# Read Bean vs Bamlu

The clearest difference is ads: Read Bean at none against Bamlu's shown. Read Bean also leads on device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (15.1 vs 18.0). Bamlu's advantage is update cadence (every 2 days vs weekly). On price 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 Bamlu sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Read Bean ships an update weekly, Bamlu every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 20, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Read Bean | Bamlu |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (369 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/read-bean/id6736993989/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **369** | — |
| Positive reviews | 90.6% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Weekly | **Every 2 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 113 MB | 191 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.1** | 18.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Refond, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1774270517) | [ALBERT STEEN FELDT](https://appshunter.io/developer/1864344212) |

## 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


### Bamlu

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bamlu/id6815228696)

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| BAMLU Pro Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| BAMLU Pro Annual | $29.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Read Bean free?

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

### Is Bamlu free?

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

### Do Read Bean or Bamlu have ads?

Bamlu shows ads; Read Bean does not.

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

Read Bean ships an update weekly, and Bamlu every 2 days. Most recently, Read Bean was updated on October 13, 2026 and Bamlu on October 20, 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.*