# Pandaist vs +1 Chinese | Mandarin Input

The clearest difference is rating: Pandaist at 4.8 against +1 Chinese | Mandarin Input's 4.2. Pandaist also leads on ads (none vs shown). +1 Chinese | Mandarin Input's advantage is review sentiment (80% vs 67%) and iOS requirement (13.4 vs 16.0). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Pandaist sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month and +1 Chinese | Mandarin Input sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $14.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Pandaist holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 5 and 13 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 67% of Pandaist's written reviews are positive against 80% of +1 Chinese | Mandarin Input's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Pandaist | +1 Chinese | Mandarin Input |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pandaist/id1438588391/reviews)** | [4.2 (13 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/plus-1-chinese-mandarin-input/id6503324319/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 5 | **13** |
| Positive reviews | 66.7% of reviews | **80.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Weekly | Weekly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 86 MB | 55 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **13.4** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Andrew Alexander](https://appshunter.io/developer/1100987277) | [Thomas Joseph Shelley](https://appshunter.io/developer/1717010199) |

## What reviewers say

### Pandaist

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pandaist/id1438588391)

This app offers a graded reading experience to help users learn Chinese characters. It includes a dictionary and quizzes, with progress tracking and regularly updated content. Subscription options are available for enhanced features.

**Highlights:** Graded Chinese readers, Integrated dictionary, Character quizzes, Progress tracking, Updated news and stories

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pandaist Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Pandaist Yearly | $99.99 | per year |


### +1 Chinese | Mandarin Input

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/plus-1-chinese-mandarin-input/id6503324319)

This app generates personalized Chinese language learning podcasts based on your vocabulary level and interests. It offers live transcripts to aid comprehension and a community library of user-created content. Learn Mandarin through engaging, AI-powered audio experiences.

**Highlights:** Personalized AI-generated podcasts, Adjustable vocabulary level, Topic-based content creation, Live transcripts for audio, Community content library, Cancel anytime subscription

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Full Access | $14.99 | per month |
| Full Access | $14.99 | per month |
| Full Access | $14.99 | per month |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Pandaist free?

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

### Is +1 Chinese | Mandarin Input free?

+1 Chinese | Mandarin Input is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Pandaist or +1 Chinese | Mandarin Input?

Pandaist is rated higher. Pandaist averages 4.8 out of 5 from 5 ratings, while +1 Chinese | Mandarin Input averages 4.2 from 13 ratings.

### Do Pandaist or +1 Chinese | Mandarin Input have ads?

+1 Chinese | Mandarin Input shows ads; Pandaist does not.

### Which is updated more often, Pandaist or +1 Chinese | Mandarin Input?

Pandaist ships an update weekly, and +1 Chinese | Mandarin Input weekly. Most recently, Pandaist was updated on October 20, 2026 and +1 Chinese | Mandarin Input on October 23, 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.*