# Unlock Hanzi vs BrightSteps

The clearest difference is ads: BrightSteps at none against Unlock Hanzi's shown. BrightSteps also leads on update cadence (every 3 days vs every 3 weeks) and iOS requirement (15.6 vs 17.0). On price, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Unlock Hanzi ships an update every 3 weeks, BrightSteps every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Unlock Hanzi | BrightSteps |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 3 days** |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Size | 6 MB | 18 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.6** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Jaebok Lee](https://appshunter.io/developer/6780121560) | [Vanithamani Rajkumar](https://appshunter.io/developer/6802080790) |

## What reviewers say

### Unlock Hanzi

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/unlock-hanzi/id6791061138)

This app transforms your phone's lock screen into a learning tool for Chinese characters. It displays one HSK word at a time until mastered, with an integrated handwriting practice feature. Learn at your own pace without pressure or tracking.

**Highlights:** Lock screen widget for continuous learning, HSK word list (5,000+ words), Self-paced learning, Handwriting practice canvas, Learned word history, Progress tracking by HSK level, Offline functionality

**In-app purchases:** none


### BrightSteps

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/brightsteps-maths/id6802080788)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Unlock Hanzi free?

Unlock Hanzi is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is BrightSteps free?

BrightSteps is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do Unlock Hanzi or BrightSteps have ads?

Unlock Hanzi shows ads; BrightSteps does not.

### Which is updated more often, Unlock Hanzi or BrightSteps?

Unlock Hanzi ships an update every 3 weeks, and BrightSteps every 3 days. Most recently, Unlock Hanzi was updated on October 24, 2026 and BrightSteps on October 15, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*