Comparison

Readibu vs HSK 1

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

Head to head
About

Readibu

Access a vast library of Chinese web novels, short stories, and children's tales. Enhance your learning with integrated dictionary lookups, text-to-speech, and pinyin display. Premium features offer advanced tools like sentence translation and offline reading for an immersive language learning experience.

Highlights
  • Explore Chinese web novels
  • Tap for character definitions
  • Reader mode for web pages
  • Pinyin/zhuyin display
  • Text-to-speech
  • Offline reading (Premium)
  • Sentence translation (Premium)
Features
Read full description

Discover new stories and worlds in Chinese! Ready to move beyond flashcards and graded readers? Readibu is your portal to the world of popular Chinese web novels, short stories and children stories enjoyed by native readers — or bring your own books and read them the same way. From historical to sci-fi or romance to horror, there's always something good to read. Readibu is a Chinese reading app where you can: 1. Explore popular web novels, short stories, and children stories from native Chinese sites — browse by ranking, category, or search 2. Import your own EPUB, PDF, or TXT files and read them alongside your web library 3. Tap on characters for definitions 4. Open web pages in a reader for immersive reading 5. Absorb the language while you're immersed in gripping adventures Supported features: • Tap for dictionary • Text-to-speech • Simplified and traditional conversion • Pinyin/zhuyin display over words • Add custom url to display in reader • Import EPUB, PDF, and TXT files into your library • Organize your reading with collections, bookmarks, and history • Check the difficulty of any text with HSK-level breakdowns • Look up words in Pleco, MDBG, Yellow Bridge, Baidu Translate, and more • Export saved vocabularies • Auto-detect next chapter • Auto-save last page you were on • Back up and restore your library and vocabulary ================================ ENHANCE YOUR READING EXPERIENCE WITH READIBU PREMIUM • Cloud sync - Sync subscription, library, bookmarks, vocabs and reading progress between devices • Sentence Translation - Unlimited translation by Google Translate • Image Search - Display image search results for selected text • Offline Reading - Download pages for reading offline • Quiz Mode - Quiz your pinyin, tones, and definitions of words you looked up before • Smart Name Recognition - Detect names of people, orgs and places in content • Syntax Analysis - Analyze syntax of sentence Free trials included with all plans! 1-month subscription: $4.99 per month 3-month subscription: $9.99 per month 12-month subscription: $47.99 per year Payment will be charged to iTunes Account at the end of your free trial period. Your subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current billing period or trial. Your account will be charged for renewal within 24 hours before the end of the current period. You can manage and cancel subscriptions in your Itunes Account settings. Privacy Policy: https://www.readibu.com/privacy Terms & Conditions: https://www.readibu.com/terms Have questions? Feel free to contact us at support@readibu.com.

About

HSK 1

This app helps Chinese language learners overcome continuity issues by connecting vocabulary, sentences, listening, typing, and recall into a structured progression. It aims to make learned material accessible long-term, reducing the feeling of starting over and improving independent language use.

Highlights
  • Structured progression system
  • Connects vocabulary, sentences, listening, typing, recall
  • HSK aligned word learning
  • Integrated review flow
  • Guided onboarding
  • Supports independent study and tutors
Features
Read full description

