Hanly vs HSK 1
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Hanly
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.
- Character etymology and mnemonics
- Interactive component exploration
- Structured learning progression
- Spaced repetition system
- Extensive character dictionary
- Stroke order animations
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Chinese characters are not just random shapes - learn 1000 characters in months by understanding their structure and origin! Through visual breakdowns and engaging stories, Hanly helps you develop an intuitive grasp of Chinese characters and to efficiently remember them. Hanly starts with simple components and quickly builds up to complex characters, while focusing on the most frequently used vocabulary. CARDS THAT MAKE CHARACTERS COME ALIVE Etymology, memorable illustrations, mnemonics: we will provide the most helpful information to get a character to come alive in your imagination and stick in your memory for good. INTUITIVE INTERACTIVE UI Play with characters like they’re Lego blocks! Explore radicals, components, compound words, and character relationships - all just one click away! CAREFULLY OPTIMIZED LEARNING PROGRESSION Start with simple building blocks and naturally progress to complex characters. Our carefully designed levels introduce the most frequent characters early while maintaining coherent, meaningful themes. EXTENSIVE CHARACTER DICTIONARY & SEARCH Search by character, pinyin or meaning to find: - Character meanings and pronunciations - Usage in compound words and characters - Frequency and HSK level - Radical forms - Stroke order animations - Character evolution history SPACED REPETITION ENGINE INTEGRATED WITH THE UI Built-in spaced repetition helps you review characters at the perfect time, with review schedule optimized for how well you know a given character. Character progress is deeply integrated with the UI, so that you can spot the characters you are learning on any page. AND MANY MORE FEATURES! - Detailed learning statistics - Character etymology stories & fun facts - Explore characters & radicals sorted by their frequency - Personal note-taking system - Easily mark characters you already know Terms of use: https://www.hanlyapp.com/terms-of-use Privacy policy: https://www.hanlyapp.com/privacy-policy Contact us: We’d love to hear from your feedback about Hanly! Please send us an email with your thoughts and suggestions at tutu@hanlyapp.com
HSK 1
This app helps Chinese language learners overcome continuity issues by connecting vocabulary, sentences, listening, typing, and recall into a structured progression. It aims to make learned material accessible long-term, reducing the feeling of starting over and improving independent language use.
- Structured progression system
- Connects vocabulary, sentences, listening, typing, recall
- HSK aligned word learning
- Integrated review flow
- Guided onboarding
- Supports independent study and tutors
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Not sure what to study next in Chinese? Many learners don't quit because they're incapable. They quit because consistency breaks down. A missed day becomes a missed week. A missed week becomes forgotten vocabulary. Forgotten vocabulary becomes relearning. Relearning becomes frustration. The HSK 1–6 Companion App was built to help learners continue progressing through Chinese without constantly feeling like they're starting over. This is a guided Chinese learning system designed to help learners stay oriented, maintain momentum, and continue progressing from beginner Chinese through HSK 6. --- BUILT FOR REAL CHINESE LEARNING Whether you're: • studying on your own • working with a tutor • preparing for an HSK exam • trying to stay consistent between lessons The goal remains the same: Continue building rather than repeatedly restarting. --- ALWAYS KNOW WHAT COMES NEXT Many learners don't struggle because they lack resources. They struggle because they lose direction. After a missed week, it becomes difficult to know: • what to review • what to learn next • whether progress is being made The HSK 1–6 Companion App provides a structured learning path with guidance, review, milestones, and progression designed to keep learners moving forward. Instead of constantly asking: "What should I do next?" The system helps provide the answer. --- A GUIDED LEARNING JOURNEY Instead of figuring out Chinese entirely on your own, the system helps guide you through each stage of development. • Learn new HSK-aligned vocabulary • Use it immediately inside structured sentences • Strengthen recall through review • Develop listening and typing skills • Build speaking confidence through HSKK preparation • Apply what you've learned through application-focused activities • Continue progressing toward higher HSK levels Each phase builds on the last, creating a clear path from beginner Chinese through advanced study. The goal isn't just to recognize words. The goal is to continue developing usable Chinese over time. --- GUIDED THROUGH THE JOURNEY The app includes: • Guided onboarding • Weekly study guidance • Personalized progress awareness • Review week support • HSKK speaking preparation • Application-focused learning phases • Milestone recognition throughout the journey Instead of wondering: "What should I do next?" The system helps guide you through the next step. --- BUILT AROUND HOW LEARNING ACTUALLY WORKS The app was designed around challenges many learners experience: • understanding during study, then freezing later • recognizing words but struggling to produce them • restarting after breaks and feeling lost • forgetting vocabulary between sessions • not knowing what to study next • feeling overwhelmed by disconnected resources The structure is designed to reduce unnecessary confusion while keeping progression clear and manageable. --- WORKS ALONGSIDE OTHER RESOURCES The app is not meant to replace: • tutors • classes • videos • conversations • immersion • textbooks Instead, it helps create continuity between them. What you learn becomes easier to retain, review, and apply later. --- CURRENT LEARNING SYSTEM • HSK 1 and HSK 2 free to try • Full guided progression through HSK 5 • HSK 6 currently in development • HSKK speaking support • 1,500+ structured example sentences • Integrated review system • Application-focused learning activities • Guided onboarding experience • Personalized study guidance • Milestone-based progression support --- Build Chinese competency through a structured, guided learning system designed to help you continue moving forward. Not just today. Through HSK 1. Through HSK 2. Through HSK 3. Through HSK 4. Through HSK 5. Through HSK 6. And beyond. *HSK 1-6 Companion is an independent educational study tool and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by any official HSK exam administrator or testing organization.*
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Hanly at 4.9 against HSK 1's 4.2. Hanly also leads on monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and ratings volume (357 vs 5). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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
Both are free to download. Hanly sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $5.99 per month and HSK 1 sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $19.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Hanly holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Hanly has 357 ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two.
Hanly ships an update every 2 weeks, HSK 1 every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 7, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Hanly | HSK 1 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.9 (357 ratings) — better | 4.2 (5 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 99.1% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 357 — better | 5 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | Every 9 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 15.1 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 241 MB | 35 MB |
| Age rating | 9+ | 12+ |
| Developer | Artur Gorokh | William Wang |
Customer experience
Hanly
HSK 1
Bugs and requests
Hanly
Reported bugs
1 issue- No known major bugs reported
Requested features
3 requests- Addition of writing practice for characters
- Inclusion of example sentences for each character
- Expansion of content to cover more advanced vocabulary
HSK 1
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Hanly
- Hanly Premium$5.991 Month
HSK 1
- HSK 2+ Premium$19.991 Month







