Compounds! vs Cjexplorer
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Compounds!
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Learn to read and write Chinese characters in the order that makes the most sense. Compounds helps you master the most common simplified Chinese characters with a focused, research-backed learning path. Instead of throwing random characters at you, the app introduces them in an order designed to improve retention and reduce frustration, combining character frequency with structural relationships so new characters build naturally on ones you already know. Each study session is designed to help you: Learn high-value characters first Practice writing from memory Reinforce pronunciation and meaning Review at the right time so you remember more with less effort Compounds is built for learners who want a smarter way to study Chinese characters, whether you are starting from scratch or filling in gaps in your reading and writing. Why this order works: Compounds is inspired by research on efficient Chinese character learning strategies, especially work showing that character frequency and structural relationships can be combined to create a more effective progression. Optimal learning order based on: K. Zhao, D. Zhao, J. Yang, W. Ma and B. Yu, “Efficient Learning Strategy of Chinese Characters Based on Usage Frequency and Structural Relationship,” 2019 IEEE 4th International Conference on Big Data Analytics (ICBDA), Suzhou, China, 2019, pp. 351-355, doi: 10.1109/ICBDA.2019.8713245. Subscription A subscription is required for full access to all features. Terms of Service: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Cjexplorer
Easily find Cangjie, Pinyin, Onyomi, and Kunyomi codes for Chinese characters. Features include clipboard lookup, live camera scanning of text or objects, and pronunciation synthesis. Supports Korean Hanja lookup, all processed on-device.
- Clipboard character lookup
- Live text camera scanning
- Live object camera scanning
- Pinyin pronunciation synthesis
- Korean Hanja lookup
- On-device processing
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CJExplorer is a fast, private reference tool for anyone who studies, types, reads, or teaches Chinese characters. Look up the Cangjie input code, Mandarin Pinyin, Cantonese Jyutping, Japanese Onyomi and Kunyomi readings, and Korean Hanja/Hangul information for Chinese characters in seconds. Copy a character, scan printed text with the live camera, or point the camera at an object and let on-device AI identify the related Chinese word for lookup. Whether you are learning Cangjie, checking Mandarin pronunciation, reading Cantonese, comparing Kanji readings, or working with Korean Hanja, CJExplorer keeps the answer close without forcing you into a heavy dictionary workflow. Key features: 1. Clipboard lookup for quick Cangjie, Pinyin, Jyutping, Japanese reading, and Hanja reference. 2. Live OCR camera lookup for Chinese characters and Korean Hangul romanization. 3. Object camera mode that recognizes everyday objects and shows the related Chinese word and codes. 4. Built-in Mandarin pronunciation to help learners hear the word. 5. On-device processing, so lookups stay private and the app does not need internet access. Buy CJExplorer once and keep a practical Chinese character companion ready whenever a character, reading, or input code slows you down.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Cjexplorer at none against Compounds!'s 2. Compounds!'s advantage is update cadence (every 3 days vs every 3 weeks). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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. Compounds! sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $14.99 per month. Cjexplorer asks for nothing beyond the download.
Compounds! ships an update every 3 days, Cjexplorer every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 27, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Compounds! | Cjexplorer |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | — | 1 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 3 days — better | Every 3 weeks |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | — | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 16.4 | 15.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 242 MB | 100 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Parotid | Wing Shun Vincent Chu |
In-app purchases
Compounds!
- Pro Monthly$14.991 Month
- Pro Yearly3 Days trial$49.991 Year
Cjexplorer
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Compounds! free?
Is Cjexplorer free?
Do Compounds! or Cjexplorer have ads?
Which is updated more often, Compounds! or Cjexplorer?
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