Speak Chinese vs Read Bean
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Speak Chinese
Master Mandarin Chinese with an AI-powered tutor and comprehensive learning tools. Improve speaking, reading, writing, and listening skills with interactive lessons, audiobooks, and HSK exam preparation. Learn vocabulary and characters efficiently for all skill levels.
- AI speaking tutor with pronunciation feedback
- 1,000+ bilingual audiobooks
- HSK exam preparation and mock tests
- Spaced repetition vocabulary learning
- Character learning with visual mnemonics
- Offline study mode
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Featured on Top Education Charts – The definitive all-in-one Mandarin Chinese learning solution powered by advanced AI technology. Master Mandarin Chinese smarter, faster, and more enjoyably. Whether you are a total beginner starting from zero or a student training for advanced HSK certifications, Speak Chinese provides a fully personalized, guided path to ace your listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills. Why learners choose Speak Chinese: Real-Life AI Tutor & Pronunciation Scoring • Interactive Roleplay: Simulate everyday conversations, travel scenarios, and workplace dialogue. • Instant Feedback: The AI analyzes your speech, tracks tone accuracy, and delivers real-time fluency scores to help you speak like a native. Full HSK Test Mode & Smart Explanations • Exam Simulation: Practice with mock tests meticulously designed around official HSK tiers. • AI-Driven Review: Get instant, in-depth breakdowns for every single question so you understand the exact grammar rules behind your scores. Learn Characters via Visual Mnemonics • Creative Illustrations: Remember difficult Chinese characters easily through vivid visual cues and structural associations. • Radical Breakdowns: Master writing structures with detailed radical analysis and real-time stroke-order animations. Custom Flashcards + Spaced Repetition • Save Vocab on the Fly: Build personalized word banks directly from your daily lessons. • Scientific Review: Retain vocabulary long-term using our optimized Spaced-Repetition flashcard algorithm. Immersive Media & Integrated Dictionary • Graded Reading: Explore an embedded library of books, audiobooks, and video articles. • One-Tap Lookup: Tap any word to instantly view pinyin, English translations, stroke orders, and core grammar tips without leaving the page. The ultimate all-in-one solution that replaces the frustration of juggling between "Pleco + flashcards + vocabulary apps." Perfect for: • Expats and travelers who need practical conversational Mandarin fast. • Students preparing thoroughly for HSK 1-6 examinations. • Busy individuals looking for efficient, hands-free audio practice. Download Speak Chinese today and take your first definitive step toward complete Mandarin fluency!
Read Bean
Master Chinese with authentic, graded readings and interactive exercises. Tailored lessons adapt to your HSK level, offering vocabulary drills, grammar practice, and AI-powered speaking roleplays. Get instant translation and pronunciation support.
- Authentic graded readings
- HSK 1-6 level adaptation
- Interactive drills and exercises
- AI-powered speaking roleplays
- On-demand translation and pronunciation
- Spaced repetition flashcards
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Master Chinese Through Real-World Graded Content — Read Bean Go beyond basic apps and textbooks. Read Bean is the ultimate tool for Chinese learners from HSK 1 to 6 who want to read, listen, and think in real Chinese — at a professional, cultural, and conversational level. Whether you're preparing for business, professional exams, or personal fluency, Read Bean transforms authentic articles, stories, and conversations into dynamic, personalized graded readings with mini vocab drills made just for you. Built for all learners HSK 1 through 6 Forget "beginner content" stretched thin. Read Bean assesses your exact reading and listening levels and instantly tailors every lesson to challenge you without overwhelming you. Improve fluency across real-world topics — from culture to commerce — with lessons designed to mirror how Chinese is actually used. Practice the Skills That Matter Learn actively with sentence structure drills, fill-in-the-blank questions, smart listening challenges, and comprehension boosters. Every question type is crafted to sharpen your grammar, expand your vocabulary, and strengthen your ability to read, write, and think in Chinese — not just recognize words. New: Interactive Speaking Roleplays Go beyond passive learning with Read Bean Roleplays — dynamic, voice-driven conversations that