# ToneDetector vs Mandaboo

The clearest difference is price: Mandaboo at Free against ToneDetector's $9.99. Mandaboo also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 29 months) and ratings volume (6 vs 1). ToneDetector's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and ads (none vs shown). On rating and device support there is nothing between them.

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

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for ToneDetector against 5.0 for Mandaboo. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Mandaboo has 6 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

ToneDetector ships an update every 29 months, Mandaboo weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 19, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ToneDetector | Mandaboo |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $9.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tonedetector/id495002820/reviews) | [5.0 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mandaboo/id1497451781/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1 | **6** |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 29 months | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 28 MB | 91 MB |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [Jian Cheng](https://appshunter.io/developer/495002823) | [Mandarin Monkey Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1605628203) |

## What reviewers say

### ToneDetector

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tonedetector/id495002820)

Master Mandarin tones with this intuitive app. Practice pronunciation, compare your pitch contours to samples, and receive immediate visual feedback to improve your speaking accuracy without a tutor. Covers all Mandarin tonal syllables for effective self-assessment.

**Highlights:** Instant tone judgment, Visual pitch contour comparison, Practice all Mandarin tonal syllables, Self-assessment of tone perception, Sample sounds for comparison, Intuitive practice interface

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### 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 ToneDetector free?

ToneDetector costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Mandaboo free?

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

### Which has better reviews, ToneDetector or Mandaboo?

ToneDetector and Mandaboo are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 1 and 6 ratings respectively.

### Do ToneDetector or Mandaboo have ads?

Mandaboo shows ads; ToneDetector does not.

### Which is updated more often, ToneDetector or Mandaboo?

ToneDetector ships an update every 29 months, and Mandaboo weekly. Most recently, ToneDetector was updated on September 19, 2026 and Mandaboo on September 23, 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.*