CharacterMatrix vs Hanzi Learn
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- 1000 most common characters
- Example sentences with translations
- Pinyin pronunciation
- Traditional and simplified characters
- Audio playback
- Customizable themes (dark/light)
- Search functionality
Read full descriptionHide 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
Hanzi Learn
Read full descriptionHide full description
Hanzi Learn — an interactive Chinese character learning app for families and beginners. Fully offline — no internet required! A Talking Dictionary & Wordbook All 9,564 characters come with clear explanations, and every word has its own meaning and example sentences. Look up characters, look up words, hear them spoken — a real reference tool you can grow with. Guess-the-Idiom Game Read the meaning, then tap the right characters to spell out the idiom! Stuck? Use a hint or read the idiom's origin story. Idioms & Favorites A curated collection of everyday idioms with simple definitions — save your favorites and review them anytime. 100 Classic Stories Classic fables, myths and history tales, narrated sentence by sentence — learn characters through stories. Stroke Order Animation Watch every stroke of every character drawn step by step. Trace & Write Practice Trace characters on screen with your finger. Smart recognition checks strokes as you write. Structured Curriculum Age-based lessons from first characters through early primary school. Review Games Three rotating quiz types that make review feel like play. Smart Search Search by pinyin (with or without tones), by handwriting, or directly by character. Polyphonic Character Support For characters with multiple pronunciations, each reading is shown with its own meaning and example words. Professional Audio Stroke names, characters and example sentences come with professional recordings. Peace of Mind for Parents No ads, no tracking, no accounts, fully offline. A parental gate protects every purchase, external link, rating prompt, and share action. The starter level is free forever; a single one-time purchase unlocks the full course for ages 5+.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ads: CharacterMatrix at none against Hanzi Learn's shown. On price, update cadence, in-app purchases 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
Both are free to download. CharacterMatrix sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Hanzi Learn sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
CharacterMatrix ships an update monthly, Hanzi Learn every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | CharacterMatrix | Hanzi Learn |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (9 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 9 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 | 15.5 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 119 MB | 271 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | CopyBucket, Inc. | Liang Ma |
In-app purchases
CharacterMatrix
- Unlock All 1000 Characters$9.99
Hanzi Learn
- 完整版解锁$0.99
Questions
Is CharacterMatrix free?
Is Hanzi Learn free?
Do CharacterMatrix or Hanzi Learn have ads?
Which is updated more often, CharacterMatrix or Hanzi Learn?
Other comparisons















