# Macalaoshi vs Bamlu

The clearest difference is rating: Macalaoshi at 5.0 against Bamlu's 4.5. Macalaoshi also leads on ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (14 vs 2). Bamlu's advantage is update cadence (every 2 days vs every 2 weeks). On price, review sentiment, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Macalaoshi sells 4 one-off in-app purchases and Bamlu sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Macalaoshi holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Macalaoshi has 14 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

Macalaoshi ships an update every 2 weeks, Bamlu every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 26, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Macalaoshi | Bamlu |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (14 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/macalaoshi-learn-chinese/id6756181647/reviews)** | [4.5 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bamlu/id6815228696/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **14** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | **Every 2 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 254 MB | 196 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 18.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [MANUEL SHI](https://appshunter.io/developer/1858911699) | [ALBERT STEEN FELDT](https://appshunter.io/developer/1864344212) |

## What reviewers say

### Macalaoshi

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/macalaoshi-learn-chinese/id6756181647)

Learn Mandarin Chinese through an interactive, story-driven flashcard experience. Build consistent learning habits with progress tracking and engaging challenges. Collect characters and level up as you progress through a captivating narrative.

**Highlights:** Story-driven learning mode, Progress and daily streak system, Over 1,300 Chinese characters, Purchasable premium content, Unlockable cosmetic skins, Available in English and Spanish

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Upgrade Super Support | $6.99 | one-time |
| Premium Access | $11.99 | one-time |
| Super Support | $18.99 | one-time |
| Ultra Support | $34.99 | one-time |


### Bamlu

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bamlu/id6815228696)

Learn Mandarin through short, engaging video clips. Tap any word to instantly see its pronunciation and meaning, then save it for later review. Track your progress and build a daily learning habit with personalized practice.

**Highlights:** Short Mandarin video clips, Tap-to-learn vocabulary, Saved word review, HSK-oriented placement, Daily habit tracking, Cross-device sync

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| BAMLU Pro Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| BAMLU Pro Annual | $29.99 | per year |
| BAMLU Pro Annual | $44.99 | per year |
| BAMLU Pro Annual | $59.99 | per year |
| BAMLU Pro Annual | $59.99 | per year |
| 30 minutes with your teacher | $4.99 | one-time |
| 60 minutes with your teacher | $9.99 | one-time |
| 120 minutes with your teacher | $14.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Macalaoshi free?

Macalaoshi is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Bamlu free?

Bamlu is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Macalaoshi or Bamlu?

Macalaoshi is rated higher. Macalaoshi averages 5.0 out of 5 from 14 ratings, while Bamlu averages 4.5 from 2 ratings.

### Do Macalaoshi or Bamlu have ads?

Bamlu shows ads; Macalaoshi does not.

### Which is updated more often, Macalaoshi or Bamlu?

Macalaoshi ships an update every 2 weeks, and Bamlu every 2 days. Most recently, Macalaoshi was updated on October 23, 2026 and Bamlu on October 26, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*