Comparison

Dot Languages vs Chénjìn

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

Head to head
About

Dot Languages

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
Read full description

Dot Languages is a complete Chinese learning app: lessons carefully written and crafted by humans, advanced exercises powered by AI — all built around a structured curriculum aligned to HSK 3.0 (2021 and 2025) and TOCFL 2.0 (2023), with personalised practice. Learn at your own pace through a dynamic HSK-aligned learning path with 11,000+ lessons covering vocabulary, grammar, and reading. Read new articles daily, refreshed for every HSK level, and look up any word in a comprehensive Chinese-English dictionary with character components. Practice that adapts to you: spaced repetition for vocabulary retention, animated stroke-order character writing, speech recognition for pronunciation, multiple choice, matching, sentence arrangement, flash cards, and AI-evaluated open-ended questions. Stay motivated with awards, streaks, learning milestones, leaderboards, and social profiles. Track your performance with weekly progress charts. Bring your own content — add private articles from any source and generate study material from text you paste in. More features: family plans, teacher classroom tools, grammar with sentence-structure analysis, and variable-speed audio narration of articles.

About

Chénjìn

Features
Read full description

Chénjìn (沉浸, "immersion") is a Mandarin learning app for intermediate learners. Instead of textbook drills, you'll read and listen to real Chinese at your level (HSK 3 to 7), look up anything you don't know with one tap, and let the app track every word you've learned. READ AND LISTEN • A library of graded articles and full-length graded readers, organized by HSK level • Tap any word for definitions, pinyin, stroke order, example sentences, and character breakdowns • Pinyin display options, tone colors, simplified or traditional characters, and adjustable fonts • Audio narration with sentence-by-sentence playback BUILD YOUR VOCABULARY • Every word you know is tracked and color-coded across the whole app • Built-in spaced repetition flashcards keep daily review short and focused • See how well each article matches your vocabulary before you open it TRAIN YOUR EARS AND YOUR TONES • Dictation practice: listen to a sentence, then type it or speak it back for instant scoring • Tone Coach compares your pitch curve with native audio, syllable by syllable • Playback speed control for shadowing practice EXPLORE AND PLAY • Word Explorer maps a character's whole word family so new vocabulary connects instead of piling up • Scan printed Chinese with your camera and read it with full dictionary support • Language games, streaks, and trophies keep daily practice fun FREE AND PAID The free plan includes daily reading, a complete graded reader, the full dictionary, and daily flashcards. A subscription unlocks unlimited reading, every graded reader, dictation practice, and pronunciation coaching. Subscriptions renew automatically until canceled. Privacy Policy: https://www.chenjinmandarin.com/privacy Terms of Service: https://www.chenjinmandarin.com/terms

Screenshots

Dot Languages4 screens
Chénjìn4 screens

Verdict

The call

Dot Languages and Chénjìn 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 · 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. Dot Languages sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $9.00 per month and Chénjìn sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ScorecardNo meaningful differences
Dot Languages versus Chénjìn: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDot LanguagesChénjìn
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.2 (55 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews72.2% of reviews—
Number of ratings55 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 5 days—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.5 — better16.4
Further details — not scored
Size198 MB273 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperDot Languages ApSMountain Cap Apps

Bugs and requests

Dot Languages

Reported bugs

12 issues
  • 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
Show 7 more
  • Bug where leaving and re-entering a story counts as two reads
  • App freezes and never works again
  • Login screen freezes
  • App doesn't load at all
  • Kicks out of login every time app is opened
  • Streak and articles read does not carry across devices
  • Button of 'open more stories' doesn't work

Requested features

9 requests
  • Add Korean and Japanese language options
  • Add stories in addition to articles
  • Option for lifetime subscription
  • Speaking exercises
  • More vibrant colors and backgrounds
Show 4 more
  • Pictures to help remember words
  • Way to practice tones for each character
  • Option to switch to traditional characters
  • App for Cantonese

Chénjìn

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

5 purchases

Dot Languages

Subscriptions5
  • Standard Monthly7 Days trial$9.001 Month
  • Dot Premium - Monthly7 Days trial$18.491 Month
  • Standard Yearly7 Days trial$72.001 Year
Show 2 more
  • Dot Premium - Yearly7 Days trial$135.991 Year
  • Dot Premium - Family Plan7 Days trial$339.001 Year
2 purchases

Chénjìn

Subscriptions2
  • Plus$7.991 Month
  • PRO$16.991 Month

Questions

Is Dot Languages free?
Dot Languages is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Chénjìn free?
Chénjìn is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Dot Languages or Chénjìn have ads?
Neither Dot Languages nor Chénjìn shows ads.

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