Comparison

拓词 vs List背单词

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

Head to head
About

拓词

This app helps children truly master English vocabulary by addressing spelling, listening, and speaking. It uses a unique 'deliberate learning + natural acquisition' model, supported by linguistics and brain science, to build a strong foundation for language proficiency.

Highlights
  • Deliberate learning + natural acquisition model
  • Scientifically graded vocabulary system for students
  • Phonics training for listening, speaking, and spelling
  • Sentence training for context and comprehension
  • Definition training for advanced English thinking
  • Extensive vocabulary library (textbooks, exams, custom)
  • One-on-one teacher guidance
Features
Read full description

Towords — Help Your Child Truly Remember Words Towords solves the real challenges of word learning — spelling, listening, speaking — so kids build a rock-solid command of English vocabulary. Founded in 2010, Towords is China's original vocabulary app and an official App Store recommendation. Grounded in linguistics, psychology, and brain science, we pioneered the "Deliberate Acquisition Model" — deliberate practice plus natural immersion. Our graded K-12 word system lets kids progress well beyond textbooks, at their own pace. A rich reward system — scholarships, badges, study buddies, snail shells — keeps kids motivated and eager to learn. No nagging. Every child also gets a dedicated teacher for one-on-one guidance, focused on one goal: making words stick. Our promise: if it doesn't work, cancel anytime for a full refund. Words Aren't Meant to Be Rote-Memorized English is a living language, not a static subject. Fluency comes from a continuous loop of input, reflection, and output — until understanding and expression click. Rote memorization is the hard path few finish. Deliberate acquisition is the smooth highway: sound method plus consistent effort. Graded Word System for K-12 Just 15 minutes a day adds up remarkably. Start in Grade 3, stay consistent, and by high school your child will have a 10,000+ word vocabulary — well beyond Chinese exam requirements, on par with TOEFL 90+ or IELTS 6.5. Level 1 — Starting Out: Current semester textbook words. Phonics + examples. 0–100 words. Level 2 — Taking the Lead: K-12 national curriculum (A1). Phonics + examples. 100–1,500 words. Level 3 — Switching Lanes: Core KET vocabulary (A2). Phonics + examples. 1,500–2,000 words. Level 4 — Leap Forward: Core PET vocabulary (B1). Phonics phases out; training shifts to definition-based learning — start thinking in English, enter the native-like "learning English through English" state. Level 5 and beyond… Explore the full curriculum in the app. Phonics Training Core training in Levels 1–3. Through listen → repeat → spell → verify, kids build phonics skills that unlock reading and spelling independently. Once phonics clicks, they can spell a new word from hearing it, or read it aloud from seeing it. Example Sentence Training Supporting training in Levels 1–3. Sentences give words real context. Kids deepen their understanding while building listening and speaking foundations — with direct gains on reading and comprehension exams. Definition-Based Training Starting at Level 4 (PET), this becomes the core. Kids read and listen to English definitions, internalize meaning, recall the word, then spell it out. It's our most powerful training — a pivotal leap into native-like English thinking. …More inside the app. Massive Word Library Textbook words: Virtually every elementary, middle, high, and international school textbook. Exam words: Starters, Cambridge Main Suite, TOEFL Junior, Linguaskill, TOEFL, IELTS — virtually every major exam. Custom word lists: Build your own books tailored to your child's needs. Trusted, Authorized Content Every definition and example comes from the officially licensed Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner's Dictionary — professionally sourced and reliable. Get in Touch WeChat: tuoci888 WeChat Official Account: 拓词 APP 官方公众号 Email: public@towords.com Auto-renewal: https://api.towords.com/towords/active/month_service

About

List背单词

This app helps you learn vocabulary efficiently using the Ebbinghaus forgetting curve. It offers built-in and custom word lists, personalized study plans, and various learning modes like spelling and dictation. It also supports PDF export and iCloud synchronization.

Highlights
  • Ebbinghaus memory curve planning
  • Built-in and custom word lists
  • PDF export
  • Spelling and dictation modes
  • iCloud synchronization
  • Offline use
Read full description

