Comparison

Cjexplorer vs Hanzi Popup

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

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • Clipboard character lookup
  • Live text camera scanning
  • Live object camera scanning
  • Pinyin pronunciation synthesis
  • Korean Hanja lookup
  • On-device processing
Features
Read full description

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.

About

Hanzi Popup

Instantly understand Chinese characters while reading. Get Pinyin, definitions, HSK levels, and AI pronunciation without leaving your current page. Ideal for learners of all levels, from beginners to advanced.

Highlights
  • Instant character lookup with Pinyin and definitions
  • AI-powered text-to-speech pronunciation
  • Definition translation in 20+ languages
  • HSK level tracking and character color-coding
  • Word saving and Anki export
  • Safari extension for seamless reading
Features
Read full description

Transform your Chinese reading with Hanzi Popup. Understand any character instantly — with Pinyin, definitions, HSK level, and AI pronunciation — without ever leaving the page. Whether you're studying for an HSK exam, reading Chinese news, or exploring the language for the first time, Hanzi Popup is here to make every word understandable. KEY FEATURES • Instant Character Lookup: Tap any Chinese character to see its definition, Pinyin, tone color, HSK level, and usage examples — right where you're reading. • Discover: Chinese videos, podcasts and sites for every level. Follow channels for new episodes and open everything with tap-to-define and subtitles. • Read Anything: Tap words on web pages, in PDF, EPUB, Word and PowerPoint files, video subtitles, and even text inside images. • AI Text-to-Speech: Hear natural Chinese pronunciation using Kokoro or Qwen3 TTS engines, with word-by-word highlighting as audio plays. • Definition Translation: View definitions in English, your native language, or both at once. Supports 20+ languages including French, Spanish, Japanese, Arabic, and more. • HSK Learning Tools: Set a target HSK level, color-code characters by proficiency, add Pinyin annotation above characters, and underline words to focus your study. • Word Saving & Export: Save words automatically or manually, organize them into folders, and export to Anki for flashcard review. BENEFITS • Convenience: Use Hanzi Popup as a Safari extension on any website, or open the built-in browser — no app switching, no interruptions. • Efficiency: See everything you need in one tap — definition, pronunciation, HSK level, and tone color — so you spend less time looking things up and more time reading. • Accessibility: Works in Safari on any Chinese website and in the built-in reader, anytime, anywhere — on the train, at a café, or at your desk. • Broad Appeal: Suitable for all learners, from complete beginners building HSK 1 vocabulary to advanced readers tackling HSK 7-9 content. USAGE SCENARIOS • On the go: Open any Chinese article in Safari and tap unknown characters for instant lookup while commuting or traveling. • At home: Use Prestudy Mode to preview vocabulary from an article in the sidebar before reading — build context before you dive in. • During work: Read Chinese business content, emails, or documents with character conversion between Simplified and Traditional Chinese (including Hong Kong and Taiwan variants). • For leisure: Follow Chinese social media, blogs, or news with colored Hanzi highlighting and Pinyin annotations to keep reading flowing naturally. PREMIUM Unlock the full Hanzi Popup experience with Premium: colored Hanzi, Pinyin annotation, HSK highlighting and underlines, TTS engines, definition translation, character conversion, Prestudy Mode, and more. CONTACT Have questions or need support? Reach out to us at krmanik@outlook.com. We're here to help! TERMS & PRIVACY By using this app, you agree to Hanzi Popup's Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ https://krmanik.github.io/hanzipopupapp/privacypolicy/

Screenshots

Cjexplorer4 screens
Hanzi Popup4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Cjexplorer at none against Hanzi Popup's 2. Cjexplorer also leads on iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.0). On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume 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. Hanzi Popup sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Cjexplorer asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Cjexplorer against 5.0 for Hanzi Popup. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 1 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Cjexplorer ships an update every 3 weeks, Hanzi Popup every 5 weeks. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Cjexplorer versus Hanzi Popup: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCjexplorerHanzi Popup
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings11
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks — betterEvery 5 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size100 MB309 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperWing Shun Vincent ChuKumar Manikant Gautam

Customer experience

Cjexplorer

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Hanzi Popup

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Cjexplorer

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

Hanzi Popup

One-time2
  • Start 7-Day Free TrialFree
  • One Time Purchase$9.99

Questions

Is Cjexplorer free?
Cjexplorer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Hanzi Popup free?
Hanzi Popup is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Cjexplorer or Hanzi Popup?
Cjexplorer and Hanzi Popup are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 1 and 1 ratings respectively.
Do Cjexplorer or Hanzi Popup have ads?
Neither Cjexplorer nor Hanzi Popup shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Cjexplorer or Hanzi Popup?
Cjexplorer ships an update every 3 weeks, and Hanzi Popup every 5 weeks. Most recently, Cjexplorer was updated on October 24, 2026 and Hanzi Popup on October 24, 2026.

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