Comparison

HanziPop vs Learn Chinese

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

Head to head
About

HanziPop

Learn Chinese characters effortlessly through your phone's lock screen and home screen widgets. This app uses a spaced-repetition algorithm to schedule words based on your recall, offering a privacy-first approach with no tracking or ads.

Highlights
  • Lock screen and widget learning
  • Spaced-repetition algorithm (FSRS)
  • 10,000+ words (HSK 1-7)
  • 12 themed packs
  • Native-quality pronunciation
  • Privacy-first design (no tracking/ads)
Features
Read full description

HanziPop teaches you Chinese in the moments you're already looking at your phone — on your Lock Screen, in a Home Screen widget, and in a daily notification. No streak guilt, no 20-minute lesson required. — WHAT YOU SEE EVERY DAY — A single hanzi with pinyin and meaning, picked from your active queue. Tap to mark it known, hard, or skip to the next one. The next time you glance at your phone, a new word is waiting. — WHAT'S INSIDE — • 10,000+ words across HSK 1-7 • 1,000+ structured lessons • 12 themed packs (Food, Travel, Work, Family, and more) • Native-quality pronunciation (Apple TTS) • Example sentences with pinyin and English • Favorites, lesson history, and a progress ring — HOW IT LEARNS YOU — HanziPop uses FSRS, the modern open-source spaced-repetition algorithm that schedules each word based on how well YOU remember it. Words you find easy show up rarely. Words you stumble on come back sooner. — PRIVACY-FIRST — • No account, no sign-up • No tracking, no ads • Your progress syncs across your devices through your private iCloud — Apple holds the keys, not us. We never see your data. — FREE & PRO — Start free with daily new words from HSK 1-3 and 3 themed packs. HanziPop Pro unlocks the full HSK 1-7 library, all 12 themes, unlimited daily words, and advanced widget configurations. — BUILT FOR THE LOCK SCREEN ERA — Most Chinese apps want you inside the app. HanziPop is built around the truth that you'll learn more if Chinese is just there, every time you pick up your phone. Two seconds, a hundred times a day, adds up faster than one 20-minute session you keep skipping. Built by an indie team that uses HanziPop every single day. We answer email. Questions, ideas, complaints: vooxxoow@gmail.com Privacy: https://www.aivoxx.com/legal/privacy.html Terms: https://www.aivoxx.com/legal/terms.html

About

Learn Chinese

Features
Read full description

Improve your Chinese by reading stories you can actually understand. Choose your HSK level, listen to native audio as each word is highlighted, and tap any word for an instant translation, pinyin, and definition. HOW IT WORKS Every story comes with native audio that highlights each word as it's spoken, karaoke-style, so you can connect the sound, character, and meaning as you read. Tap any word for an instant translation, pinyin, and definition without leaving the story. WHAT YOU GET A growing library of stories organized by HSK level, from complete beginner (HSK 1) through advanced (HSK 6) Native audio narration with karaoke-style word highlighting Tap any word for its translation, pinyin, and definition Short comprehension quizzes after each story Reading streaks, characters read, and words mastered tracked automatically A First 1000 Characters course that builds your core vocabulary story by story A daily Word of the Day, with Home Screen and Lock Screen widgets Simplified and Traditional Chinese support Progress synced across your devices when you sign in MADE FOR REAL READERS Dumplingo isn't a flashcard app. It's built for people who want to actually read Chinese: news, novels, subtitles, menus, and everyday Chinese. Every story is written to be genuinely readable at its level, helping you build vocabulary and reading confidence without constantly stopping to look up words. DUMPLINGO PREMIUM The first episode of every story series is free. Dumplingo Premium unlocks the full story library across every HSK level with a monthly auto-renewing subscription. Payment is charged to your Apple ID account at confirmation of purchase. Subscriptions automatically renew unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Manage or cancel your subscription anytime in your Apple ID account settings. Terms of Use: https://dumplingo.net/assets/Legal/Termify-Terms-and-Conditions-QqPSWMCXKF.pdf Privacy Policy: https://dumplingo.net/assets/Legal/Termify-Privacy-Policy-QqPSWMCXKF%20(1).pdf

Screenshots

HanziPop4 screens
Learn Chinese4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Learn Chinese at every 5 days against HanziPop's every 3 months. On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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. HanziPop sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days and Learn Chinese sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

HanziPop ships an update every 3 months, Learn Chinese every 5 days. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

Scorecard1 real difference · 8 level
HanziPop versus Learn Chinese: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHanziPopLearn Chinese
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (2 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings2 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 5 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemium—
DevicesiPhoneiPhone
Requires iOS17.0 — better17.5
Further details — not scored
Size21 MB27 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developer晶 黄Nicholas Bannigan

In-app purchases

4 purchases

HanziPop

Subscriptions3
  • Weekly Pro$4.997 Days
  • Monthly Pro$9.991 Month
  • Annual Pro1 Month trial$29.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime Pro$49.99
2 purchases

Learn Chinese

Subscriptions2
  • Dumplingo Premium7 Days trial$4.991 Month
  • Dumplingo Premium Yearly7 Days trial$39.991 Year

Questions

Is HanziPop free?
HanziPop is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Learn Chinese free?
Learn Chinese is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do HanziPop or Learn Chinese have ads?
Neither HanziPop nor Learn Chinese shows ads.
Which is updated more often, HanziPop or Learn Chinese?
HanziPop ships an update every 3 months, and Learn Chinese every 5 days. Most recently, HanziPop was updated on October 24, 2026 and Learn Chinese on October 24, 2026.

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