# Read Bean vs PikaWord

Read Bean and PikaWord both sit at 4.9 stars, but that hides the real split: 91% of Read Bean's written reviews are positive against 33% of PikaWord's. Read Bean also leads on ratings volume (394 vs 1). PikaWord's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.1). On price, rating, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Read Bean sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $14.99 per month and PikaWord sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for Read Bean against 5.0 for PikaWord. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Read Bean has 394 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 91% of Read Bean's written reviews are positive against 33% of PikaWord's.

Read Bean ships an update weekly, PikaWord every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 27, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Read Bean | PikaWord |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.9 (394 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/read-bean/id6736993989/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pikaword/id6739126234/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **394** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | **90.6% of reviews** | 33.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 2 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 113 MB | 83 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | **13.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Refond, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1774270517) | [Suzhou Qingshan Planning Technology Co., Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1689703446) |

## What reviewers say

### 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


### PikaWord

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pikaword/id6739126234)

This app uses photo recognition to turn your surroundings into a language learning environment. Easily identify objects and scenes to learn new vocabulary in multiple languages, enhancing memory through visual association. It offers a flexible and enjoyable way to expand your word knowledge anytime, anywhere.

**Highlights:** Learn words by taking photos, Real-world scenario learning, Visual memory enhancement, Personalized vocabulary library, Supports multiple languages, Fun and engaging learning experience

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

**In-app purchases (9)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| 拍拍单词周卡会员 | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| 拍拍单词月卡会员 | $4.99 | per month |
| Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| 拍拍单词季卡会员 | $9.99 | per 3 months |
| 拍拍单词年卡会员 | $14.99 | per year |
| Yearly | $39.99 | per year |
| 拍拍单词终身会员 | $17.99 | one-time |
| 拍拍单词终身会员 | $19.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Read Bean free?

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

### Is PikaWord free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Read Bean or PikaWord?

PikaWord is rated higher. Read Bean averages 4.9 out of 5 from 394 ratings, while PikaWord averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Read Bean or PikaWord have ads?

Neither Read Bean nor PikaWord shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Read Bean or PikaWord?

Read Bean ships an update weekly, and PikaWord every 2 weeks. Most recently, Read Bean was updated on October 27, 2026 and PikaWord on October 6, 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.*