# ほたるの vs Chineschar

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: ほたるの at none against Chineschar's 1. ほたるの also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). Chineschar's advantage is update cadence (every 2 months vs every 19 months). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Chineschar sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. ほたるの asks for nothing beyond the download.

ほたるの ships an update every 19 months, Chineschar every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on February 24, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ほたるの | Chineschar |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 19 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | — | Free |
| Size | 36 MB | 212 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [PIGGY Inc.(Japan)](https://appshunter.io/developer/1562616436) | [浩 张](https://appshunter.io/developer/1653525021) |

## What reviewers say

### ほたるの

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/id1569337327)

**Features:** Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases:** none


### Chineschar

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chineschar/id6476897008)

Master Chinese characters with animated stroke order, writing practice, pronunciation, and meanings. Includes classic literature and HSK vocabulary. Customize your learning plan and practice offline.

**Highlights:** Animated stroke order and writing guides, Pronunciation and meaning details, Built-in classic literature and HSK vocabulary, Powerful search for characters and pinyin, Customizable learning plans and settings, Offline access

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Permanent Member | $14.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ほたるの free?

ほたるの is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Chineschar free?

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

### Do ほたるの or Chineschar have ads?

Neither ほたるの nor Chineschar shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, ほたるの or Chineschar?

ほたるの ships an update every 19 months, and Chineschar every 2 months. Most recently, ほたるの was updated on February 24, 2026 and Chineschar 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.*