Comparison

ToneLeaf vs 木语 Muyu Reader

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

Head to head
About

ToneLeaf

Read full description

ToneLeaf drills Mandarin tone recall. How it works: Sessions pull characters from HSK or TOCFL vocab. You see the character, tap the tone (1, 2, 3, 4, or neutral), get instant feedback. Each rep takes a couple of seconds. New characters show pronunciation hints and audio. As your recall gets stronger, the hints fade and you answer from memory. Miss one and the hints come back. Spaced repetition: Reviews are scheduled with FSRS-5 (an advanced spaced repetition algorithm), which surfaces each character around the point you'd otherwise forget it. Less time on the stuff you already know. Vocabulary: HSK 1–6 (simplified or traditional) or TOCFL 1–7 (traditional only). Works with pinyin or zhuyin. Home screen widget — see your due cards and streak, updates automatically as reviews come due ToneLeaf Pro (one-time purchase) - HD native speaker audio for every character - Recall Test: a cold, unscheduled test with no hints — just your memory against every character at once - Weakest Characters drill for the ones that trip you up - Tone Pair Drills for confusable pairs - Manual rating mode and Pro color schemes - Home screen widget — see your due cards and streak, updates automatically as reviews come due Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

木语 Muyu Reader

This app offers graded Chinese stories with natural Mandarin audio, vocabulary support, and translation tools. It helps learners of all levels build confidence by reading and listening to engaging content tailored to their HSK proficiency.

Highlights
  • Graded Chinese stories for HSK 1-6
  • Natural Mandarin audio
  • Tap-to-define vocabulary
  • Full-text pinyin and translations
  • Vocabulary review
  • Offline study
Read full description

Learn Chinese through stories that match your level. Muyu Reader combines graded reading, natural Mandarin audio, vocabulary support, and clear learning tools in one focused experience. Choose an HSK level, follow engaging stories chapter by chapter, and build confidence as you read and listen. Key features: • Graded Chinese stories for HSK 1–6 • Natural Mandarin audio for supported stories • Tap words to view pinyin and English definitions • Full-text pinyin and English translations • Vocabulary review with contextual examples • Reading progress and learning statistics • Downloaded content for convenient offline study Whether you are beginning Chinese or strengthening advanced reading skills, Muyu Reader helps you learn vocabulary in context and develop a more natural feel for the language. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

ToneLeaf4 screens
木语 Muyu Reader4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: 木语 Muyu Reader at none against ToneLeaf's 1. 木语 Muyu Reader also leads on update cadence (every 6 days vs monthly). On price, ads, 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. ToneLeaf sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. 木语 Muyu Reader asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

ToneLeaf ships an update monthly, 木语 Muyu Reader every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 7 level
ToneLeaf versus 木语 Muyu Reader: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterToneLeaf木语 Muyu Reader
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Number of ratings—1 — better
Update frequencyMonthlyEvery 6 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
Monetization—Free
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS17.616.4 — better
Further details — not scored
Size635 MB149 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperGregory Bell海慧 赵

In-app purchases

1 purchases

ToneLeaf

One-time1
  • ToneLeaf Pro$9.99
None

木语 Muyu Reader

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is ToneLeaf free?
ToneLeaf is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is 木语 Muyu Reader free?
木语 Muyu Reader is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do ToneLeaf or 木语 Muyu Reader have ads?
Neither ToneLeaf nor 木语 Muyu Reader shows ads.
Which is updated more often, ToneLeaf or 木语 Muyu Reader?
ToneLeaf ships an update monthly, and 木语 Muyu Reader every 6 days. Most recently, ToneLeaf was updated on October 24, 2026 and 木语 Muyu Reader on October 29, 2026.

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