.thechairmansbao.com/terms-of-use/ Privacy Policy: https://www.thechairmansbao.com/privacy-policy/ Embark on your Chinese language learning journey with The Chairman’s Bao. Download now and join a community of Chinese language enthusiasts!

About

Traverse

This app combines note-taking, mind mapping, and spaced repetition flashcards to enhance learning and memory. It utilizes cognitive science principles to help users deeply understand and retain information, covering the entire learning cycle from initial ideas to long-term recall.

Highlights
  • Visual note-taking with mind mapping
  • Spaced repetition flashcards
  • Cognitive science-based learning
  • Multimedia content integration
  • Cloze deletion flashcard creation
  • Knowledge sharing and community
  • Inspiration from public learning materials
Features
Read full description

Traverse is a visual learning tool that combines note-taking with mind mapping and spaced repetition flashcards. Deeply grasp topics and remember for life with our learning method based on cognitive science. WHY CHOOSE TRAVERSE? Traverse is built the way humans learn. It covers the full learning cycle, where other tools only capture a part. From initial idea to AHA moment, to a crystal clear and unforgettable mental image. • See the big picture by visually mapping out your notes • Use color coding, links and grouping to master the hardest subjects • Perfect recall with our spaced repetition algorithm that helps you revise at the optimal time • Dive deeper, add and connect all of your learning content and resources - whether text, PDF, audio, images, videos, code blocks or Latex math formulas • Quickly create flashcards from anything by just selecting it and creating a cloze (fill-in-the-blank) • Share your knowledge with your peers, and gain reputation in the community • Or get inspired by the best maps, notes and flashcards others have already created ROOTED IN COGNITIVE SCIENCE Do you find yourself writing lots of notes but rarely revisiting them? Reading many books but failing to remember and apply the lessons in real life? Losing sight of the big picture in a pile of loose snippets of knowledge? Traverse is the first tool that integrates the full human learning process as understood by the latest neuroscience, enabling you to: - Use visual encoding to gain deep and integrative concept understanding - Flatten the forgetting curve with cognitive load optimization - Optimally space out revisions to learn more in less time - Use spatial memory for long-term retention and creative imagination Learn and master any field faster than you imagined possible. Develop original ideas. Apply what you learn and improve your decision making.

Screenshots

TCB | Read Chinese to Learn4 screens
Traverse4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: TCB | Read Chinese to Learn at 76% against Traverse's 29%. TCB | Read Chinese to Learn also leads on rating (4.6 vs 2.7) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 3 months). Traverse's advantage is iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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. TCB | Read Chinese to Learn sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $11.00 per month and Traverse sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $15.00 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

TCB | Read Chinese to Learn holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 2.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: TCB | Read Chinese to Learn has 547 ratings behind it against 24, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 76% of TCB | Read Chinese to Learn's written reviews are positive against 29% of Traverse's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

TCB | Read Chinese to Learn ships an update every 2 weeks, Traverse every 3 months. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
TCB | Read Chinese to Learn versus Traverse: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTCB | Read Chinese to LearnTraverse
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (547 ratings) — better2.7 (24 ratings)
Positive reviews75.7% of reviews — better28.6% of reviews
Number of ratings547 — better24
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks — betterEvery 3 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemiumFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.012.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size51 MB69 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperThe Chairmans Bao LtdEASY CASTLE LTD

Customer experience

TCB | Read Chinese to Learn

All ratings547 ratings
Positive89.6%
Neutral3.7%
Negative6.8%
Written reviews280 reviews
Positive75.7%
Neutral7.5%
Negative16.8%

Traverse

All ratings19 ratings
Positive36.8%
Neutral5.3%
Negative57.9%
Written reviews21 reviews
Positive28.6%
Neutral4.8%
Negative66.7%

Bugs and requests

TCB | Read Chinese to Learn

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • App crashes on startup
  • Inconsistent behavior when toggling pinyin
  • Issues with saving user preferences
  • Unreliable audio playback
  • Bugs in comprehension test functionality

Requested features

5 requests
  • Ability to mark articles as read and track progress
  • Option to adjust text size
  • Improved flashcard/vocabulary review system
  • Offline content access
  • Customizable notification/reminder system

Traverse

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

5 purchases

TCB | Read Chinese to Learn

Subscriptions4
  • 1 Month$11.001 Month
  • 3 Month$27.493 Months
  • 6 Month$49.496 Months
Show 1 more
  • 12 Month$88.001 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime Package$419.99
1 purchases

Traverse

Subscriptions1
  • Traverse Member$15.001 Month

Questions

Is TCB | Read Chinese to Learn free?
TCB | Read Chinese to Learn is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Traverse free?
Traverse is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, TCB | Read Chinese to Learn or Traverse?
TCB | Read Chinese to Learn is rated higher. TCB | Read Chinese to Learn averages 4.6 out of 5 from 547 ratings, while Traverse averages 2.7 from 24 ratings.
Do TCB | Read Chinese to Learn or Traverse have ads?
Neither TCB | Read Chinese to Learn nor Traverse shows ads.
Which is updated more often, TCB | Read Chinese to Learn or Traverse?
TCB | Read Chinese to Learn ships an update every 2 weeks, and Traverse every 3 months. Most recently, TCB | Read Chinese to Learn was updated on October 24, 2026 and Traverse on October 24, 2026.

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