# Hanly vs Bamboo Reader

The clearest difference is monetization model: Hanly at free against Bamboo Reader's freemium. Hanly also leads on ratings volume (409 vs 1) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.0). On price, rating, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Hanly sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $5.99 per month and Bamboo Reader sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. 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 Hanly against 5.0 for Bamboo Reader. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Hanly has 409 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Hanly ships an update every 2 weeks, Bamboo Reader every 9 days. Both last shipped on October 30, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Hanly | Bamboo Reader |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.9 (409 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hanly/id6741442324/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bamboo-reader-read-chinese/id6746738856/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **409** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 99.1% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | **Every 9 days** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Freemium |
| Size | 241 MB | 87 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 18.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 9+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Artur Gorokh](https://appshunter.io/developer/1794204266) | [Tifany Pan](https://appshunter.io/developer/1816393725) |

## What reviewers say

### Hanly

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hanly/id6741442324)

Learn thousands of Chinese characters efficiently by understanding their structure and origin. This app uses visual breakdowns, engaging stories, and interactive elements to build an intuitive grasp of characters and aid memorization. It focuses on frequently used vocabulary and offers a structured learning progression.

**Highlights:** Character etymology and mnemonics, Interactive component exploration, Structured learning progression, Spaced repetition system, Extensive character dictionary, Stroke order animations

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Hanly Premium | $5.99 | per month |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Intuitive and efficient way to learn characters
- 🚀 Effective learning method that builds on prior knowledge
- 💡 Helpful mnemonics and stories to aid memorization
- 👍 Customizable learning pace and progress tracking
- 🚀 Comprehensive coverage of characters and components

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Some AI-generated illustrations could be improved
- 💡 Addition of writing practice and example sentences would be helpful

**Reported bugs**

- No known major bugs reported

**Requested features**

- Addition of writing practice for characters
- Inclusion of example sentences for each character
- Expansion of content to cover more advanced vocabulary


### Bamboo Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bamboo-reader-read-chinese/id6746738856)

Master Chinese by importing any document, article, or voice recording. Get instant translations, build vocabulary with smart flashcards, and study offline. Supports HSK levels 1-6 for structured learning.

**Highlights:** Import documents, articles, and web content, Instant word translation with pinyin, Smart spaced repetition flashcards, Offline dictionary with 50,000+ entries, Progress tracking for HSK levels, Customizable vocabulary decks

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Premium | $5.99 | per month |
| Yearly Premium | $34.99 | per year |
| Lifetime Premium | $89.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Hanly free?

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

### Is Bamboo Reader free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Hanly or Bamboo Reader?

Bamboo Reader is rated higher. Hanly averages 4.9 out of 5 from 409 ratings, while Bamboo Reader averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Hanly or Bamboo Reader have ads?

Neither Hanly nor Bamboo Reader shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Hanly or Bamboo Reader?

Hanly ships an update every 2 weeks, and Bamboo Reader every 9 days. Most recently, Hanly was updated on October 30, 2026 and Bamboo Reader on October 30, 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.*