# Dot Languages vs Hanly

The clearest difference is rating: Hanly at 4.9 against Dot Languages's 4.2. Hanly also leads on review sentiment (99% vs 72%) and monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). Dot Languages's advantage is update cadence (every 5 days vs every 2 weeks). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Dot Languages sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $9.00 per month and Hanly sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $5.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Hanly holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Hanly has 403 ratings behind it against 55, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 72% of Dot Languages's written reviews are positive against 99% of Hanly's.

Dot Languages ships an update every 5 days, Hanly every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Dot Languages | Hanly |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.2 (55 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dot-languages/id1547286120/reviews) | **[4.9 (403 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hanly/id6741442324/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 55 | **403** |
| Positive reviews | 72.2% of reviews | **99.1% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 days** | Every 2 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 198 MB | 241 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.5 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [Dot Languages ApS](https://appshunter.io/developer/1547286122) | [Artur Gorokh](https://appshunter.io/developer/1794204266) |

## What reviewers say

### Dot Languages

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dot-languages/id1547286120)

Master Mandarin Chinese with engaging texts tailored to your skill level, from beginner to advanced. Practice reading, listening, and writing with daily new content covering diverse topics. Share and discover texts with a community of learners.

**Highlights:** Learn Mandarin Chinese texts, HSK 1-9 level categorization, Daily new text additions, Custom text creation and sharing, Reading, listening, and writing practice, Progress tracking

**Features:** Apple Wallet, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Standard Monthly | $9.00 | per month |
| Dot Premium - Monthly | $18.49 | per month |
| Standard Yearly | $72.00 | per year |
| Dot Premium - Yearly | $135.99 | per year |
| Dot Premium - Family Plan | $339.00 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- ✨ Amazing app for learning Chinese
- 📚 Incredibly useful functions
- 🎨 Beautifully designed
- 💯 Must-have for Chinese learners
- ✍️ Versatile: writing, reading, listening, speaking

**What reviewers complain about**

- ❌ App not opening/crashing
- 📉 App has gone downhill
- 💸 Overpriced and too many bugs
- 🚫 Useless unless you pay
- 🤔 Too simplified, unhelpful buttons

**Reported bugs**

- App closes every time after signing up
- App not opening
- App crashes on startup
- Articles disappear when hitting back icon
- Return button partially visible after lesson

**Requested features**

- Add Korean and Japanese language options
- Add stories in addition to articles
- Option for lifetime subscription
- Speaking exercises
- More vibrant colors and backgrounds


### Hanly

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hanly/id6741442324)

Learn thousands of Chinese characters efficiently by understanding their structure and origin. This app uses visual breakdowns, engaging stories, and interactive elements to build an intuitive grasp of characters and aid memorization. It focuses on frequently used vocabulary and offers a structured learning progression.

**Highlights:** Character etymology and mnemonics, Interactive component exploration, Structured learning progression, Spaced repetition system, Extensive character dictionary, Stroke order animations

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Hanly Premium | $5.99 | per month |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Intuitive and efficient way to learn characters
- 🚀 Effective learning method that builds on prior knowledge
- 💡 Helpful mnemonics and stories to aid memorization
- 👍 Customizable learning pace and progress tracking
- 🚀 Comprehensive coverage of characters and components

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Some AI-generated illustrations could be improved
- 💡 Addition of writing practice and example sentences would be helpful

**Reported bugs**

- No known major bugs reported

**Requested features**

- Addition of writing practice for characters
- Inclusion of example sentences for each character
- Expansion of content to cover more advanced vocabulary


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Dot Languages free?

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

### Is Hanly free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Dot Languages or Hanly?

Hanly is rated higher. Dot Languages averages 4.2 out of 5 from 55 ratings, while Hanly averages 4.9 from 403 ratings.

### Do Dot Languages or Hanly have ads?

Neither Dot Languages nor Hanly shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Dot Languages or Hanly?

Dot Languages ships an update every 5 days, and Hanly every 2 weeks. Most recently, Dot Languages was updated on October 24, 2026 and Hanly on October 24, 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.*