# 西窗烛 vs ModernChineseDictionary

The clearest difference is rating: 西窗烛 at 4.9 against ModernChineseDictionary's 3.9. 西窗烛 also leads on update cadence (every 5 days vs every 6 weeks) and ratings volume (2.4K vs 64). ModernChineseDictionary's advantage is iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. 西窗烛 sells 12 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month and ModernChineseDictionary sells 14 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

西窗烛 holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: 西窗烛 has 2.4K ratings behind it against 64, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 75% of 西窗烛's written reviews are positive against 62% of ModernChineseDictionary's.

西窗烛 ships an update every 5 days, ModernChineseDictionary every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | 西窗烛 | ModernChineseDictionary |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (2.4K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/id912139104/reviews)** | [3.9 (64 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/modernchinesedictionary/id1330896529/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **2.4K** | 64 |
| Positive reviews | **74.8% of reviews** | 61.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 days** | Every 6 weeks |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 275 MB | 180 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **12.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Beijing xichuang culture media co., Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/912139107) | [Wanyouzhidian Digital Media Technology(Beijing) Co., Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1570087117) |

## What reviewers say

### 西窗烛

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/id912139104)

Explore the beauty of Chinese poetry and classical culture with a vast library of poems, lyrics, and ancient texts. Engage with AI-powered literary figures, practice calligraphy, and join a vibrant community of enthusiasts. Discover new ways to learn and create with this comprehensive cultural app.

**Highlights:** Vast poetry and lyric library, AI literary figure interaction, Calligraphy practice mode, Poetry games and challenges, Audio recitations, Creative community features, Extensive dictionary search

**Features:** Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support, iPhone Duo support

**In-app purchases (12)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 西窗会员 1 个月 | $0.99 | per month |
| 西窗高级会员 1 个月 | $2.99 | per month |
| 高级会员连续包月 | $2.99 | per month |
| 西窗会员 12 个月 | $12.99 | per year |
| 西窗高级会员 1 年 | $29.99 | per year |
| 高级会员连续包年 | $29.99 | per year |
| 6 个西窗币 | $0.99 | one-time |
| 18 个西窗币 | $2.99 | one-time |
| 28 个西窗币 | $3.99 | one-time |
| 68 个西窗币 | $9.99 | one-time |
| 128 个西窗币 | $19.99 | one-time |
| 218 个西窗币 | $29.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Elegant and clean design
- 🚀 Smooth and responsive user experience
- 💡 Useful features for poetry enthusiasts
- 🎨 Aesthetically pleasing interface
- 📚 Extensive collection of classic poems

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes and stability issues
- 💰 Paywall for some features
- 🔒 Concerns about censorship and content restrictions
- 🌐 Difficulties with international user registration
- 🔍 Lack of search and discovery features

**Reported bugs**

- Inconsistent behavior when switching between simplified and traditional Chinese
- Reported issues with app crashing or freezing
- Difficulties with user registration and account management

**Requested features**

- Add more advanced search and filtering options
- Implement a user-friendly way to manage collections and favorites
- Introduce a dark mode or customizable themes
- Provide audio playback and narration for poems
- Improve social sharing and community features


### ModernChineseDictionary

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/modernchinesedictionary/id1330896529)

This official dictionary app provides comprehensive Mandarin Chinese vocabulary, pronunciation, and character standards. It features expert editorial content, authentic audio, animated stroke guides, and smart search tools for learners and enthusiasts.

**Highlights:** 70,000+ verified entries, 8 specialized dictionaries, Authentic pronunciation audio, Animated stroke-order guides, Voice, camera, radical, Pinyin search, Daily vocabulary lessons, Cloud sync for word lists

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

**In-app purchases (14)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 涵芬VIP会员连续包月 | $2.99 | per month |
| 18币 | $2.99 | one-time |
| 涵芬 (1个月VIP) | $2.99 | one-time |
| 40币 | $5.99 | one-time |
| 涵芬 (6个月VIP) | $9.99 | one-time |
| 78币 | $9.99 | one-time |
| 优惠购_78 | $9.99 | one-time |
| 88币 | $12.99 | one-time |
| 优惠购_88 | $12.99 | one-time |
| 现代汉语词典+涵芬联合会员优惠购_96 | $12.99 | one-time |
| 98币 | $14.99 | one-time |
| 涵芬 (1年VIP) | $14.99 | one-time |
| 现代汉语涵芬联合会员 | $17.99 | one-time |
| 涵芬（3年） | $29.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is 西窗烛 free?

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

### Is ModernChineseDictionary free?

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

### Which has better reviews, 西窗烛 or ModernChineseDictionary?

西窗烛 is rated higher. 西窗烛 averages 4.9 out of 5 from 2.4K ratings, while ModernChineseDictionary averages 3.9 from 64 ratings.

### Do 西窗烛 or ModernChineseDictionary have ads?

Neither 西窗烛 nor ModernChineseDictionary shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, 西窗烛 or ModernChineseDictionary?

西窗烛 ships an update every 5 days, and ModernChineseDictionary every 6 weeks. Most recently, 西窗烛 was updated on November 1, 2026 and ModernChineseDictionary on October 29, 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.*