Canadian English is the one to learn if you're moving to Canada, studying there, or talking with Canadians. Most English apps use American or British English. Our English app comparison covers apps for any kind of English.
Bubblegum
For serious learners, Bubblegum is the best app to learn Canadian English. You learn from Canadian English you can mostly understand, which is called comprehensible input.
Tell Poppy, your AI tutor, that you're moving to Toronto for work. She writes you a lesson at your level about your first morning at the office. Ask her about any word you don't know.
To practice speaking with people, try a tutor or partner in Practice With People From Canada.
- Canadian English is its own journey, with lessons read aloud in Canadian English accents.
- Lessons use Canadian spelling, like colour and centre, and Canadian dollars and kilometres in Canadian scenes.
- Lessons fit your level, interests, and goals.
- Talk out loud with Poppy in live voice chat.
- Regenerative Review™ brings saved words back in new lessons, and you can export them to Anki.
- Clear, expressive AI voices read every lesson aloud, with a different voice for each speaker.
- Lessons teach standard Canadian English and don't cover regional speech, like Newfoundland English.
- Custom lessons cost us money to make, so you need Bubblegum Pro for unlimited custom lessons. Lessons Poppy wrote for other learners are free for everyone to read.
- Regenerative Review™
Mobile
uTalk
Short lessons with audio and games cover topics like travel and work, and you can practice online or offline.
- uTalk has a separate Canadian English course, recorded by Canadian English speakers.
- Slow the audio down to hear each word.
MobileWeb
Preply
Practice the conversations you'll have at work or school, like a job interview or small talk with coworkers.
- Preply has a page for Canadian English tutors.
- Filter English tutors by country of birth, and pick Canada.
- Watch a tutor's intro video before you book.
MobileWeb
italki
On italki, tell your teacher which city you're moving to, so the examples fit your life there.
- Choose an English teacher from Canada.
- Book one-to-one video lessons.
MobileWeb
Tandem
On Tandem, you help someone with your language while they help you with English. Search for partners in Toronto or Vancouver, and agree on how to split your time between the two languages.
- Find language partners who live in Toronto or Vancouver.
- Trade voice notes, or talk over video.
MobileWeb
Other Apps We Looked At (2)
If you live in Canada, the government pays for English classes for permanent residents and protected persons. The program is called LINC, short for Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada. To start, contact a newcomer service organization near you. They set up the assessment, and then you join a class online or in a classroom.
| App | Free? | What's Free |
|---|---|---|
| Bubblegum | Free version | Custom lessons cost us money to make, so you need Bubblegum Pro for unlimited custom lessons. Lessons Poppy wrote for other learners are free for everyone to read. |
| uTalk | Some lessons free | Every language has free starter words, and getting full marks in the games opens one more topic for free. For the rest, you subscribe or buy a language or topic. |
| Preply | Paid | You pay for each lesson, and each tutor sets their own price. If your first tutor isn't a good fit, you can try two more for free. |
| italki | Paid | You pay for each lesson, and each teacher sets their own price. Practicing with the community and taking the level test are free. |
| Tandem | Free version | Signing up is free, and Tandem reviews each new member first. Many features are free, and Tandem Pro gives you all of them. |
| Mauril | Free | Mauril is free, with no ads. It works only in Canada. |
| HelloTalk | Free version | Chatting with language partners is free. HelloTalk VIP removes ads and adds unlimited translations and more new partners each day. |
Try one lesson in your language before you pay.
| App | Languages You Can Use It In | Full List |
|---|---|---|
| Bubblegum | 74 | Supported language pairs |
| uTalk | 140+ | Full list |
| Preply | 19 | App Store |
| italki | 19 | App Store |
| Tandem | 14 | App Store |
| Mauril | 2 | Mauril support |
| HelloTalk | 16 | App Store |
Which Canadian English app should a beginner choose?
If you are serious about learning Canadian English, start with Bubblegum. Poppy, your AI tutor, writes lessons at your level about things you like. Or start with uTalk if you'd like to learn everyday Canadian English words first.
How is Canadian English different?
Bubblegum's Canadian English lessons spell colour and centre like British English, and organize with a z like American English. Canada also has a few words of its own: a toque is a wool hat, and a loonie is a one-dollar coin.
Can I learn Canadian English for free?
Yes. Permanent residents and protected persons can take LINC classes at no cost. The Mauril app is free too, but it works only in Canada.
Is Bubblegum free?
Yes. Lessons Poppy wrote for other learners are free for everyone to read. Custom lessons cost us money to make, so you need Bubblegum Pro for unlimited custom lessons.
Sources
- Bubblegum: Canadian English
- uTalk: Learn Canadian English (recorded by native Canadian speakers)
- Preply: Canadian English tutors
- Preply: English tutors (country of birth filter, Canada)
- italki: English teachers (Teachers from filter)
- Tandem: Learn English in Toronto
- Tandem: Learn English in Vancouver
- Mauril (CBC/Radio-Canada): learn English or French with CBC shows and podcasts
- Mauril: can I use it outside Canada? (FAQ)
- Mauril: which languages you can use the app in (support)
- HelloTalk: language partners in Canada
- Government of Canada: language classes funded by the Government of Canada (LINC)
- Rosetta Stone: Learn English (Rosetta Stone English is American or British)
- Drops: Learn British English (Drops English is British or American)
- Memrise: British English course (Memrise English is American or British)
- Cambridge Dictionary: toque (Canadian English)
- Cambridge Dictionary: loonie (Canadian English)
- uTalk: what's free
- italki: what's free
- Tandem: what's free
- HelloTalk: what's free
- HelloTalk: what the paid plan adds
- uTalk: Languages you can learn from
- Preply: iPhone App Store listing (languages you can use it in)
- italki: iPhone App Store listing (languages you can use it in)
- Tandem: iPhone App Store listing (languages you can use it in)
- Mauril: iPhone App Store listing (free, Canada only)
- HelloTalk: iPhone App Store listing (languages you can use it in)
