# Sinogram Star vs Mandarin9

The clearest difference is price: Mandarin9 at Free against Sinogram Star's $19.99. Mandarin9 also leads on update cadence (every 9 days vs every 3 weeks). Sinogram Star's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and iOS requirement (12.1 vs 15.1). On ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Mandarin9 is free to download; Sinogram Star costs $19.99 up front. Mandarin9 sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. Sinogram Star asks for nothing beyond the download.

Sinogram Star ships an update every 3 weeks, Mandarin9 every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 18, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Sinogram Star | Mandarin9 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $19.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | — | **[5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mandarin9-learn-chinese/id6720758642/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **3** |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 9 days** |
| Monetization | — | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 67 MB | 867 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.1** | 15.1 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [Clavis Sinica Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1635273455) | [Mandrin9](https://appshunter.io/developer/1770792491) |

## What reviewers say

### Sinogram Star

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sinogram-star/id1635273453)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Mandarin9

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mandarin9-learn-chinese/id6720758642)

Master Chinese through engaging sitcoms and cultural insights. Interactive lessons blend vocabulary, writing, and speaking practice with rewards and progress tracking. Learn anytime, anywhere with flexible study options.

**Highlights:** Original Chinese sitcoms for immersive learning, Bite-sized cultural articles, Interactive vocabulary, writing, and speaking practice, Progress tracking and rewards, Flexible study sessions, Language science-backed learning methods

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Subscription | $5.99 | per month |
| Yearly Subscription | $39.99 | per year |
| Family Sharing Subscription | $79.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Sinogram Star free?

Sinogram Star costs $19.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Mandarin9 free?

Mandarin9 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Do Sinogram Star or Mandarin9 have ads?

Neither Sinogram Star nor Mandarin9 shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Sinogram Star or Mandarin9?

Sinogram Star ships an update every 3 weeks, and Mandarin9 every 9 days. Most recently, Sinogram Star was updated on October 18, 2026 and Mandarin9 on October 14, 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.*