Comparison

Read Bean vs Pocket Hanzi

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

Head to head
About

Read Bean

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
Read full description

Master Chinese Through Real-World Graded Content — Read Bean Go beyond basic apps and textbooks. Read Bean is the ultimate tool for Chinese learners from HSK 1 to 6 who want to read, listen, and think in real Chinese — at a professional, cultural, and conversational level. Whether you're preparing for business, professional exams, or personal fluency, Read Bean transforms authentic articles, stories, and conversations into dynamic, personalized graded readings with mini vocab drills made just for you. Built for all learners HSK 1 through 6 Forget "beginner content" stretched thin. Read Bean assesses your exact reading and listening levels and instantly tailors every lesson to challenge you without overwhelming you. Improve fluency across real-world topics — from culture to commerce — with lessons designed to mirror how Chinese is actually used. Practice the Skills That Matter Learn actively with sentence structure drills, fill-in-the-blank questions, smart listening challenges, and comprehension boosters. Every question type is crafted to sharpen your grammar, expand your vocabulary, and strengthen your ability to read, write, and think in Chinese — not just recognize words. New: Interactive Speaking Roleplays Go beyond passive learning with Read Bean Roleplays — dynamic, voice-driven conversations that simulate real-life scenarios in Chinese. Whether you're ordering food, negotiating at work, or chatting with a neighbor, our AI-powered roleplays help you practice speaking naturally and confidently. You’ll get feedback, cultural tips, and just the right level of challenge to improve your fluency in a fun, low-pressure way. On-Demand Translation, Pronunciation, and Grammar Support Tap any word to see its meaning, pronunciation, usage notes, and common collocations. Explore grammar patterns, sentence breakdowns, and alternative expressions with a single tap. Your growth stays fast and natural — without endless dictionary lookups. Your Personal AI Language Coach Need a deeper explanation, a cultural note, or a memory tip for a tough word? Just ask. Our built-in AI tutor gives you personalized help in real time — it’s like having a Chinese teacher in your pocket 24/7. Spaced Repetition That Works — Flashcards Reimagined Reinforce everything you learn with smart flashcards powered by proven spaced repetition methods. Read Bean automatically tracks your progress and schedules reviews, turning short-term learning into long-term mastery. Achieve Your Chinese Learning Goals With Read Bean, you'll do more than memorize — you'll think and operate in Chinese. Whether you're aiming to work abroad, connect more deeply with Chinese culture, ace professional certifications, or simply enjoy native content without subtitles, Read Bean gives you the edge. What Our Users Say "I have a 1500-day streak on Duolingo. If I had to choose between Read Bean and Duo today, I'd choose Read Bean." — Lawson K., After 30 Days "Dropped my 500+ day Duolingo streak to make Read Bean part of my New Year’s resolutions. Huge fan now." — Gary N., After 5 Days Subscription Details Full access to all lessons requires a subscription. Subscriptions renew automatically unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the period. Your Apple account will be charged within 24 hours prior to renewal. Manage your subscription anytime in your Apple Account Settings. Privacy Policy: https://readbean.app/privacy Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ CONTACT US: Questions or feedback? Email us at feedback@readbean.app

About

Pocket Hanzi

Learn Chinese characters effortlessly by glancing at your phone's lock screen. This app delivers new vocabulary with pronunciation, meaning, and examples, adapting to your level and interests. It features a smart review system and progress tracking to help you build comprehension.

