Comparison

Prep Vocab vs 4Buddy

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

Head to head
About

Prep Vocab

Features
Read full description

Learn English and Chinese the way they should be learned — fast, smart, and built for real practice. Prep Vocab is your AI-powered companion to learn English and Mandarin Chinese, prep for exams like HSK, IELTS, TOEIC and TOEFL, and build a daily study habit that actually sticks. 1. SCAN ANY NOTE → AUTO FLASHCARDS Snap a photo of your textbook, notebook, or screen. Prep Vocab's OCR engine recognizes English words and Chinese Hanzi instantly and turns each one into a rich flashcard with pronunciation (IPA or pinyin), meaning, audio, and example sentences. No more retyping vocabulary by hand. 2. SPACED REPETITION Prep Vocab learns which words you forget and brings them back at the perfect moment — in either language, in one daily review. 3. INSTANT AI PRONUNCIATION SCORING & FEEDBACK Our AI breaks down every syllable — English stress and vowel sounds, Chinese tones. See exactly which sound you got wrong, why, and how to fix it. Real-time, syllable-level feedback. Build a daily habit you can keep. WHO IS THIS FOR • Learners preparing for HSK 1–9, IELTS, TOEIC, or TOEFL • Beginners building English or Chinese vocabulary from scratch • Intermediate learners breaking through plateaus • Bilingual learners studying both languages side by side • Self-studiers who want their AI tutor in their pocket • Anyone tired of static flashcards and gamified taps that don't translate to real language skill Start free. Learn every day with Prep Vocab. Pass your exams confidently. — Prep Vocab is a PrepEdu product.

About

4Buddy

Practice speaking new languages with AI and connect with other learners. Get pronunciation feedback and personalized lessons to build confidence in real-life conversations. Track your progress and reinforce vocabulary with spaced repetition.

Highlights
  • AI conversation practice
  • Pronunciation feedback
  • Connect with learners
  • Personalized learning paths
  • Spaced repetition vocabulary review
  • Progress tracking
Features
Read full description

4BUDDY: SPEAK TO LEARN A NEW LANGUAGE. PROGRESS WITH EVERY CONVERSATION. 4Buddy helps you not only learn a language but also use it confidently in real-life conversations. Practice conversations with AI anytime, connect with fellow learners at a similar level through voice calls or messages, receive pronunciation feedback, and review vocabulary with a structured learning path. Practice every day to improve your speaking reflexes and become more confident in communication. CHAT WITH YOUR AI BUDDY - Practice natural speaking and improve your reflexes in English, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, and more with an AI tutor. - Speak freely without fear of judgment, and feel comfortable making and correcting mistakes. - Get accurate pronunciation corrections and instant feedback so you know exactly what to improve. - Receive an assessment of your Listening Comprehension, Pronunciation, and Vocabulary after each conversation. PRACTICE WITH LEARNERS OF THE SAME LANGUAGE AND LEVEL - Connect with fellow learners around the world through calls or messages. - Stay connected and maintain a daily speaking practice habit. - Use built-in tools to quickly report, block, or skip users with just one tap. PERSONALIZED LEARNING PATHS FOR EVERY LEVEL - Lessons are designed by level and gradually progress according to your abilities. - Explore 500+ topics from A1 to C2, covering everything from everyday conversations to workplace situations. REMEMBER WHAT YOU LEARN WITH SPACED REPETITION - Save new words to your personal notebook as you learn. - Review vocabulary with a Spaced Repetition system optimized for long-term retention. - Reinforce what you have learned to remember and use vocabulary more easily in real-life conversations. TRACK YOUR LEARNING PROGRESS - Track your learning streak, number of sessions completed, and minutes you have practiced. - Monitor your progress in speaking, pronunciation, and vocabulary development. - Maintain your practice habit and stay on top of your language-learning journey. Download 4Buddy and start using a new language today! Subscription Information: Duration: 1 month, 3 months, or 12 months (auto-renewable). Price: $11.99/month, $23.99/3 months, $39.99/12 months — displayed in your local currency on the subscription page. Payment will be charged to your Apple ID. Subscriptions automatically renew unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Manage or cancel your subscription in your Apple ID settings. Terms of Use: https://4buddy.app/terms.html Privacy Policy: https://4buddy.app/privacy.html For feedback or inquiries, contact us at: 4englishtech.inc@gmail.com Your feedback shapes the future of 4Buddy.

Screenshots

Prep Vocab4 screens
4Buddy4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Prep Vocab at none against 4Buddy's 8. 4Buddy's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price, update cadence, device support 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. 4Buddy sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $11.99 per month. Prep Vocab asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Prep Vocab ships an update every 8 days, 4Buddy every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 18, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 7 level
Prep Vocab versus 4Buddy: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPrep Vocab4Buddy
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Number of ratings—1 — better
Update frequencyEvery 8 daysEvery 6 days — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
Monetization—Free with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.015.0
Further details — not scored
Size125 MB85 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperPREP TECHNOLOGY JOINT STOCK COMPANY4ENGLISH TECHNOLOGY CO.,LTD

In-app purchases

None

Prep Vocab

No in-app purchases

5 purchases

4Buddy

Subscriptions5
  • 1 Month2 variants$11.991 Month
  • 3 Months$23.993 Months
  • 3 months$23.993 Months
Show 2 more
  • 1 Year2 variants$31.991 Year
  • 1 Year2 variants$39.991 Year

Questions

Is Prep Vocab free?
Prep Vocab is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is 4Buddy free?
4Buddy is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Prep Vocab or 4Buddy have ads?
Prep Vocab shows ads; 4Buddy does not.
Which is updated more often, Prep Vocab or 4Buddy?
Prep Vocab ships an update every 8 days, and 4Buddy every 6 days. Most recently, Prep Vocab was updated on October 17, 2026 and 4Buddy on October 18, 2026.

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