# I Learn Chinese Characters vs Mandaboo

The clearest difference is price: Mandaboo at Free against I Learn Chinese Characters's $4.99. Mandaboo also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.6) and update cadence (weekly vs every 6 weeks). I Learn Chinese Characters's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and ads (none vs shown). On device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Mandaboo is free to download; I Learn Chinese Characters costs $4.99 up front. Mandaboo sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. I Learn Chinese Characters asks for nothing beyond the download.

Mandaboo holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: I Learn Chinese Characters has 30 ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 91% of I Learn Chinese Characters's written reviews are positive against 100% of Mandaboo's.

I Learn Chinese Characters ships an update every 6 weeks, Mandaboo weekly. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | I Learn Chinese Characters | Mandaboo |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $4.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.6 (30 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/i-learn-chinese-characters/id389073069/reviews) | **[5.0 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mandaboo/id1497451781/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **30** | 6 |
| Positive reviews | 91.4% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 46 MB | 91 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [YOYASOFT LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/325345561) | [Mandarin Monkey Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1605628203) |

## What reviewers say

### I Learn Chinese Characters

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/i-learn-chinese-characters/id389073069)

Learn Chinese characters by understanding their pictographic origins. This app teaches pronunciation, writing, and grammar through interactive practice and progressive study modes.

**Highlights:** Pictographic origin explanations, Pronunciation guides, Character writing demonstrations, Interactive writing practice, Progressive study mode, Character index with search

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Great for learning characters
- ✍️ Shows stroke order and writing practice
- 🧠 Explains character etymology and history
- 🎧 Provides pronunciation audio
- 📚 Useful for serious learners

**What reviewers complain about**

- 📉 Limited content/characters
- 🐛 Stroke recognition bugs
- 🤔 Percentage learned status deceptive
- ✍️ Writing practice not always available
- 🧐 Errors in English text in later lessons

**Reported bugs**

- Sound glitch within lessons
- Stroke recognition issues
- Character trace buggy
- Does not function properly (full version)
- English words instead of pinyin in progressive study

**Requested features**

- Add traditional characters
- Regularly add more characters
- Add sentences and phrases for practice
- Practice writing simple sentences
- Hear pronunciation while writing


### Mandaboo

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mandaboo/id1497451781)

A fun, improv-style game designed to improve Mandarin speaking and listening skills. Players guess Mandarin words by following clues, avoiding specific taboo words to enhance comprehension and vocabulary. Play solo or with friends for an engaging learning experience.

**Highlights:** Guess Mandarin words with clues, Avoid taboo words, Improve listening comprehension, Enhance speaking skills, Play solo or with friends, Create custom word lists

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Subscription | $9.99 | per month |
| Six Month Subscription | $54.99 | per 6 months |
| Annual Subscription | $99.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is I Learn Chinese Characters free?

I Learn Chinese Characters costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Mandaboo free?

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

### Which has better reviews, I Learn Chinese Characters or Mandaboo?

Mandaboo is rated higher. I Learn Chinese Characters averages 4.6 out of 5 from 30 ratings, while Mandaboo averages 5.0 from 6 ratings.

### Do I Learn Chinese Characters or Mandaboo have ads?

Mandaboo shows ads; I Learn Chinese Characters does not.

### Which is updated more often, I Learn Chinese Characters or Mandaboo?

I Learn Chinese Characters ships an update every 6 weeks, and Mandaboo weekly. Most recently, I Learn Chinese Characters was updated on November 1, 2026 and Mandaboo on November 3, 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.*