# Kimchi Reader vs Seonsaengnim

The clearest difference is monetization model: Seonsaengnim at free with in-app purchases against Kimchi Reader's subscription. Seonsaengnim also leads on update cadence (every 5 days vs every 2 weeks) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.6). On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Kimchi Reader sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Seonsaengnim sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $17.00 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Kimchi Reader ships an update every 2 weeks, Seonsaengnim every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Kimchi Reader | Seonsaengnim |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (12 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kimchi-reader/id6757434354/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **12** | — |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 2 MB | 221 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Kimchi Reader Sàrl](https://appshunter.io/developer/1866923207) | [XOXO Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/6776618817) |

## What reviewers say

### Kimchi Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kimchi-reader/id6757434354)

Learn Korean through immersion with real media like YouTube videos and e-books. Instantly look up word definitions, grammar, and Hanja meanings. Mine sentences for flashcards and sync with Anki for spaced repetition.

**Highlights:** Immerse with YouTube and e-books, Instant tap-to-define dictionary, Sentence mining for flashcards, Anki sync for spaced repetition, Smart content recommendations, Monolingual dictionary access

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Kimchi Reader 30 Days Access | $17.99 | one-time |


### Seonsaengnim

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/seonsaengnim-learn-korean/id6776618815)

Master Korean with a structured curriculum, interactive exercises, and personalized feedback. Expand vocabulary, improve pronunciation, and track your progress with a virtual teacher available anytime.

**Highlights:** Structured progressive lessons, Interactive exercises, Virtual teacher support, Vocabulary flashcards, Pronunciation practice, Progress tracking, Integrated dictionary

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium mensuel | $17.00 | per month |
| Premium annuel | $129.00 | per year |
| Premium à vie | $45.00 | one-time |
| Lifetime Full Price | $350.00 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Kimchi Reader free?

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

### Is Seonsaengnim free?

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

### Do Kimchi Reader or Seonsaengnim have ads?

Neither Kimchi Reader nor Seonsaengnim shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Kimchi Reader or Seonsaengnim?

Kimchi Reader ships an update every 2 weeks, and Seonsaengnim every 5 days. Most recently, Kimchi Reader was updated on October 24, 2026 and Seonsaengnim on October 25, 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.*