Comparison

Chinese Sound Test vs Pinyin Reader

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

Head to head
About

Chinese Sound Test

Features
Read full description

Chinese Sound Test is a simple and effective system for improving your Chinese listening skills. You will hear a word and try to match it with one of the words displayed. You can choose to display characters, pinyin (phonetic) or the translation. The Leitner system helps you to learn the most difficult words. There is a scoreboard to keep track of your progress. The app comes with the vocabulary list of HSK 1 Standard Course. Vocabulary lists as used in other textbooks are available for purchase in the App Store. Popular lists available: HSK level 2 - 6, New Practical Chinese Reader 1 - 6, Conversational Chinese 301, Boya Chinese, Integrated Chinese, A Key to Chinese Speech and Writing, CHINEES? 'n Makkie! and Chinees in tien verdiepingen. Look at our website for an up-to-date list. Join any of our online courses and get the vocabulary list for free.

About

Pinyin Reader

This reading tool automatically adds pinyin annotations to Chinese characters on web pages and PDFs. It offers translation, text-to-speech playback, and pronunciation practice to enhance learning efficiency and pronunciation skills.

Highlights
  • Automatic pinyin annotations
  • Integrated web and PDF reader
  • Character definition and pronunciation lookup
  • Sentence-by-sentence text-to-speech
  • Pronunciation assessment and shadowing practice
  • Vocabulary and sentence saving
  • Ad-free reading experience
Features
Read full description

Pinyin Reader - A smart reading tool designed for Chinese language learners. Browse any Chinese web page with automatic pinyin annotations on Chinese characters. Whether you're a beginner or an advanced learner, Pinyin Reader helps improve your reading efficiency and pronunciation skills. Key Features: SMART PINYIN ANNOTATIONS - Built-in browser that automatically adds pinyin to Chinese characters - Color-coded tonal pinyin and toneless display modes - One-tap toggle for pinyin display - Powered by a proprietary self-trained model for superior annotation accuracy HSK LEVEL FILTER - Choose your level, from HSK 1 to HSK 7-9 - Pinyin fades from the words you already know - Names, proper nouns and technical terms keep their pinyin - Works in Reader Mode, the PDF reader and the built-in browser - Applies instantly, covers 6,330 words, fully offline IMMERSIVE READER MODE - Ad-free, distraction-free reading experience - Adjustable font size, font style, and background themes - Tap any character to view definitions and hear standard pronunciation TRANSLATION - Translate page content into 108 target languages - Seamless translation integrated within Reader Mode PDF READER - Open local PDF files with automatic pinyin annotations - Translate PDF content into your target language - Tap characters for pronunciation and dictionary lookup - Outline navigation, text/pinyin search, and theme switching - Pinyin scales with the page as you pinch to zoom, sharp at any level - Never overlaps the text or clips tone marks LISTENING MODE - Sentence-by-sentence text-to-speech playback - Karaoke-style pinyin highlighting synced with audio playback - Adjustable speed (0.4x to 2.0x) for different proficiency levels - Current sentence highlighting for easy follow-along VOICE CUSTOMIZATION - Browse all Chinese speech synthesis voices available on your device - Preview each voice before selecting - Supports system voices and third-party TTS engines SHADOWING PRACTICE - Record your reading after listening to the reference audio - Intelligent scoring system for real-time pronunciation assessment - Continuous improvement of your Mandarin pronunciation COLLECTION & NOTES - Save vocabulary and favorite sentences for review - Add personal notes with color tags - Archive management organized by source page LEARNING GROWTH SYSTEM - Daily learning streak to build consistent habits - Customizable daily goals (5 to 60 minutes) - XP rewards for reading, listening, shadowing, reviewing, and collecting - 3 daily quests at starter, core, and challenge levels - 6 achievement milestones from first session to mastery - Share a redesigned card with streak, stats, vocabulary, and QR code - Optional daily reminders to keep your streak alive BOOKMARKS & HISTORY - Bookmark frequently visited pages - Automatic browsing history grouped by date - Search and batch management support MULTI-LANGUAGE SUPPORT - Interface available in 51 languages - Google and Bing search engine support PRIVACY FIRST - All data stored locally on your device - No registration or login required - No personal data collected Whether you're reading news, novels, or academic articles, Pinyin Reader is your perfect companion for learning Chinese. Download now and start your efficient Chinese reading journey! Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Chinese Sound Test4 screens
Pinyin Reader4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Pinyin Reader at every 2 weeks against Chinese Sound Test's every 2 months. Pinyin Reader also leads on iOS requirement (15.5 vs 17.6). On price, ads, in-app purchases 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

Both are free to download. Chinese Sound Test sells 10 one-off in-app purchases and Pinyin Reader sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Chinese Sound Test ships an update every 2 months, Pinyin Reader every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on October 25, 2026.

Scorecard2 real differences · 7 level
Chinese Sound Test versus Pinyin Reader: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterChinese Sound TestPinyin Reader
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Number of ratings—1 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
Monetization—Paid
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS17.615.5 — better
Further details — not scored
Size29 MB135 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperChinese School Nederland粤珠 袁

In-app purchases

10 purchases

Chinese Sound Test

One-time10
  • Boya Chinese Quasi-Interm II$2.99
  • Boya Chinese Intermediate II$2.99
  • Boya Chinese Intermediate I$2.99
Show 7 more
  • Boya Chinese Advanced I$2.99
  • Boya Chinese Advanced II$2.99
  • Boya Chinese Advanced III$2.99
  • Contemporary Chinese 2$2.99
  • Contemporary Chinese 1$2.99
  • Contemporary Chinese 3$2.99
  • Contemporary Chinese 4$2.99
2 purchases

Pinyin Reader

Subscriptions2
  • Pro Monthly$1.991 Month
  • Pro Annual$12.991 Year

Questions

Is Chinese Sound Test free?
Chinese Sound Test is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Pinyin Reader free?
Pinyin Reader is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Chinese Sound Test or Pinyin Reader have ads?
Neither Chinese Sound Test nor Pinyin Reader shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Chinese Sound Test or Pinyin Reader?
Chinese Sound Test ships an update every 2 months, and Pinyin Reader every 2 weeks. Most recently, Chinese Sound Test was updated on October 25, 2026 and Pinyin Reader on October 25, 2026.

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