Comparison

Zishu vs Lingull

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

Head to head
About

Zishu

Master Chinese characters with authentic stroke order and real-time validation. Progress through HSK levels with a smart learning system, practice modes, and pronunciation support. Track your progress and customize your learning experience.

Highlights
  • Authentic stroke order learning
  • Real-time writing validation
  • Smart three-stage learning system
  • HSK 1-6 character coverage
  • Guided and handwriting practice modes
  • Progress tracking and statistics
  • Offline functionality
Features
Read full description

Learn to write Chinese characters, stroke by stroke. Zishu is a personal Chinese handwriting tutor that works completely offline. Draw every character stroke by stroke on screen and get instant validation against authentic stroke order data, with a brush that feels like real ink. CALLIGRAPHY INK BRUSH A simulated brush whose width and angle follow the speed and direction of your hand, with a tapered entry and a pressed finish. Classic and invisible stroke styles are also available. STROKE DETECTION THAT UNDERSTANDS HANDWRITING Automatically detects whether each stroke is right as you write. Connected strokes can be written in one motion, like 了 in a single flow or the cover of 学. If you prefer, you can turn off automatic grading and judge your own writing for a true handwriting experience. DAILY REVIEW WITH SPACED REPETITION Every character you practice is scheduled on expanding intervals (1, 3, 7, 14, 30, 60 days). Miss one and it comes back sooner. A Daily Review card shows exactly what is due today, and practice automatically features the characters you struggle with. AUTOMATIC GRADING Each character is graded from your strokes. Confirm or override with a tap, or turn on auto-advance and just keep writing. EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO STUDY - HSK 1 to 6, radicals, and frequency sets - Custom sets from any text, organized in folders, plus review sets built from your mistakes - Radical meanings shown when you complete a character - Built-in dictionary with pinyin and definitions, and your own notes - Native Mandarin pronunciation - Streaks, goals with a daily pace, and detailed progress SIMPLIFIED OR TRADITIONAL Pick the characters you're learning when you first open the app, and switch anytime in Settings. Every set converts, and your progress is kept. MADE FOR IPHONE AND IPAD A comfortable, adjustable writing area on iPad. Interface in English and Chinese. 100% OFFLINE AND PRIVATE No account, no ads, no tracking. All your data stays on your device, with built-in backup export and import. Zishu is free and made by one student developer. If it helps you, there is a tip jar in the menu. Nothing is locked behind it.

About

Lingull

Features
Read full description

Enhance your language proficiency through engaging reading content matched to your current skill level. Instantly translate words and explore detailed explanations to deepen your understanding. Organize and save vocabulary into personalized lists based on your interests and topics. Strengthen your language skills efficiently with flashcards and quick quizzes, designed for effective vocabulary retention and improvement. Our intuitive and user-friendly interface makes advancing your language skills enjoyable and seamless.

Screenshots

Zishu4 screens
Lingull4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Zishu at none against Lingull's 1. Zishu also leads on ads (none vs shown). Lingull's advantage is update cadence (daily vs every 6 months). On price, device support and iOS requirement 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. Lingull sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $3.99 per month. Zishu asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Zishu ships an update every 6 months, Lingull daily. The most recent releases landed on October 1, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Zishu versus Lingull: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterZishuLingull
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (9 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews80.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings9 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 6 monthsDaily — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.0 — better15.1
Further details — not scored
Size69 MB46 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBen MorrisonDevhub IT Solutions GmbH

In-app purchases

None

Zishu

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Lingull

Subscriptions1
  • Monthly Subscription$3.991 Month

Questions

Is Zishu free?
Zishu is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Lingull free?
Lingull is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Zishu or Lingull have ads?
Lingull shows ads; Zishu does not.
Which is updated more often, Zishu or Lingull?
Zishu ships an update every 6 months, and Lingull daily. Most recently, Zishu was updated on October 1, 2026 and Lingull on October 7, 2026.

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