Comparison

Pinyin Trainer for Educators vs HSK Study and Exam

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Pinyin Trainer for Educators

Master Mandarin Chinese phonetics and tones with this comprehensive trainer. Features nearly 2,000 audio recordings, interactive exercises, and a built-in guide to the Pinyin system. Ideal for beginners and advanced learners seeking to improve listening skills and avoid pronunciation errors.

Highlights
  • Master Chinese tones and Pinyin initials
  • Nearly 2,000 audio recordings
  • Interactive tone sketching mode
  • Integrated Chinese-English dictionary
  • Complete Pinyin reading guide
Features
Read full description

Master the sounds of Mandarin Chinese with ease! *** NOTE: This version is discounted for educational institutions and is fully featured. You can also try a free version of Pinyin Trainer and upgrade at leisure: tap our company name to find the free version! *** No matter if you're a beginner or a long-time student of Chinese, its tonal nature can catch you out and even cause some serious embarrassment... Pinyin Trainer will help you master those tones using Pinyin, the standard romanization system for Mandarin Chinese. With almost 2,000 individual audio recordings and a variety of question-and-answer methods, it'll keep you on your toes and improve your Chinese listening skills like nothing else. Plus, it's got a complete guide to reading Chinese with the Pinyin system built right in. Features: - Score by tapping the words that you hear - Train both Chinese tones and Pinyin "initials" sounds, to help you distinguish between commonly-confused words - Integrates with our Chinese-English dictionary to provide potential definitions for Pinyin words - In tone sketching mode, answer tone questions by drawing Pinyin tones with your fingers! - Almost 2,000 high quality original audio recordings - Free guide to reading Pinyin, with a complete index of one-syllable Chinese sounds

About

HSK Study and Exam

Prepare for the HSK Mandarin Chinese proficiency exam with this comprehensive study tool. It offers practice questions, mock exams, vocabulary training, and detailed explanations for all six HSK levels. Achieve your goals for studying or working in China.

Highlights
  • HSK vocabulary training
  • Practice listening, reading, and writing
  • Detailed answer explanations
  • Over 300,000 practice questions
  • Mock HSK exams
  • Covers HSK levels 1-6
Features
Read full description

The previous HSK Online app has been upgraded to SuperTest. SuperTest is the world’s leading Mandarin Chinese learning app, focused on Preparation for the HSK Exam. Secure your HSK Certificate with SuperTest Plus, the efficient and cost-effective way to prepare for your HSK exam. Our curated lesson plans make sure you save time and money by focusing only on what you need to prepare for the exam. What is HSK? HSK stands for Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi (Chinese: 汉语水平考试) which is the standard Chinese language test in mainland China. You can take either a written HSK exam or an online exam. If you want to study in a Chinese university or work in a Chinese company, this is the test they use to measure your Chinese level. Entry into a Chinese university normally requires HSK 4, HSK 5 or HSK 6. Whatever your HSK related goal is, from studying in China’s top universities on scholarship to working for a global Chinese enterprise, SuperTest will help you attain it. As a SuperTest Plus member, you only deserve the best. SuperTest is the top study tool to level up your Chinese skill. Additionally, it is free to use and will help you to get the score you want on your HSK test. #1 Recommended HSK app All HSK exam sections covered: Train your HSK listening skills, practice your Chinese reading speed, and let our Chinese teachers help you perfect your Chinese essay writing skills which is an important section in the HSK 4, HSK 5 and HSK 6 exams. HSK vocabulary Practice your Chinese vocab for all HSK levels. Learn all the HSK words with our HSK vocabulary training function. All HSK words included. Detailed answer explanations To help you study for your HSK level exam, all the HSK practice material and HSK questions in the app have a detailed answer explanation. So whether you are preparing for HSK level 1 or HSK level 6, we’ve got you covered. Test preparation With a personalized daily AI review, daily mistakes review, and over 300,000 HSK practice questions, SuperTest has all you need to prepare for your HSK level test. Real HSK exams Practice for your HSK test with our HSK mock exams or previous real HSK tests for the best scores. 6 levels in one app This is a Mandarin Chinese learning app with HSK 1, HSK 2, HSK 3, HSK 4, HSK 5 and HSK 6. We cover Chinese listening, reading, and writing for beginners, intermediate, and advanced Mandarin Chinese learners. Plus Membership You will have unlimited access to all the features in SuperTest for the duration of your subscription. We have 6 types of SuperTest subscriptions: PLUS for 1 month: ¥118 PLUS for 12 months: ¥488 PLUS for Lifetime: ¥698 MAX for 1 month: ¥188 MAX for 6 months: ¥588 MAX for 12 months: ¥898 Please note: After confirming your purchase, your payment will be deducted from your iTunes account. Your account will be charged the same renewal price 24 hours before the end of your current subscription period. Subscriptions will automatically renew unless you turn off auto-renewal at least 24 hours before the end of your current subscription period. You may cancel your subscription or auto-renew at any time in account settings on the App Store. More details are in《SuperTest User terms》http://api.hskonline.com/node/privacy 《SuperTest subscription renewal terms》https://f.hskcdn.com/h5/privacy/hsk/protocol.html

