Comparison

HanziMemo vs OptimalChinese

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

Head to head
About

HanziMemo

Features
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Whether you're just starting out or preparing for HSK 6, HanziMemo gives you everything you need to build a real, lasting Chinese vocabulary, at your own pace, with your own method. Complete HSK 1 to 6 Vocabulary All official HSK words from levels 1 to 6, ready to study from day one. Each word comes with pinyin, translation, example sentences and audio pronunciation. No setup needed, just start learning. Your Flashcards, Your Rules HanziMemo is built around optimized spaced repetition, a scientifically proven learning method that shows you each word at exactly the right moment, just before you forget it. Choose how many words you want to review per session and let the system adapt to your memory automatically. The smarter you study, the less time you waste. Build Your Own Review Lists Create custom decks with any words you want and benefit from the same optimized review schedule. Add vocabulary from your textbook, your teacher or anywhere else. Your personal lists follow the exact same logic as the HSK decks, fully tailored to your needs. A Complete HSK Dictionary Look up any HSK word instantly. Every entry includes pinyin, meaning, example sentences and audio pronunciation. Your personal reference, always at hand. 10 Mock Exams Per HSK Level Practice makes perfect. Each HSK level from 1 to 6 includes 10 full mock exams so you can test yourself under real conditions and track your progress before the official test. Beginner Courses New to Chinese? Start with structured beginner lessons that introduce characters, tones and essential vocabulary step by step. No prior knowledge required. Stories That Grow With You As you progress through HSK levels, new reading stories unlock automatically. Each story is built around the words you have already learned, so you can practice real comprehension without getting lost. Why HanziMemo? HanziMemo combines everything a serious Chinese learner needs in one place. Optimized spaced repetition for long-term memorization. Full HSK 1 to 6 vocabulary with audio. Custom decks that adapt to your goals. 60 mock exams across all HSK levels. Stories that unlock as you grow. A clean, distraction-free interface designed for daily study. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://www.hanzimemo.app/legal/confidentialite

About

OptimalChinese

Features
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Every sentence you study is built from the words you already know, plus exactly one new notion. That is the whole idea: nothing you read is above your level, so you understand it the first time โ€” and you remember it. EVERY SENTENCE IS ONE STEP UP When a new word or rule comes up, the example around it is assembled from vocabulary you have already learned. One unknown per sentence, never five. NEVER FORGET Every word and every rule is scheduled with FSRS-6, the modern spaced-repetition algorithm, and comes back at the last useful moment โ€” so a notion learned once is not learned three times. NEVER CONFUSE Look anything up and see how it is built: the characters a word is made of, the words it combines into, its measure words, and the siblings that are easy to mix up. Link two confusable entries and they are taught apart. FOR EACH ASPECT Reading, listening and writing are different skills, so each gets its own card and its own schedule. A word you can read but not hear keeps coming back in your ears until you can. CUSTOMIZE YOUR PATH Follow HSK 1โ€“5 lesson by lesson, or pick from hundreds of themes and learn the vocabulary of what you actually talk about. Tell the app where you are and it plans the rest. IMPORT WHAT YOU ALREADY HAVE Bring in an Anki deck or a Pleco export, or start from your HSK level in one screen. What you already know is merged with what the app teaches, instead of starting you from zero. YOUR CLASSES, IN THE APP Share a private space with your teacher. Anything either of you saves during a lesson โ€” a word, a phrase, a correction โ€” is waiting in your reviews afterwards. AN AI TUTOR THAT KNOWS YOUR LEVEL Ask why a sentence works the way it does, and get an answer written for the vocabulary you actually have. ALSO โ€ข Native audio on every word, sentence and example โ€ข Dictation using your iPhone's own speech recognition โ€ข A dictionary that searches on the device, instantly โ€ข Your own cards and phrases, alongside the built-in ones โ€ข Dark mode, haptics, and a layout made for one hand SUBSCRIPTION OptimalChinese Pro unlocks everything: $12.99 per month or $79.99 per year, after a 7-day free trial. Payment is charged to your Apple Account when the free trial ends, and the subscription renews automatically unless it is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Manage or cancel it in your Apple Account settings. Terms of Use: https://www.optimalchinese.com/terms Privacy Policy: https://www.optimalchinese.com/privacy

Screenshots

HanziMemo4 screens
OptimalChinese4 screens

Verdict

The call

HanziMemo and OptimalChinese are too close to call on the numbers: across 5 compared parameters โ€” price, ads, in-app purchases and device support among them โ€” neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.

Scored on Price ยท Rating ยท Positive reviews ยท Number of ratings ยท Update frequency ยท Ads ยท In-app purchases ยท Monetization ยท Best chart rank ยท Devices ยท Requires iOS

CostPrice ยท In-app purchases ยท Ads ยท Monetization

Both are free to download. HanziMemo sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month and OptimalChinese sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $12.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ScorecardNo meaningful differences
HanziMemo versus OptimalChinese: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHanziMemoOptimalChinese
PriceFreeFree
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.015.0
Further details โ€” not scored
Size5 MB12 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperAlice HitchonLucas Costagliola

In-app purchases

2 purchases

HanziMemo

Subscriptions2
  • HanziMemo Premium$5.991 Month
  • HanziMemo Premium$59.991 Year
2 purchases

OptimalChinese

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly7 Days trial$12.991 Month
  • Yearly7 Days trial$79.991 Year

Questions

Is HanziMemo free?
HanziMemo is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is OptimalChinese free?
OptimalChinese is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do HanziMemo or OptimalChinese have ads?
Neither HanziMemo nor OptimalChinese shows ads.

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