Comparison

SPL vs Read Bean

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

Head to head
About

SPL

Read full description

Struggling to spell tricky English words? SPL is the ultimate spelling practice app that helps you build vocabulary, improve spelling accuracy, and master English pronunciation — one word at a time. Hear a word. Spell it. Learn it. SPL pulls from a massive database of over 190,000 English words and challenges you to spell them correctly using an interactive on-screen keyboard. After each attempt, you'll see the correct spelling, full dictionary definitions organized by part of speech, and can listen to authentic US or UK pronunciations. CORE FEATURES: - 190,000+ English Words — A vast built-in word database covering everything from everyday vocabulary to advanced terminology. - 4 Difficulty Levels — Progress from Tourist (4–7 letters) to Immigrant (8–9), Citizen (10–12), and President (13–21 letters) as your skills improve. - US & UK Pronunciations — Switch between American and British English diction with a single tap. Hear every word spoken aloud with high-quality text-to-speech. - SPL works best with premium voices installed from Settings > Accessibility > VoiceOver > Speech > Primary Voice. - 3 Keyboard Modes — Choose from a standard Keyboard, Shuffled letters (only the word's letters, rearranged), or Concealed mode (similar-sounding letters added as decoys) for an extra challenge. - Dictionary Definitions — Every word comes with full definitions organized by part of speech, fetched from a real dictionary API. - Favorites System — Heart the words you love or want to revisit. Build your own personal word list. - Progress Tracking — Review your spelled, misspelled, and favorited words in a searchable profile with alphabetical indexing. - Volume Control — Adjust audio playback to your preference or mute entirely. - Dark Mode Support — A beautiful, distraction-free interface that adapts to your system appearance. - Offline Word Database — Your entire word collection is stored locally. Only definitions and audio require an internet connection. WHY SPL? Whether you're preparing for a spelling bee, studying for standardized tests, learning English as a second language, or simply want to sharpen your vocabulary — SPL makes spelling practice engaging and effective. The concealed keyboard mode turns every word into a puzzle, while progress tracking keeps you motivated. EULA: http://www.apple.com/legal/itunes/appstore/dev/stdeula

About

Read Bean

Master Chinese with authentic, graded readings and interactive exercises. Tailored lessons adapt to your HSK level, offering vocabulary drills, grammar practice, and AI-powered speaking roleplays. Get instant translation and pronunciation support.

Highlights
  • Authentic graded readings
  • HSK 1-6 level adaptation
  • Interactive drills and exercises
  • AI-powered speaking roleplays
  • On-demand translation and pronunciation
  • Spaced repetition flashcards
Features
Read full description

Master Chinese Through Real-World Graded Content — Read Bean Go beyond basic apps and textbooks. Read Bean is the ultimate tool for Chinese learners from HSK 1 to 6 who want to read, listen, and think in real Chinese — at a professional, cultural, and conversational level. Whether you're preparing for business, professional exams, or personal fluency, Read Bean transforms authentic articles, stories, and conversations into dynamic, personalized graded readings with mini vocab drills made just for you. Built for all learners HSK 1 through 6 Forget "beginner content" stretched thin. Read Bean assesses your exact reading and listening levels and instantly tailors every lesson to challenge you without overwhelming you. Improve fluency across real-world topics — from culture to commerce — with lessons designed to mirror how Chinese is actually used. Practice the Skills That Matter Learn actively with sentence structure drills, fill-in-the-blank questions, smart listening challenges, and comprehension boosters. Every question type is crafted to sharpen your grammar, expand your vocabulary, and strengthen your ability to read, write, and think in Chinese — not just recognize words. New: Interactive Speaking Roleplays Go beyond passive learning with Read Bean Roleplays — dynamic, voice-driven conversations that simulate real-life scenarios in Chinese. Whether you're ordering food, negotiating at work, or chatting with a neighbor, our AI-powered roleplays help you practice speaking naturally and confidently. You’ll get feedback, cultural tips, and just the right level of challenge to improve your fluency in a fun, low-pressure way. On-Demand Translation, Pronunciation, and Grammar Support Tap any word to see its meaning, pronunciation, usage notes, and common collocations. Explore grammar patterns, sentence breakdowns, and alternative expressions with a single tap. Your growth stays fast and natural — without endless dictionary lookups. Your Personal AI Language Coach Need a deeper explanation, a cultural note, or a memory tip for a tough word? Just ask. Our built-in AI tutor gives you personalized help in real time — it’s like having a Chinese teacher in your pocket 24/7. Spaced Repetition That Works — Flashcards Reimagined Reinforce everything you learn with smart flashcards powered by proven spaced repetition methods. Read Bean automatically tracks your progress and schedules reviews, turning short-term learning into long-term mastery. Achieve Your Chinese Learning Goals With Read Bean, you'll do more than memorize — you'll think and operate in Chinese. Whether you're aiming to work abroad, connect more deeply with Chinese culture, ace professional certifications, or simply enjoy native content without subtitles, Read Bean gives you the edge. What Our Users Say "I have a 1500-day streak on Duolingo. If I had to choose between Read Bean and Duo today, I'd choose Read Bean." — Lawson K., After 30 Days "Dropped my 500+ day Duolingo streak to make Read Bean part of my New Year’s resolutions. Huge fan now." — Gary N., After 5 Days Subscription Details Full access to all lessons requires a subscription. Subscriptions renew automatically unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the period. Your Apple account will be charged within 24 hours prior to renewal. Manage your subscription anytime in your Apple Account Settings. Privacy Policy: https://readbean.app/privacy Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ CONTACT US: Questions or feedback? Email us at feedback@readbean.app

Screenshots

SPL4 screens
Read Bean4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Read Bean at Free against SPL's $4.99. Read Bean also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 56 months) and iOS requirement (15.1 vs 18.6). SPL's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4). On ads and device support 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

Read Bean is free to download; SPL costs $4.99 up front. Read Bean sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $14.99 per month. SPL asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SPL ships an update every 56 months, Read Bean weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 27, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
SPL versus Read Bean: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSPLRead Bean
Price$4.99Free — better
Rating—4.9 (394 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—90.6% of reviews
Number of ratings—394 — better
Update frequencyEvery 56 monthsWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
Monetization—Free with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS18.615.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size6 MB113 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperGil JetomoRefond, Inc.

Bugs and requests

SPL

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Read Bean

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Login screen freezes
  • Incompatibility with older devices

Requested features

2 requests
  • Full-screen mode for iPad
  • Ability to use reading assistance on any website

In-app purchases

None

SPL

No in-app purchases

4 purchases

Read Bean

Subscriptions4
  • Monthly Premium3 Days trial$14.991 Month
  • 6 Month Premium$79.996 Months
  • Annual Premium3 Days trial$99.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • Annual Premium3 Days trial$119.991 Year

Questions

Is SPL free?
SPL costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Read Bean free?
Read Bean is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do SPL or Read Bean have ads?
Neither SPL nor Read Bean shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SPL or Read Bean?
SPL ships an update every 56 months, and Read Bean weekly. Most recently, SPL was updated on October 25, 2026 and Read Bean on October 27, 2026.

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