# HeInput vs Pinyin Academy

The clearest difference is review sentiment: HeInput at 78% against Pinyin Academy's 32%. HeInput also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.4) and ads (none vs shown). Pinyin Academy's advantage is ratings volume (142 vs 2) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). On price, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. HeInput sells 3 one-off in-app purchases and Pinyin Academy sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

HeInput holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Pinyin Academy has 142 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 78% of HeInput's written reviews are positive against 32% of Pinyin Academy's.

HeInput ships an update every 2 months, Pinyin Academy every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 6, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | HeInput | Pinyin Academy |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/heinput-chinese-study-and-input/id417876708/reviews)** | [4.4 (142 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pinyin-academy-learn-chinese/id1121107733/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 2 | **142** |
| Positive reviews | **77.8% of reviews** | 32.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 22 MB | 49 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.0** | 12.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Guilin Ouyang](https://appshunter.io/developer/417876711) | [运杰 高](https://appshunter.io/developer/1023126440) |

## What reviewers say

### HeInput

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/heinput-chinese-study-and-input/id417876708)

Learn and type Chinese characters and words with this app. It offers a step-by-step approach with practice modes for writing, typing, and phrases. Suitable for all learners of Simplified and Traditional Chinese.

**Highlights:** Learn Chinese characters and words, System input method integration, Step-by-step self-training, Phrase coding and article practice, Supports Simplified and Traditional Chinese, Code prompt and Pinyin search

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Word and Phrase Coding | $1.99 | one-time |
| Extended HeCharacter Table | $1.99 | one-time |
| Speed Typing | $1.99 | one-time |


### Pinyin Academy

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pinyin-academy-learn-chinese/id1121107733)

Master Chinese Pinyin and basic characters with interactive lessons, games, and pronunciation practice. This app offers systematic learning for all levels, covering sounds, writing, vocabulary, and phonetic recognition. Ideal for children, students, and language enthusiasts.

**Highlights:** Pinyin letter learning with audio, Handwriting practice with stroke guides, Pronunciation training and comparison, Interactive Pinyin card matching games, Word blending drills, Character recognition and matching, Educational mini-games

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

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlock Grade 6-2 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Unlock Characters | $1.99 | one-time |
| Unlock Grade 3 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Unlock Grade 2 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Unlock Grade 1 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Unlock Grade 4 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Unlock Grade 5 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Unlock Grade 6 | $1.99 | one-time |
| remove ads | $5.99 | one-time |
| Unlock All 12 Books | $6.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is HeInput free?

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

### Is Pinyin Academy free?

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

### Which has better reviews, HeInput or Pinyin Academy?

HeInput is rated higher. HeInput averages 5.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while Pinyin Academy averages 4.4 from 142 ratings.

### Do HeInput or Pinyin Academy have ads?

Pinyin Academy shows ads; HeInput does not.

### Which is updated more often, HeInput or Pinyin Academy?

HeInput ships an update every 2 months, and Pinyin Academy every 3 weeks. Most recently, HeInput was updated on October 6, 2026 and Pinyin Academy on October 21, 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.*