Duolingo does teach Cantonese, but only to people who learn from Chinese (Simplified). On October 14, 2026, its course list showed that Chinese-based course as the only live one, and no Cantonese course from English.
If you study in English, these are the apps to look at. We grouped them by what you might want from a Duolingo-style app: lessons in order, audio you answer out loud, and quick word games. Our Cantonese app comparison covers dictionaries, shows, tutors, and language exchange.
Custom Lessons Made for You
Bubblegum
For serious learners, Bubblegum is the best app to learn Cantonese. You learn from Cantonese you can mostly understand, which is called comprehensible input.
Poppy, your AI tutor in Bubblegum, writes Cantonese the way people talk in Hong Kong, with words like 佢 and 咩 that you'd hear on the street. If you want to order milk tea at a 茶餐廳, she turns that into a short scene at your level, with audio, and she'll explain any line that stumps you.
Bubblegum is not a person who can hear your tones. For that, look at the tutors and exchange partners on our comparison page.
- Lessons are in spoken Cantonese, written in traditional characters.
- Turn on Jyutping or Yale to see how each word is read.
- Read Hong Kong news and stories about what you like.
- Regenerative Review™ works saved Cantonese words into new lessons, so you review them as you read.
- Clear, expressive AI voices read every lesson aloud, with a different voice for each speaker.
- There's no way to add your own books or articles.
- A new custom lesson costs us real money to make, so your first one is free, and Bubblegum Pro gives you unlimited custom lessons. The lesson library is free for everyone, because we believe everyone should be able to learn.
- Regenerative Review™
- Teaches Jyutping
- Traditional characters
Mobile
Lessons in a Set Order
Each of these apps lays out a path, so the next lesson is always picked for you.
ChineseSkill
ChineseSkill teaches Cantonese in short lessons that play like games, one after another. Its listing speaks to people who love Cantopop or want to watch Hong Kong movies.
- A Cantonese course for Hong Kong, made for people starting from zero.
- About 200 bite-sized lessons, with Yale or Jyutping readings.
- Flashcards
- Teaches Jyutping
- Traditional characters
MobileWeb
Ling
Ling's Cantonese lessons are small and game-like. It fits learners who like to study a bit at a time.
- Dialogues and games with audio from Cantonese speakers.
- Dialog practice for real conversations, with speech recognition.
- Flashcards
- Teaches Jyutping (partly)
Mobile
Mango Languages
Mango teaches Cantonese through conversations and adds culture notes as you go. Ask your public library whether it includes Mango.
- Real conversations sit at the center of every lesson.
- Hear yourself next to a Cantonese speaker's recording.
- Flashcards
- Doesn't teach Jyutping
MobileWeb
Audio You Answer Out Loud
If you liked hearing every line on Duolingo, these apps put sound first.
Pimsleur
With Pimsleur, you hear a prompt, say your answer, and then hear it said the right way. It suits you if talking comes first and reading can wait.
- Levels 1 to 5, each built from half-hour audio lessons.
- Its AI Voice Coach gives you feedback on how you sound.
- Doesn't teach Jyutping
MobileWeb
Glossika
Glossika plays Cantonese one sentence at a time, and you repeat it aloud.
- 5,000+ words and sentences that climb from beginner to advanced.
- Traditional characters and Jyutping on sentences read by Cantonese speakers.
- Doesn't teach Jyutping
- Traditional characters
MobileWeb
CantoneseClass101
In each short recorded talk, a teacher slows down and explains every word.
- Thousands of bite-size audio and video lessons.
- Word lists and flashcards help new words stay with you.
- Flashcards
- Teaches Jyutping
MobileWeb
Quick Word Games
Drops
Drops teaches Cantonese words in short picture games, sorted by topic.
- Pictures help you link each Cantonese word to its meaning.
- Audio mode lets you listen hands-free.
- Doesn't teach Jyutping
Mobile
How Each App Lets You Start Free
Each app above has a free way in, and the table shows how to start.
| App | How You Can Start Free |
|---|---|
| ChineseSkill | Free to download, with in-app purchases. |
| Ling | Free to download, and Ling Pro has a 7-day free trial. |
| Mango Languages | The first lesson is free, personal plans include a free trial, and some libraries give it away free. |
| Pimsleur | A free lesson, then a free first week. |
| Glossika | Train free for 7 days with no card needed. |
| CantoneseClass101 | Join for free, with no credit card needed. |
| Drops | Free download, plus a 7-day Premium trial. |
Bubblegum's free plan is in the last question below.
Common Questions
Which Cantonese app should a beginner choose?
If you are serious about learning Cantonese, start with Bubblegum. Poppy writes lessons at your level about things you like. Or start with ChineseSkill if you want short lessons in order, or Pimsleur if you'd like to speak before you read. Hong Kong writes Cantonese in traditional characters, and Jyutping is the Linguistic Society of Hong Kong's system for spelling out Cantonese sounds in Latin letters.
Can I learn Cantonese on Duolingo in English?
Not as of October 14, 2026. Duolingo's Cantonese course had about 8.7 million learners, and all of them learn it from Chinese (Simplified), so you'd follow the course in Chinese. The list also shows a Cantonese course for Cantonese speakers with zero learners, and Duolingo has no page for it.
Is Bubblegum free?
Yes. The lesson library is free for everyone, because we believe everyone should be able to learn. It holds lessons that other learners asked Poppy for. A new custom lesson costs us real money to make, so your first one is free, and Bubblegum Pro gives you unlimited custom lessons.
Sources
- Duolingo: course list (read October 14, 2026)
- Mango Languages: pricing
- Duolingo: Cantonese course for Chinese (Simplified) speakers
- ChineseSkill: current iPhone listing
- Ling: current iPhone listing
- Ling: Ling Pro plans and free trial
- Mango Languages: Cantonese course
- Mango Languages for libraries
- Pimsleur: Cantonese lessons
- Glossika: Learn Cantonese
- CantoneseClass101
- Innovative Language: mobile app study tools
- Drops: Learn Cantonese
- Drops: current iPhone listing
- Linguistic Society of Hong Kong: Jyutping
- Bubblegum
- Ling
Checked on October 14, 2026 against each app's own pages.
