Comparison

Chinese Annotator vs Chill Chinese

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

Head to head
About

Chinese Annotator

This app helps you learn Chinese by reading ePub books. It allows you to add Pinyin and English definitions directly to the text, and track your vocabulary knowledge. You can also export your learned words for flashcard review.

Highlights
  • Import ePub files
  • Add Pinyin and English definitions
  • Track known words and characters
  • Hide known Pinyin/definitions
  • Export word lists for flashcards
  • Print pages to PDF
Features
Read full description

A Chinese ePub reader to assist you in reading Chinese characters. After importing an ePub, you can add Pinyin and English on to the text in a 3-line format. After annotating the text in this way, you can then mark on a word by word basis which definitions you already know and which characters you know. There is a setting that hides the pinyin or definitions of words that you know. In this way, you are forced to look at the character and recall it instead of relying on pinyin. A word list is also available to allow you to see all words, words with unknown definitions, or words with unknown pinyin. This list of words can be exported to a file to be imported in to a flash card system, like Pleco. This allows you to easily pick out all the words you don't know in a publication and review them. You can also print the page of the book currently being displayed. In iOS 10 and greater, you can print to PDF.

About

Chill Chinese

Features
Read full description

Chill Chinese packs an AI tutor, smart flashcards, and a complete mobile Chinese dictionary into one elegant app. No more bouncing between half-finished tools: everything you need to go from beginner to master lives here. --- ► Instant AI Conversation Coach • 30+ everyday scenarios (ordering coffee, making friends, job interviews & more) • Nearly 1,000 interactive challenges that adapt to your level • Real‑time translations & audio support • Tap any unfamiliar word to see a definition or create a flashcard on the spot ► Lightning‑Fast Spaced‑Repetition Flashcards • Science‑backed scheduling surfaces words right before you forget them • Add words from chats or the dictionary with a single tap • Flashcards get synchronized across your devices - learn wherever you want. ► All‑in‑One Chinese Dictionary • 130,000+ entries searchable by Pinyin, characters, Bopomofo, or English • 20,000+ crystal‑clear example sentences with full HSK 1‑6 coverage • 50+ hours of native audio for sharper listening & perfect tones • 9,000 animated stroke‑order diagrams — learn to write beautifully • 13,000 character breakdowns that reveal the building blocks of meaning • Paragraph translator & word‑by‑word analyzer for deep dives --- Built for Real Progress • One Goal: Help you get good at Chinese. • Cross-Device Sync: Every AI chat and flashcard stays up-to-date on all your devices. • Offline Mode: Keep learning even without a connection. • Dark Theme: Reduce eye strain during late‑night study sessions. • Continuous Updates: New scenarios, decks, and features drop every month. --- Perfect For: • Absolute beginners just starting out on their Chinese learning journey • Intermediate learners stuck on a plateau • Advanced students polishing fluency for travel, tests, or career • Teachers needing a quick and extensive reference --- Ready to Level Up? Download Chill Chinese for free. --- Terms of Service: https://chill-chinese.com/terms-of-service/ Privacy Policy: https://chill-chinese.com/privacy-policy/

Screenshots

Chinese Annotator4 screens
Chill Chinese4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Chill Chinese at Free against Chinese Annotator's $0.99. Chinese Annotator's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and iOS requirement (9.0 vs 13.0). On update cadence, 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

Chill Chinese is free to download; Chinese Annotator costs $0.99 up front. Chill Chinese sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Chinese Annotator asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Chinese Annotator ships an update every 2 weeks, Chill Chinese fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Chinese Annotator versus Chill Chinese: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterChinese AnnotatorChill Chinese
Price$0.99Free — better
Rating4.1 (30 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews72.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings30 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeksFortnightly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS9.0 — better13.0
Further details — not scored
Size65 MB77 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJon HargettChill Chinese

In-app purchases

None

Chinese Annotator

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

Chill Chinese

Subscriptions2
  • Chill Chinese Pro Monthly$9.991 Month
  • Chill Chinese Pro Yearly$59.991 Year
One-time1
  • Chill Chinese Pro Lifetime$99.99

Questions

Is Chinese Annotator free?
Chinese Annotator costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Chill Chinese free?
Chill Chinese is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Chinese Annotator or Chill Chinese have ads?
Neither Chinese Annotator nor Chill Chinese shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Chinese Annotator or Chill Chinese?
Chinese Annotator ships an update every 2 weeks, and Chill Chinese fortnightly. Most recently, Chinese Annotator was updated on November 2, 2026 and Chill Chinese on October 25, 2026.

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