Zishu vs Phoenix Math School
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Zishu
Master Chinese handwriting stroke by stroke with an offline tutor. Features an ink brush simulation, intelligent stroke detection, and spaced repetition for daily review. Supports HSK levels and custom character sets.
- Ink brush simulation
- Intelligent stroke detection
- Spaced repetition review
- HSK 1-6 support
- Custom character sets
- Offline functionality
- Native Mandarin pronunciation
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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. INK BRUSH Strokes look and behave like ink: fuller when you slow down, thinner when you move fast, with a soft dry-brush edge on long, quick strokes. The original calligraphy brush, a classic line, and an invisible style are also available. STROKE DETECTION THAT UNDERSTANDS HANDWRITING Every stroke is checked as you write, including direction and every turn, so a 竖折 needs its turn. Connected strokes can be written in one motion, with three styles to grow into as you get faster: Light (a few natural joins), Everyday (了 in a single flow, 氵 and 讠 in one stroke) and Running script (looser, more cursive). Boxes like 口 can be written in one stroke however you write them: as an R, a Z or a loop. Or turn it off and write every stroke separately. TRUE HANDWRITING Prefer to write without feedback? Handwriting mode shows your own ink, and True Handwriting lets you write the whole character freely, then tap Check to see how you did. Both work in Learning, too. 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. MEANING RECALL Optionally hide meanings during review: see only the pinyin, write the character, then check whether you remembered what it means. Meanings you forget come back sooner, on their own schedule. 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, Simplified Chinese and Traditional 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.
Phoenix Math School
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Phoenix is the mobile portal for students and parents of Phoenix Math School in Tashkent. Accounts are issued by the school office. There is no sign-up, and the app is only useful to families who study here. FOR STUDENTS • Your next lesson: the topic, the day and the time • Your progress through the programme, topic by topic • Materials for every topic — notes, presentations and video • Book an extra session when you want more practice • Exam results as your teachers confirm them FOR PARENTS • Attendance, lesson by lesson • Payments and balance, so you know what is due and what is paid • Your child's progress and estimated graduation date • Switch between children if more than one studies here PRIVATE BY DESIGN • No advertising, no analytics, no tracking of any kind • Nothing is shared with anyone outside the school • Face ID or fingerprint to reopen the app quickly • One device at a time — signing in elsewhere ends the previous session LANGUAGES English, Uzbek and Russian. Questions about your account? Contact the school office.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Phoenix Math School at none against Zishu's 3. Phoenix Math School also leads on update cadence (every 4 weeks vs every 2 months). Zishu's advantage is device support (3 vs 1). On price, ads 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
Both are free to download. Zishu sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Phoenix Math School asks for nothing beyond the download.
Zishu ships an update every 2 months, Phoenix Math School every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 8, 2026 and November 6, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Zishu | Phoenix Math School |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.7 (11 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 85.7% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 11 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 4 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 16.4 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 67 MB | 61 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Ben Morrison | Khojiakbar Yusupalikhodjaev |
In-app purchases
Zishu
- Buy Me a Tea$1.99
- Buy Me Xiaolongbao$4.99
- Zishu Shifu$9.99
Phoenix Math School
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Zishu free?
Is Phoenix Math School free?
Do Zishu or Phoenix Math School have ads?
Which is updated more often, Zishu or Phoenix Math School?
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