Comparison

CharacterMatrix vs Chinese 5000

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

Head to head
About

CharacterMatrix

Master the 1000 most common Chinese characters with this comprehensive learning tool. It provides example sentences, pronunciation, translations, and character summaries to aid fluency. Explore traditional and simplified characters with customizable display options and audio playback.

Highlights
  • 1000 most common characters
  • Example sentences with translations
  • Pinyin pronunciation
  • Traditional and simplified characters
  • Audio playback
  • Customizable themes (dark/light)
  • Search functionality
Features
Read full description

With the most common 1000 characters you can read 89% of modern Chinese. This app is a great companion on your journey towards fluency. For every character you get: ⇨ 3 example sentences ⇨ Pinyin pronunciation ⇨ English translations ⇨ Character summary CharacterMatrix also offers: • Traditional (繁體) and simplified (简体) characters • Several Chinese fonts to choose from • Audio playback for all characters and sentences • Dark mode and light mode • Clean designs that look amazing on iPad and iPhone • A "random" button to jump to an arbitrary character • Search by character, Pinyin or frequency number Take these 1000 characters everywhere you go and learn at your own pace. This app displays the 1000 most used 中文 characters in a matrix that you can adjust (zoom level, font, dark/light theme). Its simple and clean user interface adapts to your device's size. If you use it in your iPad you can see more characters at the same time or split the screen. Some ideas of how to use this app: √ Learn new characters starting with the most common ones √ Understand and remember the characters using the 3 examples √ Listen to the examples and repeat to improve your pronunciation √ Use the "random" button to test your knowledge √ Use the app as a reference to practice writing/calligraphy (with various fonts) √ Use screen mirroring to show the characters on a smart TV and study with friends √ Explore by tapping on characters you don't know in the example sentences to learn more

About

Chinese 5000

Learn Chinese characters and words through interactive cards and games. Practice calligraphy and pronunciation with over 5,400 characters and 380,000 words. Supports printing to select Brother label printers.

Highlights
  • 5,400 Chinese characters across 52 cards
  • Progressive learning arrangement
  • Form over 380,000 Chinese words
  • Chinese calligraphy practice
  • Puzzles and mystery games
  • Pronunciation practice
  • Print to select Brother label printers
Features
Read full description

"Chinese 5000" is an engaging app that offers the following features: 1. It presents 5,400 Chinese characters across 52 cards, with each card featuring 106 characters. 2. The characters are thoughtfully arranged to support progressive learning, starting from the simplest and most common to the more complex and rare. 3. Users can combine these characters to form over 380,000 Chinese words. 4. The app facilitates the practice of Chinese calligraphy, showcasing characters in the standard Chinese script. 5. Tattoo artists interested in Chinese characters can find a wealth of examples and inspiration within the app. 6. Engage in puzzles and mystery games for an entertaining learning experience. 7. Regular recitation helps refresh and advance your knowledge of Chinese, progressing from level 1 through level 52. 8. The Speak button has been added for your listening pleasure. Maximize your learning enjoyment by: 1. Beginning with the simplest card and advancing to the more challenging ones, from top to bottom. 2. Enhancing reading skills by practicing with as many characters as possible. 3. Improving calligraphy skills by writing numerous characters. 4. Each card is divided into a top and bottom section, each containing 53 characters. Tap anywhere to flip the card. 5. Although arranged without specific order, it's recommended to read the characters from right to left and top to bottom. 6. Utilize two-finger gestures to zoom in or out. Swipe right to advance to the next card, or left to revisit the previous one. 7. A checkmark signifies a viewed card; tap again to remove the indicator. 8. While viewing a card, tap the 'PRINT' button to print via an AirPrint-compatible or Brother label printer. 9. Practice listening skills of all 5,400 Chinese characters. Designed in the U.S., the app supports traditional Chinese characters. Supported Brother Printers: Brother QL-820NWB Brother QL-810W Brother QL-1110NWB Brother QL-720NW Brother QL-710W Brother RJ-2150 Brother RJ-4030Ai Brother RJ-4040 Brother RJ-4250 Brother RJ-3250 Brother RJ-3230 Brother TD-2120N Brother PT-P300BT Brother PT-P910BT

Screenshots

CharacterMatrix4 screens
Chinese 50004 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Chinese 5000 at none against CharacterMatrix's 1. Chinese 5000 also leads on iOS requirement (12.0 vs 16.6). CharacterMatrix's advantage is ratings volume (9 vs 1). On price, rating, 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

Both are free to download. CharacterMatrix sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Chinese 5000 asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for CharacterMatrix against 5.0 for Chinese 5000. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: CharacterMatrix has 9 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
CharacterMatrix versus Chinese 5000: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCharacterMatrixChinese 5000
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (9 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings9 — better1
Update frequencyMonthly—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS16.612.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size110 MB65 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperCopyBucket, Inc.Supplier Relations US, LLC.

Customer experience

CharacterMatrix

All ratings6 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Chinese 5000

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

CharacterMatrix

One-time1
  • Unlock All 1000 Characters$9.99
None

Chinese 5000

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is CharacterMatrix free?
CharacterMatrix is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Chinese 5000 free?
Chinese 5000 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, CharacterMatrix or Chinese 5000?
CharacterMatrix and Chinese 5000 are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 9 and 1 ratings respectively.
Do CharacterMatrix or Chinese 5000 have ads?
Neither CharacterMatrix nor Chinese 5000 shows ads.

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