Screenshots

Pinyin Trainer for Educators3 screens
HSK Study and Exam4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: HSK Study and Exam at Free against Pinyin Trainer for Educators's $2.99. HSK Study and Exam also leads on rating (4.7 vs 4.0) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 34 months). Pinyin Trainer for Educators's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 21) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 13.0). On review sentiment, ads 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

HSK Study and Exam is free to download; Pinyin Trainer for Educators costs $2.99 up front. HSK Study and Exam sells 20 in-app purchases, starting at $15.99 per month. Pinyin Trainer for Educators asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

HSK Study and Exam holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: HSK Study and Exam has 1.1K ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 75% of Pinyin Trainer for Educators's written reviews are positive against 74% of HSK Study and Exam's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Pinyin Trainer for Educators ships an update every 34 months, HSK Study and Exam fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Pinyin Trainer for Educators versus HSK Study and Exam: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPinyin Trainer for EducatorsHSK Study and Exam
Price$2.99Free — better
Rating4.0 (4 ratings)4.7 (1.1K ratings) — better
Positive reviews75.0% of reviews — better73.6% of reviews
Number of ratings41.1K — better
Update frequencyEvery 34 monthsFortnightly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS8.0 — better13.0
Further details — not scored
Size26 MB152 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developertrainchinese B.V.Shanghai Yuxuan Information Technology Co. , Ltd

Customer experience

Pinyin Trainer for Educators

All ratings4 ratings
Positive75.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative25.0%
Written reviews8 reviews
Positive75.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative25.0%

HSK Study and Exam

All ratings1,034 ratings
Positive92.7%
Neutral3.7%
Negative3.6%
Written reviews588 reviews
Positive73.6%
Neutral7.7%
Negative18.7%

Bugs and requests

Pinyin Trainer for Educators

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

HSK Study and Exam

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Freezing during mock tests and lessons
  • Inability to log in or access purchased content
  • Incorrect or missing translations
  • Inconsistent behavior when switching between devices
  • Unreliable audio playback

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add dark mode option
  • Improve iPad support and landscape mode
  • Provide more detailed grammar explanations
  • Integrate traditional Chinese character support
  • Enhance offline functionality

In-app purchases

None

Pinyin Trainer for Educators

No in-app purchases

20 purchases

HSK Study and Exam

Subscriptions9
  • HSKOnline vip renew 118$15.991 Month
  • AI MAX 1 Month Package$24.991 Month
  • 12-month PLUS Subscription$29.991 Year
Show 6 more
  • 12-month PLUS Subscription$49.991 Year
  • 12-month PLUS Subscription$59.991 Year
  • 12-month PLUS Subscription$69.991 Year
  • AI MAX 12-Month Package2 variants$79.991 Year
  • AI MAX 12-Month Package$109.991 Year
  • AI MAX 12-Month Package$129.991 Year
One-time11
  • HSK Online Membership 1 month$5.99
  • HSKOnline live stream 1$14.99
  • HSKOnline Lifetime VIP$29.99
Show 8 more
  • HSKOnline lifetime vip up 3$29.99
  • HSKOnline lifetime vip up 2$45.99
  • HSKOnline Lifetime VIP$56.99
  • HSKOnline lifetime vip plus 3$59.99
  • HSKOnline lifetime vip up 1$59.99
  • HSKOnline lifetime vip plus 2$74.99
  • HSKOnline lifetime vip plus 1$89.99
  • HSKOnline lifetime vip plus$109.99

Questions

Is Pinyin Trainer for Educators free?
Pinyin Trainer for Educators costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is HSK Study and Exam free?
HSK Study and Exam is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Pinyin Trainer for Educators or HSK Study and Exam?
HSK Study and Exam is rated higher. Pinyin Trainer for Educators averages 4.0 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while HSK Study and Exam averages 4.7 from 1.1K ratings.
Do Pinyin Trainer for Educators or HSK Study and Exam have ads?
Neither Pinyin Trainer for Educators nor HSK Study and Exam shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Pinyin Trainer for Educators or HSK Study and Exam?
Pinyin Trainer for Educators ships an update every 34 months, and HSK Study and Exam fortnightly. Most recently, Pinyin Trainer for Educators was updated on November 1, 2026 and HSK Study and Exam on October 29, 2026.

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