Comparison

Scribe Cantonese vs Canton Tree

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

Head to head
About

Scribe Cantonese

Master Cantonese vocabulary with a unique study method that links words by sound for contextual understanding. Engage in various games to reinforce learning and improve listening and reading skills. Study offline and sync progress across devices.

Highlights
  • Sound-based vocabulary learning
  • 1800 common Cantonese words
  • 6 interactive Cantonese games
  • Native audio pronunciation
  • Spaced-Repetition System
  • Offline study mode
  • Progress synchronization
Features
Read full description

Scribe Cantonese has been intentionally designed to teach mastery of Chinese Cantonese vocabulary - you learn many common Hong Kong Cantonese words. Using a unique study method, words are remembered with related-sounding words, so that in real-life situations you are able to contextually select the correct word, even if you missed the tone. Study Cantonese this way, and your mind's ability to select the correct word in context increases 10 fold. Just think about it: for every similar sound, you will know the 2 or 3 possible popular words it could be. Scribe Cantonese quietly saturates your mind with all the correct linkages to learn Cantonese to a better-than-native level. This is the fastest known method to the learn Cantonese language, by focusing on learning through Cantonese games. Scribe Cantonese also includes numerous games using the same study deck, so no matter what game you feel like playing, your study picks up where you left off. You can study Cantonese YOUR way. And your dreams of China, Hong Kong and Macau can come closer. Features: - 1800 of the most common Cantonese words. - Full native audio spoken for every single word. Speak Cantonese within weeks, instead of years, with a daily commitment to study Cantonese words. - 6 Cantonese games: Cantonese flashcards, Cantonese multiple choice, Cantonese tiles, listening flashcards, listening multiple choice, matchup. - Tone markers + tone colors. - Spaced-Repetition System that.. is simply incredible. When you get down into the deeper levels with thousands of words to remember, you'll be amazed at how accurately the right word comes along. - Study Cantonese completely offline - no internet bandwidth used. Learn and study Cantonese anywhere - on the train, bus, on the way to work, sitting waiting, in coffee shops, on bed before dreaming Cantonese in your sleep. - Your choice of yale or jyutping romanisation, along with the native hanzi reading (for help with remembering the hanzi, you can use our hanzi app: Scribe Origins). - Ruby text places the reading above the hanzi character, just like in manga and anime readings. - Synchronise your progress across devices, if you want to learn Cantonese on your iPhone and iPad. - Example usage sentences and common Cantonese phrases for the most popular Cantonese words. - Most users who have gone through the entire first level unequivocally say that Scribe Cantonese is currently the fastest way to learn Cantonese language, both listening and reading skills. Scribe Cantonese is part of the Scribe Origins series of learning apps. Optional Subscription: Payment will be charged to iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase. Subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period. Account will be charged for renewal within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period, & identify the cost of the renewal. Subscriptions may be managed by the user & auto-renewal may be turned off by going to the user’s Account Settings after purchase. Any unused portion of a free trial period, if offered, will be forfeited when the user purchases a subscription to that publication, where applicable. Terms & conditions: https://scribeorigins.com/disclaimer.html Privacy policy: https://scribeorigins.com/privacy.html

About

Canton Tree

Learn Cantonese with 60 lessons, over 1,800 words, and 2,500 phrases voiced by native speakers. Explore a story mode simulating a trip to Hong Kong and utilize search and bookmarking features for efficient study. Customize your learning experience with six color themes.

Highlights
  • 60 Cantonese lessons
  • 1,800+ Cantonese words
  • 2,500+ Cantonese phrases
  • Native speaker audio
  • Story mode simulating Hong Kong trip
  • Search and bookmark functions
  • Customizable color themes
Features
Read full description

This is an app for learning Cantonese used in Hong Kong. It includes 60 lessons, a vocabulary section, a phrase section, and a story mode that simulates a trip to Hong Kong. With this app, you can learn more about Cantonese and Hong Kong in a variety of ways. The app includes more than 1,800 Cantonese words and 2,500 phrases. Search and bookmark functions are also available so you can search for words you want to know or bookmark words/phrases you want to remember. All Cantonese words and phrases are voiced by native speakers who live in Hong Kong, so you can learn pronunciation by listening to the audio. There are six different color options which can be changed at any time, so you can use the app with a color set that you prefer. We hope this app helps you learn Cantonese and the culture of Hong Kong! "If you find any bugs or issues, please let us know with the email address listed on the page or: X (Twitter): @HkjRyi"

Screenshots

Scribe Cantonese3 screens
Canton Tree4 screens

Verdict

The call

Scribe Cantonese and Canton Tree both sit at 5.0 stars, but that hides the real split: 100% of Canton Tree's written reviews are positive against 86% of Scribe Cantonese's. Scribe Cantonese's advantage is iOS requirement (11.0 vs 15.6). On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence 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. Scribe Cantonese sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.49 per month and Canton Tree sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Scribe Cantonese against 5.0 for Canton Tree. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 2 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 86% of Scribe Cantonese's written reviews are positive against 100% of Canton Tree's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Scribe Cantonese ships an update every 3 weeks, Canton Tree monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 11, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Scribe Cantonese versus Canton Tree: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterScribe CantoneseCanton Tree
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (3 ratings)5.0 (2 ratings)
Positive reviews85.7% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings3 — better2
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks — betterMonthly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS11.0 — better15.6
Further details — not scored
Size59 MB183 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperGuiix Pty LtdTetsuya Kobayashi

Customer experience

Scribe Cantonese

All ratings3 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews21 reviews
Positive85.7%
Neutral9.5%
Negative4.8%

Canton Tree

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Scribe Cantonese

Subscriptions1
  • Unlock All$1.491 Month
One-time1
  • Study Megapack$6.99
1 purchases

Canton Tree

One-time1
  • Canton Tree - Full Version$4.99

Questions

Is Scribe Cantonese free?
Scribe Cantonese is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Canton Tree free?
Canton Tree is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Scribe Cantonese or Canton Tree?
Scribe Cantonese and Canton Tree are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 3 and 2 ratings respectively.
Do Scribe Cantonese or Canton Tree have ads?
Neither Scribe Cantonese nor Canton Tree shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Scribe Cantonese or Canton Tree?
Scribe Cantonese ships an update every 3 weeks, and Canton Tree monthly. Most recently, Scribe Cantonese was updated on October 11, 2026 and Canton Tree on September 25, 2026.

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