Comparison

Zishu vs Qademy

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

Qademy

Features
Read full description

Qademy – Study & Updates Your department’s information shouldn’t be scattered across multiple platforms. Qademy brings everything together — so you always know what’s happening in your class and study smarter at the same time. What is Qademy? Qademy is a student platform that combines class updates + smart study tools in one place. No more searching through endless group chats. No more missing important announcements. No more studying blindly. Everything you need — organized, accessible, and intelligent. Core Features Timetable Stay on track with your class schedule. View your daily timetable at a glance and never miss a lecture. Courses & Materials Access all your course materials in one place — documents, links, and resources organized by course and semester. Announcements Receive important updates from your class reps and admins without the noise of group chats. Events Keep track of tests, exams, and departmental activities with reminders so nothing catches you off guard. Inbox All your notifications and updates in one clean feed — no more digging through messages. AI Study Features (What makes Qademy different) Qademy doesn’t just store your materials — it helps you actually learn them. - Multiple Learning Modes Choose how you want to learn: Simple explanations (ELI5) Deep understanding (Feynman technique) Guided learning with step-by-step questions Interest-based explanations tailored to you - Active Recall & Practice Instead of just reading: Answer questions Test your understanding Get instant feedback - Smart Quizzes Generate quizzes directly from your materials and prepare effectively for exams. - Explain Anything Don’t understand a topic? Let AI break it down in a way that makes sense to you. - Personalized Learning Get recommendations based on what you struggle with and focus on what matters most.

Screenshots

Zishu4 screens
Qademy4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Qademy at every 5 days against Zishu's every 6 months. On price, ads, in-app purchases 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Zishu ships an update every 6 months, Qademy every 5 days. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
Zishu versus Qademy: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterZishuQademy
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (10 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews80.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings10 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 6 monthsEvery 5 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.0 — better15.1
Further details — not scored
Size69 MB78 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBen MorrisonEvexAI Inc

In-app purchases

None

Zishu

No in-app purchases

None

Qademy

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Zishu free?
Zishu is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Qademy free?
Qademy is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Zishu or Qademy have ads?
Neither Zishu nor Qademy shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Zishu or Qademy?
Zishu ships an update every 6 months, and Qademy every 5 days. Most recently, Zishu was updated on October 24, 2026 and Qademy on October 24, 2026.

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