# Bamlu vs Bao

The clearest difference is monetization model: Bamlu at free with in-app purchases against Bao's subscription. Bamlu also leads on rating (4.5 vs 4.0). Bao's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Bamlu sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month and Bao sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Bamlu holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 2 respectively.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and November 1, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Bamlu | Bao |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bamlu/id6815228696/reviews)** | [4.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bao-learn-chinese-fast/id6815863715/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 2 | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 2 days | Every 2 days |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Subscription |
| Size | 196 MB | 42 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **17.0** |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [ALBERT STEEN FELDT](https://appshunter.io/developer/1864344212) | [Corentin Martins](https://appshunter.io/developer/6792769618) |

## What reviewers say

### Bamlu

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bamlu/id6815228696)

Learn Mandarin through short, engaging video clips. Tap any word to instantly see its pronunciation and meaning, then save it for later review. Track your progress and build a daily learning habit with personalized practice.

**Highlights:** Short Mandarin video clips, Tap-to-learn vocabulary, Saved word review, HSK-oriented placement, Daily habit tracking, Cross-device sync

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

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| BAMLU Pro Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| BAMLU Pro Annual | $29.99 | per year |
| BAMLU Pro Annual | $44.99 | per year |
| BAMLU Pro Annual | $59.99 | per year |
| BAMLU Pro Annual | $59.99 | per year |
| 30 minutes with your teacher | $4.99 | one-time |
| 60 minutes with your teacher | $9.99 | one-time |
| 120 minutes with your teacher | $14.99 | one-time |


### Bao

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bao-learn-chinese-fast/id6815863715)

Learn Mandarin by scrolling through fun video clips, similar to social media feeds. Absorb real conversations and slang naturally. Practice speaking with an AI teacher and save new vocabulary for review.

**Highlights:** Learn through scrolling video clips, Instant tap-to-translate, AI speaking practice with feedback, Save and review vocabulary with flashcards, Natural language absorption

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Bao Pro - Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Bao Pro - Yearly | $49.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Bamlu free?

Bamlu is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Bao free?

Bao is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Bamlu or Bao?

Bamlu is rated higher. Bamlu averages 4.5 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while Bao averages 4.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do Bamlu or Bao have ads?

Bamlu shows ads; Bao does not.

### Which is updated more often, Bamlu or Bao?

Bamlu ships an update every 2 days, and Bao every 2 days. Most recently, Bamlu was updated on October 31, 2026 and Bao on November 1, 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.*