Not sure what to study next in Chinese? Many learners don't quit because they're incapable. They quit because consistency breaks down. A missed day becomes a missed week. A missed week becomes forgotten vocabulary. Forgotten vocabulary becomes relearning. Relearning becomes frustration. The HSK 1–6 Companion App was built to help learners continue progressing through Chinese without constantly feeling like they're starting over. This is a guided Chinese learning system designed to help learners stay oriented, maintain momentum, and continue progressing from beginner Chinese through HSK 6. --- BUILT FOR REAL CHINESE LEARNING Whether you're: • studying on your own • working with a tutor • preparing for an HSK exam • trying to stay consistent between lessons The goal remains the same: Continue building rather than repeatedly restarting. --- ALWAYS KNOW WHAT COMES NEXT Many learners don't struggle because they lack resources. They struggle because they lose direction. After a missed week, it becomes difficult to know: • what to review • what to learn next • whether progress is being made The HSK 1–6 Companion App provides a structured learning path with guidance, review, milestones, and progression designed to keep learners moving forward. Instead of constantly asking: "What should I do next?" The system helps provide the answer. --- A GUIDED LEARNING JOURNEY Instead of figuring out Chinese entirely on your own, the system helps guide you through each stage of development. • Learn new HSK-aligned vocabulary • Use it immediately inside structured sentences • Strengthen recall through review • Develop listening and typing skills • Build speaking confidence through HSKK preparation • Apply what you've learned through application-focused activities • Continue progressing toward higher HSK levels Each phase builds on the last, creating a clear path from beginner Chinese through advanced study. The goal isn't just to recognize words. The goal is to continue developing usable Chinese over time. --- GUIDED THROUGH THE JOURNEY The app includes: • Guided onboarding • Weekly study guidance • Personalized progress awareness • Review week support • HSKK speaking preparation • Application-focused learning phases • Milestone recognition throughout the journey Instead of wondering: "What should I do next?" The system helps guide you through the next step. --- BUILT AROUND HOW LEARNING ACTUALLY WORKS The app was designed around challenges many learners experience: • understanding during study, then freezing later • recognizing words but struggling to produce them • restarting after breaks and feeling lost • forgetting vocabulary between sessions • not knowing what to study next • feeling overwhelmed by disconnected resources The structure is designed to reduce unnecessary confusion while keeping progression clear and manageable. --- WORKS ALONGSIDE OTHER RESOURCES The app is not meant to replace: • tutors • classes • videos • conversations • immersion • textbooks Instead, it helps create continuity between them. What you learn becomes easier to retain, review, and apply later. --- CURRENT LEARNING SYSTEM • HSK 1 and HSK 2 free to try • Full guided progression through HSK 5 • HSK 6 currently in development • HSKK speaking support • 1,500+ structured example sentences • Integrated review system • Application-focused learning activities • Guided onboarding experience • Personalized study guidance • Milestone-based progression support --- Build Chinese competency through a structured, guided learning system designed to help you continue moving forward. Not just today. Through HSK 1. Through HSK 2. Through HSK 3. Through HSK 4. Through HSK 5. Through HSK 6. And beyond. *HSK 1-6 Companion is an independent educational study tool and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by any official HSK exam administrator or testing organization.*

Screenshots

Readibu4 screens
HSK 14 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Readibu at 4.8 against HSK 1's 4.2. Readibu also leads on ratings volume (152 vs 5) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.1). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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. Readibu sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and HSK 1 sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $19.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Readibu holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Readibu has 152 ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Readibu ships an update every 8 days, HSK 1 every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on August 31, 2026 and September 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Readibu versus HSK 1: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterReadibuHSK 1
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (152 ratings) — better4.2 (5 ratings)
Positive reviews88.9% of reviews
Number of ratings152 — better5
Update frequencyEvery 8 days — betterEvery 9 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemiumFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.0 — better15.1
Further details — not scored
Size88 MB35 MB
Age rating17+12+
DeveloperLingyi ChenWilliam Wang

Customer experience

Readibu

All ratings152 ratings
Positive96.7%
Neutral0.7%
Negative2.6%
Written reviews27 reviews
Positive88.9%
Neutral0.0%
Negative11.1%

HSK 1

All ratings5 ratings
Positive80.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative20.0%

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Readibu

Subscriptions3
  • Readibu Monthly Premium14 Days trial$4.991 Month
  • Readibu 3-Month Premium14 Days trial$9.993 Months
  • Readibu Yearly Premium14 Days trial$47.991 Year
1 purchases

HSK 1

Subscriptions1
  • HSK 2+ Premium$19.991 Month

Questions

Is Readibu free?
Readibu is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is HSK 1 free?
HSK 1 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Readibu or HSK 1?
Readibu is rated higher. Readibu averages 4.8 out of 5 from 152 ratings, while HSK 1 averages 4.2 from 5 ratings.
Do Readibu or HSK 1 have ads?
Neither Readibu nor HSK 1 shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Readibu or HSK 1?
Readibu ships an update every 8 days, and HSK 1 every 9 days. Most recently, Readibu was updated on August 31, 2026 and HSK 1 on September 7, 2026.

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