Pinyin Chart vs Bootstrap Chinese Grammar
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Pinyin Chart
This app helps you learn Mandarin pronunciation and vocabulary. It features an interactive sound chart with native speaker audio, pronunciation lessons, and a vocabulary list to build your Chinese language foundation.
- Interactive pinyin sound chart
- Native speaker audio for pronunciation
- Pronunciation lessons
- Mandarin vocabulary list
- Self-paced learning
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Start with the sounds. Build your Chinese. Explore Mandarin pronunciation and vocabulary in one thoughtfully designed app. Pinyin Chart brings together an interactive sound chart, a full set of pronunciation lessons, and a vocabulary list to help you build your foundation in Chinese. Whether you're learning your first sounds or returning to strengthen the basics, start where you need the most help. HEAR THE SOUNDS OF MANDARIN Explore pinyin, the system that uses letters to represent Mandarin pronunciation. Listen to native-speaker audio, compare sounds and tones, and return to the chart whenever you need a reference. UNDERSTAND HOW TO PRONOUNCE THEM Go beyond listening with pronunciation lessons that explain how Mandarin sounds work. Work through the guidance at your own pace and revisit the sounds you find challenging. BUILD YOUR VOCABULARY Take the next step with the vocabulary list. Start learning Chinese words alongside your pronunciation study, with both resources together in the same app. USE IT YOUR WAY • Start with the chart when a sound is unfamiliar. • Explore the lessons when you want an explanation. • Turn to vocabulary when you're ready to learn more words. • Revisit the fundamentals alongside a class, textbook, or self-study routine. FROM A PINYIN CHART TO SOMETHING MORE We began with a focused goal: make the sounds of Mandarin easier to explore. Now we're bringing pronunciation and vocabulary together, building on that foundation to help you take your next steps in Chinese. New here? Start with a sound. Know the chart already? Discover what's beyond it. Your next step in Chinese starts here. ⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛ Our Production Team App Development: Jack Wang Graphic Design: Linda Lin Product Lead: Connie Cong Legal & IP: Alicia Wang Producer: Edward Tsang ⊛⊛⊛⊛⊛ Check out http://www.pinyinchart.com/ for more info. Please understand that this is an ongoing development. If you have found any issues or bugs, please let us know by email, support@ondemandworld.com. We will solve them with free updates. Follow us on Twitter. http://twitter.com/ondemandworld ‼ Like us on Facebook. http://facebook.com/ondemandworld ⁇ About us on LinkedIn. http://www.linkedin.com/company/ondemandworld _____ Need a white label app for your business? Or want to talk with us about licensing and advertising opportunities? You should visit http://www.linkedin.com/company/ondemandworld
Bootstrap Chinese Grammar
This app offers a structured, grammar-based approach to learning Chinese. It features clear explanations, numerous audio examples, and interactive exercises to build speaking and comprehension skills. A personal study list helps streamline the learning process.
