Comparison

Hanzi Time vs Hanzi Screen

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

Head to head
About

Hanzi Time

Learn Chinese vocabulary effortlessly by glancing at your phone's home screen. This app displays common words, their pronunciation, and meaning through customizable widgets, integrating learning into your daily routine without distractions.

Highlights
  • Home screen widgets for learning
  • 5,000 most common words/phrases
  • Native audio pronunciation
  • Customizable word display frequency
  • Distraction-free interface
  • Offline learning
Features
Read full description

Learn Chinese from your home screen. Hanzi Time turns idle glances at your phone into fluency. A clean widget shows one common Chinese word at a time — big character, pinyin, and meaning — spaced through the hours you choose, so you learn without opening an app. • 5,000 of the most common words and phrases, ordered by real-world frequency • Native audio pronunciation for every word • Choose how many words per day and your active hours • Minimal, distraction-free widget in standard and translucent glass styles • No accounts, no ads, no data collection — everything stays on your device HOW IT WORKS Add the widget to your home screen and pick your settings: how many new words a day, and the hours you're awake. Hanzi Time spaces the day's words evenly across that window, so a new word is waiting each time you glance at your phone — and nothing arrives while you're asleep. Words are ordered by how often they actually appear in real Chinese, so you learn the most useful vocabulary first. Tap any word in the app to hear it pronounced. HANZI TIME PRO Pro unlocks all 5,000 words, native audio for every one, and Focus mode — drill just the top 50, top 100, or any set of words you've saved. One purchase, yours forever. No subscription.

About

Hanzi Screen

Features
Read full description

Learn Mandarin naturally, one word at a time. Hanzi Screen helps you build Chinese vocabulary through iPhone Home Screen and Lock Screen widgets, interactive flashcards, example sentences, and speaking practice. Instead of opening a textbook every time you want to study, keep Mandarin vocabulary visible throughout your day. LEARN CHINESE WITH WIDGETS Turn your iPhone into a Mandarin learning companion. See Chinese characters, pinyin, meanings, and example sentences through customizable widgets. PRACTICE AT YOUR OWN PACE * Study vocabulary with interactive flashcards. * Learn pronunciation with pinyin and audio playback. * Understand words through Chinese example sentences and English translations. * Practice speaking Mandarin using your microphone. * Review vocabulary with quizzes and learning progress tools. * Explore stroke order to understand how Chinese characters are written. * Import your own vocabulary from photos. START LEARNING FOR FREE Explore HSK 1–3 vocabulary and 100 Everyday expressions for free. Build your learning routine without purchasing a subscription. GO FURTHER WITH HANZI PREMIUM Unlock 3,940 additional vocabulary lessons across five collections: * Everyday Premium — 500 expressions * Business Premium — 300 workplace terms * HSK 4 — 377 words * HSK 5 — 955 words * HSK 6 — 1,808 words Premium lessons include example sentences with pinyin and English meanings, with access to supported study modes and Premium vocabulary widgets. Choose Monthly, Yearly, or Lifetime Premium. Restore purchases whenever needed. MAKE MANDARIN PART OF YOUR EVERYDAY LIFE Whether you’re beginning Chinese, expanding your business vocabulary, or studying advanced words, Hanzi Screen makes it easier to keep learning in small moments. Download Hanzi Screen and start learning Mandarin for free. Website: https://hanziscreen.com Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Hanzi Time4 screens
Hanzi Screen4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is device support: Hanzi Screen at 3 against Hanzi Time's 1. Hanzi Screen also leads on iOS requirement (15.1 vs 17.0). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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. Hanzi Time sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Hanzi Screen sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Hanzi Time ships an update every 4 days, Hanzi Screen weekly. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Hanzi Time versus Hanzi Screen: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHanzi TimeHanzi Screen
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (2 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings2 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 4 days — betterWeekly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS17.015.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size44 MB45 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperYuxiao ZhangFelix Xavier Tanjaya

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Hanzi Time

One-time1
  • Hanzi Time Pro$7.99
3 purchases

Hanzi Screen

Subscriptions2
  • Hanzi Premium Monthly$0.991 Month
  • Hanzi Premium Yearly$7.991 Year
One-time1
  • Hanzi Premium Lifetime$14.99

Questions

Is Hanzi Time free?
Hanzi Time is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Hanzi Screen free?
Hanzi Screen is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Hanzi Time or Hanzi Screen have ads?
Neither Hanzi Time nor Hanzi Screen shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Hanzi Time or Hanzi Screen?
Hanzi Time ships an update every 4 days, and Hanzi Screen weekly. Most recently, Hanzi Time was updated on November 6, 2026 and Hanzi Screen on October 31, 2026.

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