# Digital HTU vs Pocket Chinese Reader

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Digital HTU at none against Pocket Chinese Reader's 3. Digital HTU also leads on ads (none vs shown). Pocket Chinese Reader's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). On price, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Pocket Chinese Reader sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Digital HTU asks for nothing beyond the download.

Digital HTU ships an update every 2 months, Pocket Chinese Reader every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on August 30, 2026 and July 17, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Digital HTU | Pocket Chinese Reader |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pocket-chinese-reader/id6775097613/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **1** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | — | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 63 MB | 217 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Pham Xuan Ha](https://appshunter.io/developer/1697462365) | [Hoa Nguyen Thi Que](https://appshunter.io/developer/1895122859) |

## What reviewers say

### Digital HTU

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/digital-htu/id6451303262)

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Pocket Chinese Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pocket-chinese-reader/id6775097613)

Master Chinese through reading with HSK-aligned content and an interactive dictionary. Utilize a smart vocabulary review system and personalized study lists to accelerate learning. Connect with a community and study offline.

**Highlights:** HSK-aligned reading passages, Interactive dictionary lookup, Spaced Repetition System (SRS) for vocabulary, Personalized vocabulary lists and notes, Community sharing of study sets, Offline access to materials

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Monthly | $3.99 | per month |
| Premium Yearly | $29.99 | per year |
| Premium lifetime | $69.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Digital HTU free?

Digital HTU is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Pocket Chinese Reader free?

Pocket Chinese Reader is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Do Digital HTU or Pocket Chinese Reader have ads?

Pocket Chinese Reader shows ads; Digital HTU does not.

### Which is updated more often, Digital HTU or Pocket Chinese Reader?

Digital HTU ships an update every 2 months, and Pocket Chinese Reader every 3 weeks. Most recently, Digital HTU was updated on August 30, 2026 and Pocket Chinese Reader on July 17, 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.*