# Speak Chinese vs Read Bean

The clearest difference is ads: Read Bean at none against Speak Chinese's shown. Read Bean also leads on rating (4.9 vs 4.5) and review sentiment (91% vs 78%). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

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 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 285 and 394 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 10 days, Read Bean weekly. Both last shipped on October 27, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Speak Chinese | Read Bean |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (285 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/speak-chinese-learn-mandarin/id6468914724/reviews) | **[4.9 (394 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/read-bean/id6736993989/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 285 | **394** |
| Positive reviews | 77.5% of reviews | **90.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 10 days | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 91 MB | 113 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.1 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Quan Pham Minh](https://appshunter.io/developer/1708270826) | [Refond, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1774270517) |

## What reviewers say

### Speak Chinese

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/speak-chinese-learn-mandarin/id6468914724)

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.

**Highlights:** 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

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

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| PlusAI+ 1 Month | $14.99 | per month |
| Plus+ 3 Months | $24.99 | per 3 months |
| PlusAI+ 3 Months | $29.99 | per 3 months |
| Plus+ 6 Months | $45.99 | per 6 months |
| PlusAI+ 6 Months | $49.99 | per 6 months |
| PlusAI+ 1 Year | $59.99 | per year |
| PlusAI+ 1 Year | $59.99 | per year |
| Plus+ 1 Year | $59.99 | per year |
| PlusAI+ 1 Year | $69.99 | per year |
| PlusAI+ 1 Year | $69.99 | per year |


### Read Bean

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/read-bean/id6736993989)

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.

**Highlights:** Authentic graded readings, HSK 1-6 level adaptation, Interactive drills and exercises, AI-powered speaking roleplays, On-demand translation and pronunciation, Spaced repetition flashcards

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Premium | $14.99 | per month |
| 6 Month Premium | $79.99 | per 6 months |
| Annual Premium | $99.99 | per year |
| Annual Premium | $119.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Intuitive UI
- 🚀 Effective learning experience
- 💡 Relevant and engaging content
- 🎉 Helps improve reading comprehension
- 🌟 Better than Duolingo

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Design issues on iPad
- 🔍 Auto-correct issues when searching

**Reported bugs**

- Login screen freezes
- Incompatibility with older devices

**Requested features**

- Full-screen mode for iPad
- Ability to use reading assistance on any website


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Speak Chinese free?

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

### Is Read Bean free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Speak Chinese or Read Bean?

Read Bean is rated higher. Speak Chinese averages 4.5 out of 5 from 285 ratings, while Read Bean averages 4.9 from 394 ratings.

### Do Speak Chinese or Read Bean have ads?

Speak Chinese shows ads; Read Bean does not.

### Which is updated more often, Speak Chinese or Read Bean?

Speak Chinese ships an update every 10 days, and Read Bean weekly. Most recently, Speak Chinese was updated on October 27, 2026 and Read Bean on October 27, 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.*