Pinyin Reader vs Speak Chinese
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Pinyin Reader
This reading tool automatically adds pinyin annotations to Chinese characters on web pages and PDFs. It offers translation, text-to-speech playback, and pronunciation practice to enhance learning efficiency and pronunciation skills.
- Automatic pinyin annotations
- Integrated web and PDF reader
- Character definition and pronunciation lookup
- Sentence-by-sentence text-to-speech
- Pronunciation assessment and shadowing practice
- Vocabulary and sentence saving
- Ad-free reading experience
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Pinyin Reader - A smart reading tool designed for Chinese language learners. Browse any Chinese web page with automatic pinyin annotations on Chinese characters. Whether you're a beginner or an advanced learner, Pinyin Reader helps improve your reading efficiency and pronunciation skills. Key Features: SMART PINYIN ANNOTATIONS - Built-in browser that automatically adds pinyin to Chinese characters - Color-coded tonal pinyin and toneless display modes - One-tap toggle for pinyin display - Powered by a proprietary self-trained model for superior annotation accuracy HSK LEVEL FILTER - Choose your level, from HSK 1 to HSK 7-9 - Pinyin fades from the words you already know - Names, proper nouns and technical terms keep their pinyin - Works in Reader Mode, the PDF reader and the built-in browser - Applies instantly, covers 6,330 words, fully offline IMMERSIVE READER MODE - Ad-free, distraction-free reading experience - Adjustable font size, font style, and background themes - Tap any character to view definitions and hear standard pronunciation TRANSLATION - Translate page content into 108 target languages - Seamless translation integrated within Reader Mode PDF READER - Open local PDF files with automatic pinyin annotations - Translate PDF content into your target language - Tap characters for pronunciation and dictionary lookup - Outline navigation, text/pinyin search, and theme switching - Pinyin scales with the page as you pinch to zoom, sharp at any level - Never overlaps the text or clips tone marks LISTENING MODE - Sentence-by-sentence text-to-speech playback - Karaoke-style pinyin highlighting synced with audio playback - Adjustable speed (0.4x to 2.0x) for different proficiency levels - Current sentence highlighting for easy follow-along VOICE CUSTOMIZATION - Browse all Chinese speech synthesis voices available on your device - Preview each voice before selecting - Supports system voices and third-party TTS engines SHADOWING PRACTICE - Record your reading after listening to the reference audio - Intelligent scoring system for real-time pronunciation assessment - Continuous improvement of your Mandarin pronunciation COLLECTION & NOTES - Save vocabulary and favorite sentences for review - Add personal notes with color tags - Archive management organized by source page LEARNING GROWTH SYSTEM - Daily learning streak to build consistent habits - Customizable daily goals (5 to 60 minutes) - XP rewards for reading, listening, shadowing, reviewing, and collecting - 3 daily quests at starter, core, and challenge levels - 6 achievement milestones from first session to mastery - Share a redesigned card with streak, stats, vocabulary, and QR code - Optional daily reminders to keep your streak alive BOOKMARKS & HISTORY - Bookmark frequently visited pages - Automatic browsing history grouped by date - Search and batch management support MULTI-LANGUAGE SUPPORT - Interface available in 51 languages - Google and Bing search engine support PRIVACY FIRST - All data stored locally on your device - No registration or login required - No personal data collected Whether you're reading news, novels, or academic articles, Pinyin Reader is your perfect companion for learning Chinese. Download now and start your efficient Chinese reading journey! Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Speak Chinese
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Achieve real Chinese fluency - not just textbook knowledge. NowFluency for Chinese focuses on what matters most: understanding and speaking Mandarin naturally. We combine structured native-speaker content, on-device AI speech analysis, and live human voice practice to create the most complete Chinese learning experience on iOS. * STRUCTURED CONTENT LIBRARY * Learn Mandarin from authentic material organized by type: - Videos: real native Mandarin speaker content - Dialogs: authentic two-speaker conversations - Short Talks: monologue listening practice - News: stay informed while learning Chinese - Short Stories: narrative reading and listening All content is searchable and filterable by level (A1-C2 / HSK equivalent) and topic. * AI SHADOWING COACH (OFFLINE) * On-device Whisper AI - no internet needed for speech analysis. - Sentence-by-sentence shadowing: listen, record and get your score - Pronunciation score 0-100 with accuracy, fluency and completeness breakdown - Word-level feedback showing exactly which sounds to improve - Vocabulary pronunciation drill with instant AI scoring * TALK NOW - SPEAK WITH REAL PEOPLE * NowFluency's core feature: instant anonymous voice matching with Chinese learners worldwide. Real conversations, zero pressure - the fastest way to build fluency in Mandarin. * AI CONVERSATION PARTNER * Practice speaking Chinese anytime, on any topic, at your own pace. Our AI adjusts difficulty to your level and gives real-time feedback on your responses. * VOCABULARY HUB (SPACED REPETITION) * Save Chinese words directly from lessons. Our SRS system schedules reviews at exactly the right time - so nothing is ever forgotten. Practice with 4 modes: - Flashcard self-assessment (Forgot / Hard / Good / Easy) - Multiple-choice game (15-second timer, 3 lives) - Typing challenge (smart typo-tolerant scoring) - Pronunciation drill (record, AI scores your Mandarin accent) * COMPLETE LESSON TOOLKIT * Every piece of content unlocks: - Full transcript with tap-to-translate on any word - Shadowing practice: repeat sentences, get pronunciation scores - Role Play: speak as a character in the dialog - Dictation: listen and type what you hear - Comprehension Quiz: multiple choice reading comprehension - True/False Quiz: instant understanding check - Grammar and Knowledge: explanations in context * GAMIFICATION * - Daily XP goals and streak protection - Global leaderboard rankings - Multiplayer games: Vocabulary Duel, Sentence Scramble, Shadowing Duel - Achievements and study history tracking * COMMUNITY * - Ask questions, post updates, get native Chinese speaker feedback - Comment and react on community posts - Bookmark lessons and save discussions for later * YOUTUBE IMPORT * Turn any Chinese YouTube video into a structured lesson instantly. Get the full transcript, then practice with shadowing, dictation, quizzes, and vocabulary extraction. NOWFLUENCY PREMIUM: - Completely ad-free - Unlimited AI conversation sessions - Unlimited word lookups and translations - Unlimited saves and YouTube video imports Dark and Light mode included. AI speech model runs offline for fast, private analysis. Download NowFluency and start speaking Chinese today. Terms of Use (EULA): https://lingfast-server.tnpixel.com/legal/nowfluency/terms-of-service
Screenshots
Verdict
Pinyin Reader and Speak Chinese are too close to call on the numbers: across 6 compared parameters — price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases among them — neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.
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. Pinyin Reader sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and Speak Chinese sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Pinyin Reader ships an update every 2 weeks, Speak Chinese fortnightly. Both last shipped on October 31, 2026.
| Parameter | Pinyin Reader | Speak Chinese |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better | — |
| Number of ratings | 1 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks — better | Fortnightly |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Paid | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.5 — better | 16.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 135 MB | 77 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | 粤珠 袁 | Dinh Thang Tran |
In-app purchases
Pinyin Reader
- Pro Monthly$1.991 Month
- Pro Annual$12.991 Year
Speak Chinese
- NowFluency Premium Weekly$3.997 Days
- NowFluency Premium Monthly$8.991 Month
- NowFluency Premium Yearly$49.991 Year








