# iRime输入法 vs 论坛助手

The clearest difference is price: 论坛助手 at Free against iRime输入法's $0.99. 论坛助手 also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.0) and in-app purchases (none vs 2). iRime输入法's advantage is iOS requirement (11.0 vs 15.0). On ratings volume, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

论坛助手 is free to download; iRime输入法 costs $0.99 up front. iRime输入法 sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. 论坛助手 asks for nothing beyond the download.

论坛助手 holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 153 and 147 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 76% of iRime输入法's written reviews are positive against 89% of 论坛助手's.

iRime输入法 ships an update every 3 weeks, 论坛助手 fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | iRime输入法 | 论坛助手 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $0.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.0 (153 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/irime/id1142623977/reviews) | **[4.8 (147 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/id1419993239/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **153** | 147 |
| Positive reviews | 76.2% of reviews | **89.2% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 161 MB | 69 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [伟雄 辜](https://appshunter.io/developer/967689409) | [佳骏 吴](https://appshunter.io/developer/866782558) |

## What reviewers say

### iRime输入法

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/irime/id1142623977)

This app is a powerful input method engine supporting a vast array of input schemes, including phonetic, shape-based, and dialectal languages. It offers a flexible framework for various typing needs, from standard Pinyin and Wubi to specialized codes and historical pronunciations.

**Highlights:** Extensive input scheme support, Phonetic and shape-based input, Dialectal language input, Cross-platform compatibility, Customizable input framework, Supports traditional and simplified characters

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 专业设置PRO | $1.99 | one-time |
| 文件编辑器 | $4.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- ✨ Highly customizable input schemes and configurations
- 🎯 Supports multiple input methods (Pinyin, Cantonese, Wubi, Zhuyin, etc.)
- 🔒 Open-source and privacy-focused (no data collection)
- ⚡ Smooth performance with proper configuration
- 🎨 Customizable keyboard layouts and themes

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and app instability
- ❌ Poor documentation for setup and configuration
- 😕 Steep learning curve for average users
- ⚠️ Configuration issues with custom schemas
- 🔌 Keyboard responsiveness and typing lag

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes on iOS 18.4.1 and other recent versions
- Cannot install custom YAML schema files
- Simplified/Traditional Chinese conversion not working properly
- Candidate words disappear during input
- Auxiliary code (辅助码) cannot be mounted in Shuangpin

**Requested features**

- Stroke/Brush input method support
- Easier custom schema installation without technical knowledge
- Built-in Xiaohejinyin (小鹤音形) support
- One-tap keyboard switching to system input methods
- Delete custom words functionality


### 论坛助手

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/id1419993239)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is iRime输入法 free?

iRime输入法 costs $0.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Is 论坛助手 free?

论坛助手 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, iRime输入法 or 论坛助手?

论坛助手 is rated higher. iRime输入法 averages 4.0 out of 5 from 153 ratings, while 论坛助手 averages 4.8 from 147 ratings.

### Do iRime输入法 or 论坛助手 have ads?

Neither iRime输入法 nor 论坛助手 shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, iRime输入法 or 论坛助手?

iRime输入法 ships an update every 3 weeks, and 论坛助手 fortnightly. Most recently, iRime输入法 was updated on October 29, 2026 and 论坛助手 on October 24, 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.*