Comparison

Bamboo Reader vs Polinu

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Bamboo Reader

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
Read full description

Master Chinese by reading what you love! Import any document, get instant translations, and master vocabulary with smart flashcards. Try it free! MULTIMODAL — READ ANYTHING, LEARN EVERYTHING Import your own documents, articles, stories, photos, or voice recordings! Our built-in offline dictionary with pinyin support means you'll never get stuck on unknown words. SMART SPACED REPETITION Remember new words effortlessly with our intelligent flashcard system. Focus on what you need to learn, skip what you already know. COMPLETELY OFFLINE & PRIVATE Your learning data stays on your device. Study anywhere - on planes, trains, or anywhere without internet. HSK 1-6 STRUCTURED LEARNING Whether you're just starting or preparing for advanced exams, we have curated content for every level. FEATURES: - Import PDFs, documents, and web articles - Tap any word for instant translation - Create custom flashcard decks - Track your progress across HSK levels - Offline dictionary with 50,000+ entries - Export your vocabulary lists Perfect for students, professionals, and anyone looking to improve Chinese reading comprehension. Download now and start reading Chinese your way.

About

Polinu

Master new languages by reading ePub books you love. Get instant word translations, detailed grammatical analysis, and build vocabulary with smart flashcards and spaced repetition. Track your progress with in-depth analytics.

Highlights
  • Read ePub books in multiple languages
  • Instant word translations and contextual meaning
  • Verb conjugations and noun declensions
  • Part-of-speech analysis
  • Personalized flashcard decks
  • Spaced-repetition algorithm
  • Memory strength tracking
Features
Read full description

Polinu - Immersive Language Learning Through Reading Master any language by reading books you love. Upload ePub files in multiple languages and transform reading into powerful vocabulary acquisition. RICH LINGUISTIC ANALYSIS: - Instant word translations with contextual meaning - Complete verb conjugations and noun declensions - Part-of-speech analysis and grammatical insights - Highlight words while reading for deeper understanding SMART VOCABULARY BUILDING: - Add highlighted words to personalized flashcard decks - Advanced spaced-repetition algorithm optimizes retention - Track memory strength distribution across your vocabulary - Study words in context, not isolation DETAILED ANALYTICS: - Memory strength visualization and progress tracking - Part-of-speech breakdown (verbs, nouns, adjectives, other) - Study time analytics and session insights - Total reading time and engagement metrics Perfect for language learners who want to expand vocabulary through authentic content rather than artificial exercises. By subscribing, you agree to our Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ and Privacy Policy: https://polinu.co/privacy

Screenshots

Bamboo Reader4 screens
Polinu4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: Bamboo Reader at 18.0 against Polinu's 26.0. On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Bamboo Reader sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month and Polinu sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Bamboo Reader against 5.0 for Polinu. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 1 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Bamboo Reader ships an update every 9 days, Polinu weekly. Both last shipped on October 30, 2026.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
Bamboo Reader versus Polinu: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBamboo ReaderPolinu
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings)
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings11
Update frequencyEvery 9 daysWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemiumFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS18.0 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size87 MB87 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperTifany PanAdam Gerber

Customer experience

Bamboo Reader

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Polinu

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Bamboo Reader

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly Premium7 Days trial$5.991 Month
  • Yearly Premium7 Days trial$34.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime Premium$89.99
2 purchases

Polinu

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly$6.991 Month
  • Yearly3 Days trial$49.991 Year

Questions

Is Bamboo Reader free?
Bamboo Reader is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Polinu free?
Polinu is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Bamboo Reader or Polinu?
Bamboo Reader and Polinu are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 1 and 1 ratings respectively.
Do Bamboo Reader or Polinu have ads?
Neither Bamboo Reader nor Polinu shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Bamboo Reader or Polinu?
Bamboo Reader ships an update every 9 days, and Polinu weekly. Most recently, Bamboo Reader was updated on October 30, 2026 and Polinu on October 30, 2026.

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