List背单词,一款可离线使用,艾宾浩斯规划,支持PDF导出,简洁高效的背单词软件。 功能特性: * 「内置词库」:包含四六级、考研、出国、大学、高中、初中、小学等各个阶段的词库,还有新概念英语、BEC、COCA、剑桥、朗文、牛津等其他词库。 * 「学习计划表」:根据艾宾浩斯记忆规律曲线,持续记忆和不断复习; * 「自定义词库」:支持外部文件导入; * 「生词本」:汇总重难词,集中强化记忆; * 「熟词表」:移除熟词,词库越学越小; * 「双语/单语」:快速切换双语/单语模式,方便自测自查; * 「iPad分屏」:利用分屏功能,边听边写; * 「词典查询」:内置英汉/英英词典和在线词典,支持“用户自行添加在线词典”; * 「英式/美式」:支持英式/美式发音+音标; * 「iCloud同步」:iPad/iPhone记录同步,学习进度不丢失; * 「拼词模式」:从五个卡片中点选正确的字母,拼成完整的单词,同时还支持键盘输入。iPad上,还支持Pencil手写输入; * 「听写模式」:可重复可间隔可循环可自动,英汉双语音频播放; * 「英英模式」:通过英语释义、同义词和例句,加强记忆,扩展词汇量; * 「滚动模式」:列表样式,自动循环滚动播放; * 「定时关闭」:听写模式和拼词模式,支持多次循环后关闭,或固定时长后关闭; * 「音频混合」:支持其他音频app混音,边听歌边记单词; * 「批量导出」:支持批量导出词汇到「List生词本」App; * 「桌面小组件」:iOS 14及其以上系统,支持快速查看学习进度和打卡情况; * 「文字大小」:支持跟随系统文字大小变化; * 「PDF导出」:支持内置词库、自定义词库和生词本的PDF文件导出。 背单词,是英语学习之路上必要的过程,词汇量不够,直接影响到英语的使用,单词记不住,是必须打败的拦路虎。人的遗忘速度随时间的流逝而先快后慢,在记忆的最初阶段遗忘的速度很快,后来就逐渐减慢了,到了相当长的时候后,几乎就不再遗忘,因此及时复习对于记忆单词是非常重要的,这就是艾宾浩斯记忆法的原理。 List背单词,根据艾宾浩斯的记忆规律来使用,第一个Day记忆单词,后续的复习间隔周期为:`1`个Day,`2`个Days,`4`个Days,`7`个Days和`15`个Days,假设把单词词库平均分为`15`个list,在`30`个Days的时间里持续记忆和不断复习,由此制作了一份学习计划表。 * 乱序版本:词库随机打乱分配到每个List * 正序版本:词库按A-Z的顺序分配到每个List * 原序版本:词库按数据源本身的排列顺序分配到每个List --- 学习计划表设置 --- 通过调整List总数,把单词词库进行平分,得到平均词汇量和总天数,选择乱序或正序(原序)版本,由此得到一份学习计划表。 --- 自定义词汇 --- 支持两种导入方式:从生词本导入和从外部文件导入 --- 英语口音支持 --- 美国,英国,澳大利亚,爱尔兰,南非,在线美式发音,在线英式发音,离线真人语音 --- 背单词方式 --- 初始的排列,按字母升序排序,随机打乱排序,不会的词排在前面。 其中,关于初始的排列,在以下三种版本中的解释: 1.正序版:没有“初始的排列”,默认就是按字母升序排列; 2.乱序版:“初始的排列”,是指保持一个初始的打乱排列; 3.原序版:「自定义词汇」的词库专有,“初始的排列”,是指保持数据源本身的顺序。 --- 单词显示设置 --- 双语显示,只显示英文,只显示中文 1. 只显示中文时,向左滑动单词行,可以看到英文单词; 2. 只显示英文时,向左滑动单词行,可以看到中文释义。 --- 单词行点击设置 --- 1. 默认设置,点击单词行,有发音,蓝色标记颜色加深,‘不会程度’增加一; 2. 点击单词行的左半部分,只有发音,右半部分,保留默认设置; 3. 点击单词行的右半部分,只有发音,左半部分,保留默认设置; 4. 点击单词行,只有发音,蓝色标记颜色不加深,‘不会程度’不增加一。 --- 音标显示设置 --- 隐藏音标,英式音标,美式音标 --- 生词本 --- 1. 单词列表里,向右滑动单词行,点击星星按钮,收藏单词到生词本; 2. 手动修改单词; 3. 手动添加新单词; 4. 多种排序方式:从新到旧,从旧到新,从A到Z,从Z到A,随机乱序。 备注:生词本里修改中文释义,词库里的释义会跟着改变;从生词本删除单词,词库里的释义会恢复成原来的 --- 熟词表 --- 1. 词列表里,向左滑动单词行,点击红色叉号按钮,添加到熟词表; 2.长按底部当前List,可以进入熟词表,进行恢复。 --- iCloud同步 --- 支持iCloud同步学习进度、生词本和自定义词汇 --- 显示模式 --- 白天,夜间,纯黑,纸张白,纸张黑,支持跟随系统,在线词典支持深色外观 --- 词典设置 --- 1.长按单词行,复制单词到剪切板,默认不开启; 2.长按单词行,使用词典查询更多释义和例子,包括查询关闭、内置词典和多种在线词典; 3.在线词典,支持调整顺序。 --- 拼词模式 --- 1.从五个卡片中点选正确的字母,拼成完整的单词; 2.随机打乱; 3.快速定位; 4.支持键盘输入; 5.在iPad上,支持Pencil手写输入。 --- 听写模式 --- 1.调整播放单词重复次数; 2.调整单词间隔时间; 3.设置是否自动播放下一个; 4.内容显示设置; 5.支持后台播放音频; 6.支持播放中文释义; 7.随机播放; 8.快速定位。 --- 英英模式 --- 通过英语释义、同义词和例句,加强记忆,扩展词汇量 --- 滚动模式 --- 1.列表样式,自动循环滚动播放; 2.更方便的生词本编辑、不会程度标记和词典查询等操作。 --- 批量导出 --- 1.支持把当前List的词汇批量导出到「List生词本」App; 2.支持把生词本的词汇批量导出到「List生词本」App。 --- PDF导出 --- 1. 主页面点击右上角 - 学习计划页面 - PDF; 2. 支持导出单个List的PDF文件:主页面,长按底部List,会出现当前List的「导出PDF」入口; 3. 生词本点击右上角的PDF。 --- 其他 --- 若对使用产生任何疑问,请联系shawn736_ios@163.com App icons by icons8,词库的背景图片来自Unsplash The Preview background photo by Joey Kyber on Unsplash Our preview images were created using 'Previewed' at previewed.app 具体信息请参考网址https://github.com/shawn736ios/Technical-support

