Comparison

Write It! Chinese vs TinyLingo

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

Head to head
About

Write It! Chinese

Features
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Master Chinese characters the right way, with real handwriting recognition that teaches correct stroke order from day one. Most Chinese apps teach you to recognize characters. Write It! Chinese teaches you to produce them from memory with instant feedback on every stroke. This is the difference between reading Chinese and actually writing it. WHY STROKE ORDER MATTERS Correct stroke order isn't just tradition, it's the key to: • Writing characters that look natural and balanced • Faster writing speed as you advance • Better character recognition in digital input methods • Easier memorization through consistent muscle memory • Understanding how complex characters are built from simpler components Write It! Chinese corrects your stroke order in real-time, so you develop proper technique before bad habits form. REAL HANDWRITING RECOGNITION Not tracing. Not multiple choice. Actual writing practice with immediate feedback. Our technology analyzes your handwriting stroke-by-stroke, detecting errors instantly and guiding you to write characters the way native writers do. Every stroke matters, and we'll let you know if it's wrong. COMPREHENSIVE HSK COVERAGE Progress from beginner to advanced with characters organized by HSK level: • HSK 1-6 vocabulary fully supported • Learn characters in context with complete words • Master both simplified and traditional character forms • Build from basic strokes to complex characters systematically Perfect for students preparing for the HSK exam or anyone building serious Chinese writing skills. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN Core Character Skills: • All basic strokes and stroke order principles • Radicals and character components • Proper character structure and balance • Stroke direction and sequence rules Practical Vocabulary: Move beyond isolated characters to real words and phrases used in daily Chinese. Build vocabulary that actually matters. Both Writing Systems: Switch seamlessly between simplified characters (mainland China) and traditional characters (Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau). WHO WRITE IT! CHINESE IS FOR • HSK test preparation (all levels) • University students taking Chinese courses • Travelers wanting to read signs and menus • Heritage speakers reconnecting with written Chinese • Anyone serious about learning to write, not just recognize, characters • Beginners starting from stroke basics • Advanced learners refining their technique THE DIFFERENCE IS IMMEDIATE From your very first character, you'll feel the difference between passive recognition and active production. Our handwriting recognition provides instant correction on every stroke, something paper practice can't do. You're not just memorizing shapes. You're building muscle memory that makes writing feel natural and automatic. Whether you're starting with basic strokes or mastering complex characters for HSK 6, Write It! Chinese gives you the deliberate practice that transforms recognition into real ability. BUILT FOR SERIOUS LEARNERS No gimmicks. No gamification that gets in the way. Just focused, effective practice that respects your time and helps you improve faster. The character stroke order animations show you the authentic way native writers produce characters. The recognition system holds you to that standard, because proper technique matters. Start writing your first Chinese characters in minutes. Perfect for self-learners, classroom students, and anyone who's tired of apps that teach you to read but not to write. Download Write It! Chinese and discover the difference that real handwriting practice makes. Your journey to Chinese writing mastery starts now. Privacy Policy: https://jernung.com/privacy Terms of Use: https://jernung.com/terms

About

TinyLingo

Features
Read full description

Experience language learning that feels real. Leave behind endless memorization and textbook learning — learn faster through real immersion. TinyLingo surrounds you with authentic podcasts and AI-generated short stories in your target language, complete with synced transcripts and instant, contextual translations. Tap any word, select any phrase — the translation appears in a beat, right in the flow of what you're listening to. No flashcards, no drills, just comprehensible input at your level. WHAT YOU GET • Real podcasts in your target language, with word-level transcripts synced to the audio. Read along while you listen — never miss a word. • AI-generated short stories with native-sounding audio, tailored to your CEFR level (A1 through C2). Pro users generate unlimited stories on any topic. • Tappable translations. Single words or multi-word phrases — tap, see the contextual translation, keep going. Works for idioms and collocations that dictionaries miss. • CEFR progress tracking. A visible roadmap from Beginner (A1) to Mastery (C2). TinyLingo picks your current level and shows exactly what to complete to advance. • Background audio + lock-screen controls. Keep listening with the screen off or in another app. • Sign in with Apple. Passwordless, private. LANGUAGES Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Japanese, Korean, Arabic, and more. New podcast feeds are added regularly. PRO SUBSCRIPTION Upgrade to TinyLingo Pro to unlock unlimited phrase translations, multiple target languages at once, and unlimited AI-generated stories. • Pro Monthly — auto-renewing monthly subscription • Pro Yearly — auto-renewing annual subscription (save vs. monthly) Payment is charged to your Apple ID at confirmation of purchase. Subscriptions auto-renew unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Your Apple ID is charged for renewal within 24 hours prior to period end. Manage or cancel anytime in Settings > Apple ID > Subscriptions. Terms of Use: https://tinylingo.com/terms Privacy Policy: https://tinylingo.com/privacy A NOTE ON AI Translations and generated stories are produced by large language models and may occasionally contain errors. They are intended as a learning aid, not as professional translation.

Screenshots

Write It! Chinese4 screens
TinyLingo4 screens

Verdict

The call

Write It! Chinese and TinyLingo are too close to call on the numbers: across 5 compared parameters — price, ads, in-app purchases and device support among them — neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.

Scored on Price Ā· Rating Ā· Positive reviews Ā· Number of ratings Ā· Update frequency Ā· Ads Ā· In-app purchases Ā· Monetization Ā· Best chart rank Ā· Devices Ā· Requires iOS

CostPrice Ā· In-app purchases Ā· Ads Ā· Monetization

Both are free to download. Write It! Chinese sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month and TinyLingo sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ScorecardNo meaningful differences
Write It! Chinese versus TinyLingo: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterWrite It! ChineseTinyLingo
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 4 days—
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS15.0 — better15.1
Further details — not scored
Size53 MB44 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperJernungBenjamin Gubler

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Write It! Chinese

Subscriptions2
  • Write It! Pro$9.991 Month
  • Write It! Pro7 Days trial$59.991 Year
2 purchases

TinyLingo

Subscriptions2
  • Pro Monthly$4.991 Month
  • Pro Yearly$49.991 Year

Questions

Is Write It! Chinese free?
Write It! Chinese is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is TinyLingo free?
TinyLingo is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Write It! Chinese or TinyLingo have ads?
Both Write It! Chinese and TinyLingo show ads.

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