# Laoshi vs Duory

The clearest difference is rating: Laoshi at 4.6 against Duory's 1.0. Laoshi also leads on review sentiment (41% vs 0%) and ratings volume (807 vs 1). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Laoshi sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per 7 days and Duory sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Laoshi holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 1.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Laoshi has 807 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 41% of Laoshi's written reviews are positive against 0% of Duory's.

Laoshi ships an update every 9 days, Duory every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and November 8, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Laoshi | Duory |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (807 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/laoshi-learn-chinese-and-hsk/id1510215770/reviews)** | [1.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/duory-language-learning-notes/id6504098229/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **807** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | **41.3% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 9 days | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 261 MB | 155 MB |
| Requires iOS | **17.0** | 18.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Laoshi Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/994924772) | [Adegboyega Dada](https://appshunter.io/developer/1542474149) |

## What reviewers say

### Laoshi

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/laoshi-learn-chinese-and-hsk/id1510215770)

Master Mandarin Chinese with smart flashcards, handwriting practice, and pronunciation scoring. Prepare for HSK exams and build vocabulary with textbook-aligned decks and a comprehensive grammar section. Track your progress and retain information effectively with spaced repetition.

**Highlights:** Smart flashcards for characters, tones, and grammar, Real handwriting practice with stroke order, Pronunciation and tone scoring, Textbook-aligned decks, HSK 2.0 and 3.0 coverage, Spaced repetition system (SRS), Progress tracking

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly Laoshi Plus | $5.99 | per 7 days |
| 1 month with Laoshi Plus | $8.99 | per month |
| 1 week with Laoshi Plus | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| 1 month with Laoshi Plus | $12.99 | per month |
| 1 month with Laoshi Plus | $19.99 | per month |
| 3-Month Laoshi Plus | $24.99 | per 3 months |
| 1 year with Laoshi Plus | $55.99 | per year |
| 1 year with Laoshi Plus | $79.99 | per year |
| Annual Laoshi Plus | $79.99 | per year |
| Lifetime purchase | $179.99 | one-time |


### Duory

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/duory-language-learning-notes/id6504098229)

This app helps you learn languages by organizing notes, practicing vocabulary, and journaling. It offers features like translation, pronunciation recording, and spaced repetition to enhance your learning journey. Offline functionality and customizable widgets make it a versatile tool for language learners.

**Highlights:** Organize notes for multiple languages, Practice vocabulary with spaced repetition, Journal in target languages, Hands-free practice sessions, Capture phrases from various sources, Offline language tasks, Home and Lock Screen widgets

**Features:** Family Sharing, iPhone Duo support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Duory Plus (Monthly) | $2.99 | per month |
| Duory Family Plus (Monthly) | $4.99 | per month |
| Duory Plus (Annual) | $29.99 | per year |
| Duory Family Plus (Annual) | $49.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Laoshi free?

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

### Is Duory free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Laoshi or Duory?

Laoshi is rated higher. Laoshi averages 4.6 out of 5 from 807 ratings, while Duory averages 1.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Laoshi or Duory have ads?

Neither Laoshi nor Duory shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Laoshi or Duory?

Laoshi ships an update every 9 days, and Duory every 5 days. Most recently, Laoshi was updated on November 7, 2026 and Duory on November 8, 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.*