Highlights
  • Learn from lock screen
  • Personalized vocabulary selection
  • Spaced repetition review system
  • Native audio pronunciation
  • Example sentences in context
  • Progress tracking and motivation
Features
Read full description

Pocket Hanzi turns the moments you already spend on your phone into real Chinese progress. Every time you check your lock screen, a new character is waiting — with pinyin, meaning, an example sentence, and native audio. Learn a few words a day, without ever sitting down to "study." WHY POCKET HANZI • Learn from your lock screen — A fresh character appears each time you glance at your phone. No cramming, no pressure — just steady, effortless exposure. • Words chosen for you — Tell us your level and interests, and we surface modern, everyday vocabulary that fits your life — not random textbook lists. • Remember what you learn — A simple, proven review system (Learn it · Familiar · Mastered) brings each word back right when you're about to forget it. • Hear every word — Clear native pronunciation for every character and example sentence. • See it in context — Real example sentences show how each word is actually used. • Stay motivated — Streaks, milestones, and a clean progress overview keep you going day to day. • Daily sentences — A short reading sentence each day to build real comprehension. HOW IT WORKS 1. Pick your level and the topics you care about. 2. Add the Pocket Hanzi widget to your lock screen. 3. Glance, learn, and tap to review — a few minutes a day is all it takes. WHO IT'S FOR Whether you're starting from zero, prepping for HSK, or reviving Chinese you once studied, Pocket Hanzi meets you where you are — from beginner essentials all the way through advanced vocabulary. Start learning Chinese one character at a time, right from your lock screen. — Pocket Hanzi is a subscription with a free trial. Payment is charged to your Apple ID, and it renews automatically unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the period. Manage or cancel anytime in your App Store settings. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://skitter-part-49d.notion.site/Privacy-Policy-for-Pocket-Hanzi-399d8ac71412807792a2f984eb7f21c9

Screenshots

Read Bean4 screens
Pocket Hanzi4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Read Bean at none against Pocket Hanzi's shown. Read Bean also leads on rating (4.9 vs 4.4) and ratings volume (393 vs 7). Pocket Hanzi's advantage is review sentiment (100% vs 91%). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and monetization model 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. Read Bean sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $14.99 per month and Pocket Hanzi sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.49 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Read Bean holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Read Bean has 393 ratings behind it against 7, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 91% of Read Bean's written reviews are positive against 100% of Pocket Hanzi's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Read Bean ships an update weekly, Pocket Hanzi every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Read Bean versus Pocket Hanzi: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRead BeanPocket Hanzi
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (393 ratings) — better4.4 (7 ratings)
Positive reviews90.6% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings393 — better7
Update frequencyWeeklyEvery 4 days — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS15.115.1
Further details — not scored
Size113 MB49 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperRefond, Inc.Eric Jiang

Customer experience

Read Bean

All ratings369 ratings
Positive97.0%
Neutral1.4%
Negative1.6%
Written reviews32 reviews
Positive90.6%
Neutral6.3%
Negative3.1%

Pocket Hanzi

All ratings7 ratings
Positive85.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative14.3%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

Read Bean

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Login screen freezes
  • Incompatibility with older devices

Requested features

2 requests
  • Full-screen mode for iPad
  • Ability to use reading assistance on any website

Pocket Hanzi

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

4 purchases

Read Bean

Subscriptions4
  • Monthly Premium3 Days trial$14.991 Month
  • 6 Month Premium$79.996 Months
  • Annual Premium3 Days trial$99.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • Annual Premium3 Days trial$119.991 Year
2 purchases

Pocket Hanzi

Subscriptions2
  • Pocket Hanzi Monthly7 Days trial$1.491 Month
  • Pocket Hanzi 6 Months7 Days trial$5.996 Months

Questions

Is Read Bean free?
Read Bean is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Pocket Hanzi free?
Pocket Hanzi is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Read Bean or Pocket Hanzi?
Read Bean is rated higher. Read Bean averages 4.9 out of 5 from 393 ratings, while Pocket Hanzi averages 4.4 from 7 ratings.
Do Read Bean or Pocket Hanzi have ads?
Pocket Hanzi shows ads; Read Bean does not.
Which is updated more often, Read Bean or Pocket Hanzi?
Read Bean ships an update weekly, and Pocket Hanzi every 4 days. Most recently, Read Bean was updated on October 21, 2026 and Pocket Hanzi on October 24, 2026.

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