Screenshots

拓词4 screens
List背单词4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: 拓词 at Free against List背单词's $0.99. 拓词 also leads on ratings volume (484 vs 142) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). List背单词's advantage is review sentiment (86% vs 53%) and update cadence (every 5 days vs every 11 days). On rating, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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

拓词 is free to download; List背单词 costs $0.99 up front. 拓词 sells 18 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and List背单词 sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for 拓词 against 4.7 for List背单词. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 484 and 142 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 53% of 拓词's written reviews are positive against 86% of List背单词's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

拓词 ships an update every 11 days, List背单词 every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 27, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
拓词 versus List背单词: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
Parameter拓词List背单词
PriceFree — better$0.99
Rating4.6 (484 ratings)4.7 (142 ratings) — better
Positive reviews53.5% of reviews86.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings484 — better142
Update frequencyEvery 11 daysEvery 5 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size317 MB283 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBeijing Towords Intelligence Technology Co., Ltd.文华 肖

Customer experience

拓词

All ratings484 ratings
Positive91.5%
Neutral1.2%
Negative7.2%
Written reviews159 reviews
Positive53.5%
Neutral5.0%
Negative41.5%

List背单词

All ratings142 ratings
Positive91.5%
Neutral2.1%
Negative6.3%
Written reviews50 reviews
Positive86.0%
Neutral2.0%
Negative12.0%

Bugs and requests

拓词

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Frequent app crashes
  • Unreliable sync between devices
  • Inaccurate word pronunciations
  • Inconsistent user data handling

Requested features

4 requests
  • Customizable learning modes
  • Offline access to content
  • Improved progress tracking
  • Better integration with other apps

List背单词

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

18 purchases

拓词

Subscriptions11
  • 连续包月跟读打分1 Month trial$2.991 Month
  • 连续包月考研真题例句1 Month trial$2.991 Month
  • 连续包月小学趣味例句1 Month trial$2.991 Month
Show 8 more
  • 连续包月基础会员$3.991 Month
  • 连续包季考研真题例句$9.493 Months
  • 连续包季小学趣味例句$9.493 Months
  • 连续包半年考研真题例句$11.996 Months
  • 连续包半年小学趣味例句$11.996 Months
  • 连续包月高级会员$13.991 Month
  • 连续包年考研真题例句$14.991 Year
  • 连续包年小学趣味例句$14.991 Year
One-time7
  • 1个月PLUS会员$4.99
  • 3个月PLUS会员$12.99
  • 6个月PLUS会员$20.99
Show 4 more
  • 1个月拓词会员$24.99
  • 1年PLUS会员$35.99
  • 3个月PLUS大会员$41.99
  • 1年拓词会员$249.99
1 purchases

List背单词

One-time1
  • PDF导出功能$3.99

Questions

Is 拓词 free?
拓词 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is List背单词 free?
List背单词 costs $0.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, 拓词 or List背单词?
List背单词 is rated higher. 拓词 averages 4.6 out of 5 from 484 ratings, while List背单词 averages 4.7 from 142 ratings.
Do 拓词 or List背单词 have ads?
Neither 拓词 nor List背单词 shows ads.
Which is updated more often, 拓词 or List背单词?
拓词 ships an update every 11 days, and List背单词 every 5 days. Most recently, 拓词 was updated on October 24, 2026 and List背单词 on October 27, 2026.

Other comparisons