# Read Bean vs Shua

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Read Bean at 91% against Shua's 0%. Read Bean also leads on rating (4.9 vs 1.0) and ratings volume (395 vs 2). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Read Bean sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $14.99 per month and Shua sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 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 1.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Read Bean has 395 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 91% of Read Bean's written reviews are positive against 0% of Shua's.

Read Bean ships an update every 9 days, Shua weekly. The most recent releases landed on November 8, 2026 and November 6, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Read Bean | Shua |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (395 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/read-bean/id6736993989/reviews)** | [1.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shua-learn-chinese-fast/id6792777524/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **395** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | **90.6% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 9 days | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 130 MB | 72 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.1** | 16.4 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Refond, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1774270517) | [Matvei Loginov](https://appshunter.io/developer/6790766465) |

## 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


### Shua

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shua-learn-chinese-fast/id6792777524)

Learn Chinese through authentic short videos, from comedy skits to vlogs. Tap any word mid-scroll to see its pinyin, tone, and meaning in context. The app tracks tone and meaning separately for efficient review and builds your vocabulary bank automatically.

**Highlights:** Learn from real short videos, Tap to define words mid-scroll, Separate tone and meaning review, Automatic vocabulary bank, Spaced repetition system, HSK-leveled content, Customizable decks

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Shua Pro Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Shua Pro Annual | $49.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Read Bean free?

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

### Is Shua free?

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

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

Read Bean is rated higher. Read Bean averages 4.9 out of 5 from 395 ratings, while Shua averages 1.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do Read Bean or Shua have ads?

Neither Read Bean nor Shua shows ads.

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

Read Bean ships an update every 9 days, and Shua weekly. Most recently, Read Bean was updated on November 8, 2026 and Shua on November 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.*