Comparison

Speak Chinese vs Bamlu

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

Head to head
About

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.

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
Read full description

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’re a total beginner starting from zero or a student preparing for advanced HSK certifications, Speak Chinese provides a fully personalized, guided path to improve 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 levels. • AI-Driven Review: Get instant, in-depth breakdowns for every question so you understand the exact grammar rules behind your scores. Learn Characters via Visual Mnemonics • Creative Illustrations: Remember difficult Chinese characters 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 Vocabulary on the Fly: Build personalized word banks directly from your daily lessons. • Scientific Review: Retain vocabulary long-term with 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!

About

Bamlu

Learn Mandarin through short, engaging video clips. Tap any word to instantly see its pronunciation and meaning, then save it for later review. Track your progress and build a daily learning habit with personalized practice.

Highlights
  • Short Mandarin video clips
  • Tap-to-learn vocabulary
  • Saved word review
  • HSK-oriented placement
  • Daily habit tracking
  • Cross-device sync
Features
Read full description

Learn Mandarin in short, focused sessions with BAMLU and its friendly red fox. WATCH AND LISTEN Practice with compact Mandarin clips designed around useful everyday language. Follow Hanzi, pinyin, and English meaning while you listen. TAP ANY WORD Open a word directly from a caption to see its pronunciation and meaning. Save useful vocabulary without interrupting the lesson. REVIEW WHAT YOU SAVE Return to saved words, mark what you know, and review vocabulary in context. FIND YOUR LEVEL Start with a short HSK-oriented placement experience. BAMLU uses broad learning bands to personalize practice; it is not an official HSK examination or certification. BUILD A DAILY HABIT Choose a daily goal, follow your streak, track learning time, and see your progress throughout the year. SYNC ACROSS DEVICES Sign in with Apple or email to keep your saved words, streak and settings on every device. Accounts are optional. SEARCH YOUR LIBRARY Search Mandarin or English, then filter clips by level, topic, and format. BAMLU PRO A BAMLU Pro subscription unlocks the complete learning experience. Monthly and annual plans are available. The annual plan may include a seven-day introductory trial for eligible customers. Prices and availability are shown in the app before purchase. Subscriptions renew automatically unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Manage or cancel your subscription in your Apple Account settings. Terms of Use: https://zolvastudios.com/bamlu/terms Privacy Policy: https://zolvastudios.com/bamlu/privacy

Screenshots

Speak Chinese4 screens
Bamlu4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ratings volume: Speak Chinese at 285 against Bamlu's 2. Speak Chinese also leads on iOS requirement (16.1 vs 18.0). Bamlu's advantage is update cadence (every 2 days vs every 10 days) and review sentiment (100% vs 78%). On price, rating, ads 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Speak Chinese sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $14.99 per month and Bamlu sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.5 for Speak Chinese against 4.5 for Bamlu. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Speak Chinese has 285 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 78% of Speak Chinese's written reviews are positive against 100% of Bamlu's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Speak Chinese ships an update every 10 days, Bamlu every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 27, 2026 and October 26, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Speak Chinese versus Bamlu: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSpeak ChineseBamlu
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (285 ratings)4.5 (2 ratings)
Positive reviews77.5% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings285 — better2
Update frequencyEvery 10 daysEvery 2 days — better
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS16.1 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size91 MB196 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperQuan Pham MinhALBERT STEEN FELDT

Customer experience

Speak Chinese

All ratings285 ratings
Positive86.0%
Neutral6.0%
Negative8.1%
Written reviews80 reviews
Positive77.5%
Neutral8.8%
Negative13.8%

Bamlu

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

10 purchases

Speak Chinese

Subscriptions10
  • PlusAI+ 1 Month$14.991 Month
  • Plus+ 3 Months$24.993 Months
  • PlusAI+ 3 Months$29.993 Months
Show 7 more
  • 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
8 purchases

Bamlu

Subscriptions5
  • BAMLU Pro Monthly$9.991 Month
  • BAMLU Pro Annual$29.991 Year
  • BAMLU Pro Annual$44.991 Year
Show 2 more
  • BAMLU Pro Annual7 Days trial$59.991 Year
  • BAMLU Pro Annual$59.991 Year
One-time3
  • 30 minutes with your teacher$4.99
  • 60 minutes with your teacher$9.99
  • 120 minutes with your teacher$14.99

Questions

Is Speak Chinese free?
Speak Chinese is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Bamlu free?
Bamlu is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Speak Chinese or Bamlu?
Speak Chinese and Bamlu are both rated 4.5 out of 5 on the App Store, from 285 and 2 ratings respectively.
Do Speak Chinese or Bamlu have ads?
Both Speak Chinese and Bamlu show ads.
Which is updated more often, Speak Chinese or Bamlu?
Speak Chinese ships an update every 10 days, and Bamlu every 2 days. Most recently, Speak Chinese was updated on October 27, 2026 and Bamlu on October 26, 2026.

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