What does learning Cantonese actually cost?

Canto School’s full browser course and published audio library are free. Follow the lessons through English, read the Jyutping, play the recordings and answer the exercises without buying a subscription. Browser study needs an internet connection.

The iPhone and Android apps are a separate choice for phone study and included offline lesson media. A native subscription is optional; it is not required to continue the browser course.

That is Canto School Full Course on the US App Store: a monthly subscription for native course access, full Vocabulary, flashcards and personal decks, Review and optional Theory. You can try your fixed starting lesson before subscribing. Build also provides free access with available recordings.

Three monthly payments total US$23.97. Twelve total US$95.88. Those are arithmetic comparisons, not prepaid plans or promises of fluency after that period. The store displays the price and renewal terms for your country; the verified US iPhone price here does not establish price parity on Android or every storefront.

Choose the native app when its phone experience and offline lesson media fit your routine. Free browser study remains a legitimate choice. Some competitors’ annual plans cost less than twelve Canto School monthly payments; compare both the product and the commitment.

Pay for a useful difference.

A free course can be your main study route. Choose a paid app, tutor or extra resource when it solves a gap you have identified, such as phone convenience, offline lesson media or individual correction. A comparison table is a starting point, not a reason to subscribe.

1. Monthly equivalent versus payment today

Ling’s US$89.99 annual plan is not a US$7.50 cancel-any-month subscription. LingQ’s US$119.99 yearly plan and CantoneseClass101’s multi-month plans also require the selected term paid upfront. A cheaper equivalent can be good value if you want the commitment; it is a different choice from a monthly bill.

2. The features in that tier

CantoneseClass101 Basic, Premium and PLUS include different tools and teacher access. Pimsleur Audio and Premium differ. Glossika Basic is a one-language plan, while Pro has a wider catalogue and a different offline allowance. Compare the tier you would actually use.

3. A trial, a free lesson and a refund guarantee

They are not the same offer. Canto School’s fixed free starting lesson does not start a trial countdown. Glossika advertises a no-card trial. Some annual subscriptions convert from a trial into billing. uTalk’s checked page describes a money-back guarantee, which is not a free trial.

4. Tutor lesson length and billing cycle

A 50-minute Preply listing cannot be compared as if it were a 60-minute hourly quote. Its subscriptions renew every 28 days, with a minimum lesson plan. italki’s publisher listings describe teacher-set pay-per-class and package options. Use the selected teacher’s actual quote and conditions.

5. Renewal and ongoing access

Check whether the plan renews, what price applies after a promotion and what remains available if you cancel. A one-time AnkiMobile purchase is different from a recurring course plan. A lifetime service offer still depends on the provider’s terms. Keep separate any book delivery, taxes or additional study materials.

Our competitor price research uses official product pages, pricing pages, help centres and app-store listings checked on 22 October 2026. Canto School’s free browser-course access was updated on 2 November 2026; the Duolingo course-audience answer carries its own check date. The comparison considers Cantonese availability, fit for English-speaking learners, practice format, pronunciation notation, offline access, feedback and the actual billing commitment. We have not independently tested every resource or measured learning outcomes. External links are source links, not affiliate links.

Prices are snapshots, not checkout quotes. Currency, tax, storefront, promotions and platform can change the amount. A prepaid yearly or two-year plan is labelled as such. We do not treat a monthly equivalent as a cancel-any-month price. A missing verified price is marked rather than guessed.

The calculator uses zero course cost for browser learning or US$7.99 per calendar month for optional native Full Course, plus your chosen count and rate for tutor lessons. It is arithmetic, not a complete simulation of any marketplace’s checkout, subscription cycle, lesson duration or fees.

Our overall recommendation favours a practical daily Cantonese course that combines guided practice and review. Different goals lead to different choices. We publish Canto School, so this is a disclosed product comparison, not an independent award or a scored laboratory review. Report a correction through Support.