Comparison

iChineseReader vs Better Chinese+

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

Head to head
About

iChineseReader

This platform offers a leveled reading experience for K-12 Chinese learners, featuring hundreds of titles created by teachers. It includes tools for teachers to manage classes and assign reading, along with eQuizzes for comprehension assessment and a game to encourage independent reading.

Highlights
  • 20 leveled reading levels
  • Hundreds of teacher-created titles
  • Class management system
  • Differentiated reading assignments
  • Post-reading eQuizzes
  • Motivation game for self-reading
Features
Read full description

iChineseReader is the first online Chinese leveled reading platform for K-12 Chinese learners. This completely upgraded and updated version can serve your reading needs even better! Features: • Levelled reading section spanning 20 levels; • Hundreds of titles by classroom teachers for classroom use; • A comprehensive class management system empowering teachers to deliver differentiated reading assignments; • Post-reading eQuizzes providing immediate feedbacks to assess comprehension; • A new motivation game to inspire progressive self-reading at the reader’s own pace. Please contact us to schedule a presentation for your school or a free trial today!

About

Better Chinese+

This app offers a customized Mandarin learning experience for beginners, utilizing patented technologies and proven pedagogy. It features video lessons, placement tests, and scheduling with teachers, supporting both traditional and simplified characters.

Highlights
  • Video instructions with choice of teacher
  • Placement test to assess level
  • Schedule sessions with BC+ Sherpas
  • Traditional & simplified character support
  • AI-enabled learning experience
  • Proven learning pedagogy
Features
Read full description

Everyone learns differently. Some are more visual. Some are more auditory. Some are more tactile. But everyone shares the same goal… to be proficient. Proficiency Focus ----------------------------------- Proficiency means you can use and interact in the language. We are here to help you… to be able to DO things in Chinese with the most engaging, fun, and customized learning experience just for you. Patented Technologies ----------------------------------- Patented learning tracking as well as a NEW patent-pending technology make learning Chinese more engaging and fun! Proven Learning Pedagogy ----------------------------------- Better Chinese+ is a beginner Mandarin learning program. Designed for students, teachers, and schools in mind, this App is based on our most popular state-adopted curriculum – My First Chinese Reader with over 20 years of success in schools, adopted by 10 US states to align with state standards. Features ----------------------------------- - [New] Video instructions! Choose your teacher! - [New] Placement Test - Check your level - [New] Schedule with our teachers! We call them BC+ Sherpa! - Available in traditional & simplified characters (繁體/简体) - Proven learning pedagogy, guided progression, and customized practices - Language Power (patent pending) – Know what you can do at all time - Teacher assignments and feedback modules (teacher logins only) - AI-enabled learning experience. Always evolving School version ----------------------------------- This version is included as part of the school, district, and state adoptions. For students and parents who are not part of the adoption, you may try this app for free. Scope and Sequence ----------------------------------- Based on the National Standards for Foreign Language Learning, it scaffolds language and cultural learning through the following scope and sequence. - Greetings and Manners - Nationalities - School - Family - Directions - Date and Time - Food, Preferences - Colors, Preferences - Clothing - Health and Body - Sports and Movement - Animals and Insects - Transportation - Shopping - Weather and Seasons - Comparisons - Positions and Locations - Professions - Special Occasions - Places - Activities and Hobbies

Screenshots

iChineseReader4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Better Chinese+ at 100% against iChineseReader's 26%. iChineseReader's advantage is update cadence (every 5 weeks vs every 9 months) and rating (3.2 vs 2.9). On price, 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

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

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

iChineseReader holds the better App Store score, 3.2 against 2.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: iChineseReader has 134 ratings behind it against 8, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 26% of iChineseReader's written reviews are positive against 100% of Better Chinese+'s, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

iChineseReader ships an update every 5 weeks, Better Chinese+ every 9 months. Both last shipped on October 29, 2026.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
iChineseReader versus Better Chinese+: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameteriChineseReaderBetter Chinese+
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.2 (134 ratings) — better2.9 (8 ratings)
Positive reviews26.2% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings134 — better8
Update frequencyEvery 5 weeks — betterEvery 9 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPad
Requires iOS15.515.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size147 MB6 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperNan Hai (USA) Co. Inc.Better Chinese, Inc.

Customer experience

iChineseReader

All ratings134 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral8.2%
Negative41.8%
Written reviews42 reviews
Positive26.2%
Neutral19.0%
Negative54.8%

Better Chinese+

All ratings6 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

iChineseReader

Reported bugs

20 issues
  • App is very glitchy
  • Quizzes never render correctly
  • Mini game keeps maintaining
  • App is laggy
  • App crashes a lot
Show 15 more
  • App is slow
  • App is not responsive
  • App keeps saying 'Please wait app is syncing'
  • Recording control bar blocks sentences
  • Recording box obstructs words
  • App keeps kicking user out
  • Points disappear
  • App is slow and lags a lot
  • App sometimes crashes
  • App sometimes kicks me out
  • App is not good practice
  • App doesn't read to me
  • App keeps popping out
  • App doesn't work on all iPads
  • App doesn't work on all iPhones

Requested features

9 requests
  • Fix glitch in quizzes
  • Save login and password
  • Improve quiz rendering
  • Fix mini-game maintenance issue
  • More questions in easy levels
Show 4 more
  • Fix recording control bar obstruction
  • Add more gift box options
  • Improve app responsiveness
  • Make app work on all devices

Better Chinese+

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

iChineseReader

No in-app purchases

None

Better Chinese+

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is iChineseReader free?
iChineseReader is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Better Chinese+ free?
Better Chinese+ is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, iChineseReader or Better Chinese+?
iChineseReader is rated higher. iChineseReader averages 3.2 out of 5 from 134 ratings, while Better Chinese+ averages 2.9 from 8 ratings.
Do iChineseReader or Better Chinese+ have ads?
Neither iChineseReader nor Better Chinese+ shows ads.
Which is updated more often, iChineseReader or Better Chinese+?
iChineseReader ships an update every 5 weeks, and Better Chinese+ every 9 months. Most recently, iChineseReader was updated on October 29, 2026 and Better Chinese+ on October 29, 2026.

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