simulate real-life scenarios in Chinese. Whether you're ordering food, negotiating at work, or chatting with a neighbor, our AI-powered roleplays help you practice speaking naturally and confidently. You’ll get feedback, cultural tips, and just the right level of challenge to improve your fluency in a fun, low-pressure way. On-Demand Translation, Pronunciation, and Grammar Support Tap any word to see its meaning, pronunciation, usage notes, and common collocations. Explore grammar patterns, sentence breakdowns, and alternative expressions with a single tap. Your growth stays fast and natural — without endless dictionary lookups. Your Personal AI Language Coach Need a deeper explanation, a cultural note, or a memory tip for a tough word? Just ask. Our built-in AI tutor gives you personalized help in real time — it’s like having a Chinese teacher in your pocket 24/7. Spaced Repetition That Works — Flashcards Reimagined Reinforce everything you learn with smart flashcards powered by proven spaced repetition methods. Read Bean automatically tracks your progress and schedules reviews, turning short-term learning into long-term mastery. Achieve Your Chinese Learning Goals With Read Bean, you'll do more than memorize — you'll think and operate in Chinese. Whether you're aiming to work abroad, connect more deeply with Chinese culture, ace professional certifications, or simply enjoy native content without subtitles, Read Bean gives you the edge. What Our Users Say "I have a 1500-day streak on Duolingo. If I had to choose between Read Bean and Duo today, I'd choose Read Bean." — Lawson K., After 30 Days "Dropped my 500+ day Duolingo streak to make Read Bean part of my New Year’s resolutions. Huge fan now." — Gary N., After 5 Days Subscription Details Full access to all lessons requires a subscription. Subscriptions renew automatically unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the period. Your Apple account will be charged within 24 hours prior to renewal. Manage your subscription anytime in your Apple Account Settings. Privacy Policy: https://readbean.app/privacy Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ CONTACT US: Questions or feedback? Email us at feedback@readbean.app
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ads: Read Bean at none against Speak Chinese's shown. Read Bean also leads on rating (4.9 vs 4.6) and review sentiment (91% vs 78%). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and in-app purchases 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. Speak Chinese sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $14.99 per month and Read Bean sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $14.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Read Bean holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 254 and 369 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 78% of Speak Chinese's written reviews are positive against 91% of Read Bean's.
Speak Chinese ships an update every 9 days, Read Bean weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and September 20, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Speak Chinese | Read Bean |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.6 (254 ratings) | 4.9 (369 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 77.9% of reviews | 90.6% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 254 | 369 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 9 days | Weekly — better |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| 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 | 16.1 | 15.1 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 89 MB | 113 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Quan Pham Minh | Refond, Inc. |
Customer experience
Speak Chinese
Read Bean
Bugs and requests
Speak Chinese
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
Read Bean
Reported bugs
2 issues- Login screen freezes
- Incompatibility with older devices
Requested features
2 requests- Full-screen mode for iPad
- Ability to use reading assistance on any website
In-app purchases
Speak Chinese
- PlusAI+ 1 Month$14.991 Month
- Plus+ 3 Months$24.993 Months
- PlusAI+ 3 Months$29.993 Months
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- Plus+ 6 Months$45.996 Months
- PlusAI+ 6 Months$49.996 Months
- PlusAI+ 1 Year1 Year trial3 variants$59.991 Year
- PlusAI+ 1 Year$59.991 Year
- Plus+ 1 Year$59.991 Year
- PlusAI+ 1 Year2 variants$69.991 Year
- PlusAI+ 1 Year1 Year trial3 variants$69.991 Year
Read Bean
- Monthly Premium3 Days trial$14.991 Month
- 6 Month Premium$79.996 Months
- Annual Premium3 Days trial$99.991 Year
Show 1 moreShow fewer
- Annual Premium3 Days trial$119.991 Year









