# Read Bean vs Pocket Hanzi

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.

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.

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | Read Bean | Pocket Hanzi |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (393 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/read-bean/id6736993989/reviews)** | [4.4 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pocket-hanzi/id6788527529/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **393** | 7 |
| Positive reviews | 90.6% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Weekly | **Every 4 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 113 MB | 49 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | 15.1 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Refond, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1774270517) | [Eric Jiang](https://appshunter.io/developer/6788527531) |

## 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


### Pocket Hanzi

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pocket-hanzi/id6788527529)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pocket Hanzi Monthly | $1.49 | per month |
| Pocket Hanzi 6 Months | $5.99 | per 6 months |


## Frequently asked 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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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*