# Read Bean vs Macalaoshi

The clearest difference is ratings volume: Read Bean at 393 against Macalaoshi's 14. Macalaoshi's advantage is review sentiment (100% vs 91%). 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 Macalaoshi sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. 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 Macalaoshi. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Read Bean has 393 ratings behind it against 14, 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 100% of Macalaoshi's.

Read Bean ships an update weekly, Macalaoshi every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Read Bean | Macalaoshi |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.9 (393 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/read-bean/id6736993989/reviews) | **[5.0 (14 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/macalaoshi-learn-chinese/id6756181647/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **393** | 14 |
| Positive reviews | 90.6% of reviews | **100.0% 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 | 254 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.1** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [Refond, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1774270517) | [MANUEL SHI](https://appshunter.io/developer/1858911699) |

## 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


### Macalaoshi

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/macalaoshi-learn-chinese/id6756181647)

Learn Mandarin Chinese through an interactive, story-driven flashcard experience. Build consistent learning habits with progress tracking and engaging challenges. Collect characters and level up as you progress through a captivating narrative.

**Highlights:** Story-driven learning mode, Progress and daily streak system, Over 1,300 Chinese characters, Purchasable premium content, Unlockable cosmetic skins, Available in English and Spanish

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Upgrade Super Support | $6.99 | one-time |
| Premium Access | $11.99 | one-time |
| Super Support | $18.99 | one-time |
| Ultra Support | $34.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Read Bean free?

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

### Is Macalaoshi free?

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

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

Macalaoshi is rated higher. Read Bean averages 4.9 out of 5 from 393 ratings, while Macalaoshi averages 5.0 from 14 ratings.

### Do Read Bean or Macalaoshi have ads?

Neither Read Bean nor Macalaoshi shows ads.

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

Read Bean ships an update weekly, and Macalaoshi every 2 weeks. Most recently, Read Bean was updated on October 21, 2026 and Macalaoshi on October 23, 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.*