Literate Chinese vs MasterClasss
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Literate Chinese
Master Chinese reading with graded stories and a spaced-repetition flashcard system. Learn new vocabulary in context, access native audio, and practice with interactive games. Supports both Mainland and Taiwan Mandarin, with options for Simplified or Traditional characters.
- Graded stories matched to vocabulary
- Spaced-repetition flashcard system
- Tap-to-translate words with audio
- Vocabulary arcade games
- Customizable learning for Taiwan/Mainland Mandarin
- Video lessons with synced subtitles
- AI word helper for usage and nuance
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Learn to read, hear, and actually use Chinese. Literate Chinese pairs a serious spaced-repetition flashcard system with 1,000+ graded stories, so every word you learn is reinforced by reading it in context. It works in both Mainland and Taiwan Mandarin, in Simplified or Traditional, from your very first character all the way to advanced reading. I grew up speaking Chinese without being able to read it and this app is me creating everything I ever dreamed of for learning to read Chinese effectively. READ FROM DAY ONE • Graded stories, dialogs, news, and articles matched to your personal vocabulary. The app knows which characters you know and shows you how much of each story you can already read • Tap any word for instant pinyin or zhuyin, a clear definition, and native-quality audio (in Mainland and Taiwan accents, male or female) • Read the news in easy Chinese, or paste or photograph your own Chinese text and read it the same way with custom stories • Preview a story's new words before you read, and let Up Next queue the next chapter of the series you're following • Video lessons with synced, tappable subtitles • A built-in grammar guide, with every grammar point linked to real stories that use it THE BEST CHINESE FLASHCARD APP • True spaced repetition (SRS) built on your personal vocabulary bank, not just card decks • Complete HSK 2.0 and HSK 3.0 lists, TOCFL lists, AP Chinese, and themed vocabulary • Capture new words from photos or audio and turn them into cards in seconds • Drill any list on demand, practice writing characters, and get example sentences with audio on every card • Share your custom word lists with a code or link, so a class or a friend can study the same words • An AI word helper explains usage and nuance, tells you whether a word is actually common, and gives you more example sentences REVIEW THAT FEELS LIKE PLAY • A vocabulary arcade built on the words you're actually learning - another feature I always thought would be so fun so I built it. • Speed rounds, listening sprints, sentence scrambles, falling-character battles, and write-from-memory challenges • Every round counts as real review, so playing moves your streak and your spaced repetition forward BUILT FOR TAIWAN LEARNERS TOO • Full Traditional character and zhuyin (bopomofo) support throughout the app • Taiwan Mandarin audio with authentic Taiwan pronunciations • Taiwan-specific vocabulary lists: everyday terms, slang, and words that differ from Mainland usage • Stories automatically adapt their vocabulary to Taiwan or Mainland Chinese based on your settings • AI tells you whether a word is actually used in Taiwan (and vice versa for Mainland China) EVERYTHING ELSE YOU'D EXPECT • Simplified and Traditional, pinyin and zhuyin, switch anytime • Detailed progress stats, streaks, and a reading level that grows with you • Home and lock screen widgets with your streak and a word of the day • Dark mode, offline review, no ads Start free with the core study tools and a generous set of stories. Upgrade to Premium when you're ready to unlock the full library. Whether you're on your first 50 characters or reading full stories, Literate Chinese is the graded reader and flashcard app that grows with you. Terms of use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
MasterClasss
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MasterClasss is an online learning platform designed to help you learn, discover, and enjoy educational video content anytime, anywhere. Explore a variety of learning content, watch engaging video lessons, and improve your knowledge at your own pace. FEATURES • Browse educational video content • Watch lessons anytime, anywhere • Discover new courses and learning materials • Enjoy a simple and user-friendly experience • Learn at your own pace • Access your learning content from your mobile device Whether you want to develop new skills, expand your knowledge, or simply discover something new, MasterClasss makes learning easy and convenient. Start learning with MasterClasss today.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: MasterClasss at none against Literate Chinese's 7. MasterClasss also leads on iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). On price, update cadence, ads and device support 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. Literate Chinese sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $8.99 per month. MasterClasss asks for nothing beyond the download.
Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on November 12, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Literate Chinese | MasterClasss |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (56 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 56 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | Fortnightly |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Freemium | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 15.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 152 MB | 26 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Ray Banks | LOY HOUNGNAKHONE |
Bugs and requests
Literate Chinese
Requested features
2 requests- Add audio for words
- Allow creating custom flashcard decks
MasterClasss
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Literate Chinese
- Literate Early User Monthly7 Days trial$8.991 Month
- Literate Monthly7 Days trial$12.991 Month
- Literate Early User Annual7 Days trial$69.991 Year
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- Literate Annual14 Days trial$99.991 Year
- Literate Premium Annual1 Year trial$99.991 Year
- Literate Lifetime$139.99
- Literate Lifetime$249.99
MasterClasss
No in-app purchases