- 200 grammar topics
- 2800+ audio examples
- Step-by-step learning
- Interactive exercises
- Personal study list
- Companion book integration
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LEARN CHINESE GRAMMAR – STEP BY STEP, BEGINNER TO ADVANCED Bootstrap Chinese Grammar takes you through Mandarin grammar in 204 short, clear topics, with over 2,800 example phrases recorded by a native speaker. Understand how Chinese sentences work, then practise until it sticks – so you can speak and understand Chinese precisely and with confidence. STEP-BY-STEP TOPICS Start at the very beginning with 是 (shì) and 不 (bù) and build up one small, self-contained step at a time: questions with 吗 and 呢, measure words, 了 and 过, comparisons with 比, resultative and directional complements, 虽然…但是, 越来越, 连…都 and much more – right through to everyday idioms. Each topic explains one grammar point in plain English, then adds new patterns and new words on top of what you already know. EXAMPLES YOU CAN HEAR AND READ Every topic has plenty of examples, and each one comes with: • Simplified characters and pinyin, written with the tone changes you actually hear • An English translation • Notes showing how the example uses the grammar, with the meanings of new words • Native-speaker audio, at normal or slow speed Tap any word to hear it on its own and see its pinyin and meaning. Pinyin is coloured by tone, and you can hide it to test your reading. EXERCISES FOR DEEP LEARNING Once you understand a topic, practise it: • Phrase builder – put the words of each phrase in the right order • Multiple choice – pick the missing word • "Why?" – make a mistake and see exactly what went wrong NEW: LISTENING & TONES A second set of exercises in every topic trains your ear: • Build each phrase from its audio alone • Hear a word and pick its tones NEW: SPACED REPETITION Every phrase you practise comes back for review just before you're likely to forget it – the next day, then after a few days, a week, and longer. A few minutes a day keeps everything you've learnt fresh. AUDIO REVIEW Play through a topic's phrases hands-free with voice commands ("play", "slow", "next", "meaning"). Record yourself and compare with the native speaker, or set it on auto-play, lock the screen and listen with your phone in your pocket. THE COMPANION BOOK Prefer to study from a book? "Bootstrap Chinese Grammar" is also available on Amazon. Scan the QR code at the start of any chapter with the app and it opens that topic, with all of its examples and their audio. ALSO • Search every phrase and word in the app • Build your own Study List of phrases to focus on • Track your progress in every topic • Share a phrase as a video or image TRY IT FREE The first 10 topics are completely free. One lifetime in-app purchase unlocks all 204 topics with their audio and exercises – no subscription, and all future updates free.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Bootstrap Chinese Grammar at 4.0 against Pinyin Chart's 3.0. Bootstrap Chinese Grammar also leads on iOS requirement (15 vs 17.0). Pinyin Chart's advantage is update cadence (every 2 months vs every 11 months) and ratings volume (4 vs 1). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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. Pinyin Chart sells 10 one-off in-app purchases and Bootstrap Chinese Grammar sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Bootstrap Chinese Grammar holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 3.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 1 respectively.
Pinyin Chart ships an update every 2 months, Bootstrap Chinese Grammar every 11 months. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Pinyin Chart | Bootstrap Chinese Grammar |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.0 (4 ratings) | 4.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 82.1% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 4 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months — better | Every 11 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 15 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 106 MB | 20 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | OnDemandWorld (HK) | Declan Software |
Customer experience
Pinyin Chart
Bootstrap Chinese Grammar
Bugs and requests
Pinyin Chart
Reported bugs
8 issues- Audio does not work on iPhone (works on iPad)
- App crashes frequently on iOS 4.2
- Nag screen freezes application making it unusable
- Restore purchase button not accessible/scrollable
- Some sounds don't work (e.g., 'ue' sound)
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- Ads appear at random intervals disrupting usage
- Remove ads button hidden behind tiny button
- In-app purchase mismatch between App Store and app
Requested features
9 requests- Male voice option in addition to female voice
- Instructions on how to properly form sounds
- Search functionality to find specific pinyin
- Ability to highlight and listen to entire rows/columns
- English meanings for words (e.g., ma = mom, horse, yell)
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- Pronunciation guide for complete words and sentences
- Modern, improved visual design
- Settings page for app preferences
- Proper restore purchase functionality
Bootstrap Chinese Grammar
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Pinyin Chart
- Remove Ads$0.99
- Dragons Theme$0.99
- Dragon Boat Festival Theme$0.99
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- Halloween Theme$0.99
- Mid-Autumn Theme$0.99
- Panda Theme$0.99
- Winter Solstic Theme$0.99
- All Lessons$4.99
- All Themes$4.99
- VIP$9.99
Bootstrap Chinese Grammar
- Unlock All Chinese$34.99
Questions
Is Pinyin Chart free?
Is Bootstrap Chinese Grammar free?
Which has better reviews, Pinyin Chart or Bootstrap Chinese Grammar?
Do Pinyin Chart or Bootstrap Chinese Grammar have ads?
Which is updated more often, Pinyin Chart or Bootstrap Chinese Grammar?
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