# YLE vs Hanzi Reader

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: YLE at none against Hanzi Reader's 2. Hanzi Reader's advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 13 months). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Hanzi Reader sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. YLE asks for nothing beyond the download.

YLE ships an update every 13 months, Hanzi Reader every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 2, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | YLE | Hanzi Reader |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hanzi-reader-read-chinese/id6758697647/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **3** |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 13 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | — | Freemium |
| Size | 32 MB | 38 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Victor Alarcon](https://appshunter.io/developer/1540972481) | [Studio XI LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1872005795) |

## What reviewers say

### YLE

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/yle/id6478402660)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Hanzi Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hanzi-reader-read-chinese/id6758697647)

Learn Chinese characters by scanning any book page. This app identifies new characters, provides pinyin, audio, and stroke order, and offers practice games. It's designed for learners of all ages to start reading real Chinese content immediately.

**Highlights:** Scan book pages with camera or photos, AI character identification, Learn pinyin, meaning, and stroke order, Built-in practice games and flashcards, Support for Simplified and Traditional Chinese, Multiple profiles for families, Progress tracking

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Plan | $3.99 | per month |
| Annual Plan | $29.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is YLE free?

YLE is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Hanzi Reader free?

Hanzi Reader is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Do YLE or Hanzi Reader have ads?

Neither YLE nor Hanzi Reader shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, YLE or Hanzi Reader?

YLE ships an update every 13 months, and Hanzi Reader every 2 weeks. Most recently, YLE was updated on October 2, 2026 and Hanzi Reader on September 24, 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.*