# SPL vs Read Bean

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.

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.

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

## The numbers

| Metric | SPL | Read Bean |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $4.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | — | **[4.9 (394 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/read-bean/id6736993989/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **394** |
| Positive reviews | — | 90.6% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 56 months | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | — | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 6 MB | 113 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.6 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Gil Jetomo](https://appshunter.io/developer/1580149763) | [Refond, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1774270517) |

## What reviewers say

### SPL

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spl-spelling-word-practice/id1580149761)

**In-app purchases:** none


### Read Bean

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/read-bean/id6736993989)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Premium | $14.99 | per month |
| 6 Month Premium | $79.99 | per 6 months |
| Annual Premium | $99.99 | per year |
| Annual Premium | $119.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Intuitive UI
- 🚀 Effective learning experience
- 💡 Relevant and engaging content
- 🎉 Helps improve reading comprehension
- 🌟 Better than Duolingo

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Design issues on iPad
- 🔍 Auto-correct issues when searching

**Reported bugs**

- Login screen freezes
- Incompatibility with older devices

**Requested features**

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


## Frequently asked 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.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*