Comparison

Ludus vs Daily Hanzi

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

Head to head
About

Ludus

This app helps you learn new languages faster by automatically creating study decks from pre-loaded dictionaries. It uses a smart spaced repetition system to schedule reviews right before you forget words, ensuring efficient learning and better long-term memory retention.

Highlights
  • Pre-loaded dictionaries
  • Automatic daily review decks
  • Spaced Repetition Scheduler (FSRS)
  • Word definitions and grammar info
  • AI Sentence Generator
  • AI Scan Tool
Features
Read full description

Learn Korean and French from the ground up. Start with grammar, then build vocabulary that sticks past a streak. Ludus teaches you how the language actually works: how Hangul letters build into syllables, how sentences fit together, and why the rules are what they are. Join 2,000+ learners mastering language, one lesson at a time. Stadiums We breaks lesson units down into stadiums, structured paths that take you from your first letters and sounds, step by step. Each stadium is a short run of lessons and activities that builds on the last, so you always know what you've learned and what comes next. Read Hangul New to Korean? Start with the alphabet. Lessons break down consonants and vowels and show how they combine into syllable blocks, and our Character Stroke game lets you practice writing each letter. With regular practice, you can start reading Hangul within two weeks! Understand the language Stop learning random vocabulary that doesn't appear in daily life. Lessons teach foundations and grammar concepts, so you know why something is right instead of guessing. You build real structure first, then add vocabulary on top. Discover 1M+ premade flashcards Search through our built-in dictionaries, read definitions, and save any word in one tap. Saved words join your daily review automatically, so you spend your time learning instead of making flashcards or remaking sets. Reviews are scheduled with FSRS, a spaced-repetition algorithm that adapts to how well you recall each word. Words surface right before you forget them. Games Play live multiplayer games in the classroom, or play solo Gravity and destroy vocab asteroids before they reach the bottom of your screen. There is a way to study for every kind of learner. Starter characters Select from our three starters: Marmunch, Lucifin, and Dribbit! Study vocabulary and go through stadiums to level them up with XP. Complete the fourth stadium lesson to unlock our newly added character Pandit. No ads. No AI tutor. Just lessons and real progress. Subscriptions Ludus Premium unlocks all stadium lessons, languages, and unlimited flashcards. Plans are $7.99 per month or $59.99 per year, and prices may vary by region. Subscriptions renew automatically unless canceled at least 24 hours before the current period ends. Manage or cancel anytime in your Apple ID settings. Terms of Use: https://ludusapp.com/terms Privacy Policy: https://ludusapp.com/privacy-policy Support: admin@ludusapp.com

About

Daily Hanzi

Learn Chinese characters, pronunciation, and meaning passively throughout your day by viewing them on your phone's lock screen. This app integrates learning into your existing habits, making it effortless and sustainable for busy individuals. It offers a pressure-free approach to building familiarity with Chinese.

Highlights
  • Lock screen Chinese character display
  • Passive learning integration
  • Pronunciation and meaning on lock screen
  • In-app flashcards (subscription)
  • Background learning
Features
Read full description

Learn Chinese from Your Lock Screen* REQUIRES A PAID SUBSCRIPTION You check your phone 100+ times a day. Daily Hanzi just gives those seconds something to do. Unlock your phone and there's a character waiting, with pinyin, the meaning, and a sentence showing how it's actually used. Join 190K+ Chinese learners on the #1 Chinese lock screen learning app. Pick from 18 categories like Everyday Conversation, Chengyu, Food & Drink, and Business so you're always learning things you'll actually use. Sentences match your level, and notifications keep it going without any pressure. *LOCK SCREEN WIDGET AND IN APP FLASHCARDS REQUIRE A SUBSCRIPTION TERMS: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Ludus4 screens
Daily Hanzi4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Ludus at 89% against Daily Hanzi's 17%. Ludus also leads on ads (none vs shown) and rating (4.9 vs 4.6). Daily Hanzi's advantage is ratings volume (1.6K vs 84). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and monetization model 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. Ludus sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per month and Daily Hanzi sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Ludus holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Daily Hanzi has 1.6K ratings behind it against 84, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 89% of Ludus's written reviews are positive against 17% of Daily Hanzi's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Ludus ships an update weekly, Daily Hanzi every 4 days. Both last shipped on October 25, 2026.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Ludus versus Daily Hanzi: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLudusDaily Hanzi
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (84 ratings) — better4.6 (1.6K ratings)
Positive reviews88.9% of reviews — better16.8% of reviews
Number of ratings841.6K — better
Update frequencyWeeklyEvery 4 days — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemiumFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPod — better
Requires iOS16.415.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size175 MB172 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperLudus-Language, Inc.ALEX XINWEI LIU

Customer experience

Ludus

All ratings51 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews18 reviews
Positive88.9%
Neutral0.0%
Negative11.1%

Daily Hanzi

All ratings1,526 ratings
Positive88.7%
Neutral5.4%
Negative5.9%
Written reviews125 reviews
Positive16.8%
Neutral8.0%
Negative75.2%

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Ludus

Subscriptions2
  • Academic Weapon$7.991 Month
  • Annual Subscription7 Days trial$59.991 Year
5 purchases

Daily Hanzi

Subscriptions5
  • Monthly Plan$4.991 Month
  • Yearly Plan (Special Offer)7 Days trial$19.991 Year
  • Yearly Plan3 Days trial$29.991 Year
Show 2 more
  • Yearly Plan7 Days trial2 variants$29.991 Year
  • Yearly Plan7 Days trial$39.991 Year

Questions

Is Ludus free?
Ludus is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Daily Hanzi free?
Daily Hanzi is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Ludus or Daily Hanzi?
Ludus is rated higher. Ludus averages 4.9 out of 5 from 84 ratings, while Daily Hanzi averages 4.6 from 1.6K ratings.
Do Ludus or Daily Hanzi have ads?
Daily Hanzi shows ads; Ludus does not.
Which is updated more often, Ludus or Daily Hanzi?
Ludus ships an update weekly, and Daily Hanzi every 4 days. Most recently, Ludus was updated on October 25, 2026 and Daily Hanzi on October 25, 2026.

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