Suggestions appear as you type. Use the up and down arrows to choose one and Enter to open it.

This page's audience our own tag's counts — open to see them
–Visits
–Page views
–Clicks to vendors
–Time on page
–Reading now
Clicks to vendors, by tool
  • –
Top countries
  • –
Devices
  • –

– · visits, page views and clicks counted by our own tag, which counts more than our checked analytics; every figure rounded down · how we count

Head-to-head · Handwriting Practice Apps

Hanzi Writer vs HanziStroke

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 4 checks side by side
Higher score Hanzi Writer #1 in Handwriting Practice Apps 9.4/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 3 of 3 features Visit Hanzi Writer
HanziStroke #7 in Handwriting Practice Apps 8.6/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 2 of 3 features Visit HanziStroke

Hanzi Writer leads on 0 checks, HanziStroke on 0, and 4 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 4 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreHanzi Writer · 9.4/10
  • Free planboth
  • Most featuresHanzi Writer · 3 of 3

Hanzi Writer scores higher on our rubric for handwriting practice apps: 9.4 against 8.6 out of 10; our editors rank them #1 and #7.

Hanzi Writer is the better fit for chinese learners wanting an all-rounder. HanziStroke is the better fit for free web-based Chinese practice.

  • Hanzi Writer fits best

    Chinese learners wanting an all-rounder

  • HanziStroke fits best

    Free web-based Chinese practice

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature Hanzi Writer 9.4/10 Visit ↗ HanziStroke 8.6/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.4 8.6
Ranking #1 in Handwriting Practice Apps #7 in Handwriting Practice Apps
Best for Chinese learners wanting an all-rounder Free web-based Chinese practice
Pricing model Free plan + paid Free plan + paid
Starting price — Free plan
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — —
Deployment Mobile Cloud
Platforms iOS, Android, macOS Web
Support Email Email
Built for Solo, Small business Solo
Features Hanzi Writer 3/3 · HanziStroke 2/3
Pen-control exercises ✓ ✓
Custom word practice ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Progress tracking ✓ ✓
Specs
Writing modes Not checked yet Not checked yet
Age levels All_ages Not checked yet
Supported platforms ios, android, macos web
Our review
Pros
  • Real-time stroke-order validation and correction
  • HSK 1–9 courses with spaced-repetition review
  • Offline practice, OCR, worksheets, and Anki import
  • Stroke-order feedback supports guided character writing practice.
  • HSK, saved vocabulary, lessons, and custom decks provide varied practice sources.
  • Worksheets, dictation, spaced repetition, and progress tracking broaden practice.
Cons
  • Progress synchronization is available through Pro features
  • The listed integration is limited to Anki
  • Its focus is written Chinese rather than broader language study
  • Runs on the web rather than as a listed native mobile app.
  • Some premium features may require a paid subscription.
  • Learning progress tracking is available for registered users.
Our verdict

Hanzi Writer is a handwriting-practice app for learners of written Chinese. It combines animated stroke-order guidance with real-time correction, HSK 1–9 courses, spaced-repetition review, on-device OCR, an offline dictionary, custom…

Read the review →

HanziStroke is a web-based platform for learners practicing Chinese character handwriting and stroke order. Its Writing Practice tool combines guided sessions, stroke-level feedback, continuous practice queues, and completion review.…

Read the review →
  1. Hanzi WriterHandwriting Practice Apps 9.4Free plan
  2. HanziStrokeHandwriting Practice Apps 8.6Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Hanzi Writer — where it wins

    • Real-time stroke-order validation and correction
    • HSK 1–9 courses with spaced-repetition review
    • Offline practice, OCR, worksheets, and Anki import

    Where it doesn't

    • Progress synchronization is available through Pro features
    • The listed integration is limited to Anki
    • Its focus is written Chinese rather than broader language study
  • HanziStroke — where it wins

    • Stroke-order feedback supports guided character writing practice.
    • HSK, saved vocabulary, lessons, and custom decks provide varied practice sources.
    • Worksheets, dictation, spaced repetition, and progress tracking broaden practice.

    Where it doesn't

    • Runs on the web rather than as a listed native mobile app.
    • Some premium features may require a paid subscription.
    • Learning progress tracking is available for registered users.

More comparisons

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update