Comparison

Scribe Cantonese vs Cantonese Guru

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

Cantonese Guru

This app offers a structured approach to learning Cantonese, covering vocabulary, character writing, pronunciation, and listening. It functions as both a learning tool and a reference, supporting traditional and simplified Chinese characters. Users can create custom study lists and access a comprehensive dictionary.

Highlights
  • Vocabulary and character study
  • Stroke-by-stroke character writing
  • Tone and pronunciation training
  • Spaced repetition reviews
  • Listening and reading practice
  • Customizable study lists
  • Comprehensive Cantonese dictionary
Features
Read full description

Learning Cantonese Chinese takes time, structure, and consistency. Cantonese Guru is designed for learners who want to progress seriously and sustainably, from beginner to advanced levels. Whether you are studying Cantonese at university, preparing for language exams, or learning out of personal interest, the app helps you develop all essential skills at your own pace. Cantonese Guru works both as a learning app and as a daily Cantonese reference tool, helping you build real, lasting skills. It fully supports traditional and simplified Chinese characters, as well as Cantonese-specific forms. — A COMPLETE AND STRUCTURED APPROACH Cantonese Guru combines active learning, intelligent reviews, and high-quality reference tools to support long-term memorization. • Vocabulary and Cantonese character study • Stroke-by-stroke Chinese character writing • Tone and pronunciation training • Smart review sessions based on spaced repetition (SRS) • Listening and reading practice adapted to Cantonese — CUSTOM & DOWNLOADABLE STUDY LISTS Cantonese Guru lets you study efficiently with ready-made and personalized content. • Downloadable word lists inspired by common Cantonese textbooks and learning programs • Curated vocabulary sets by level and topic • Create your own custom lists directly from the dictionary • Focus your study on exactly what you need, at your own pace This flexible system allows you to work on specific themes, reinforce weak points, or build personalized study paths. — A SERIOUS LEARNING TOOL, NOT A GIMMICK APP Cantonese Guru includes: • A comprehensive Cantonese dictionary (140,000+ entries) • Search by Cantonese, Jyutping, Yale, or English • Radical- and key-based character search • Handwriting input for character lookup • Customizable word lists and detailed entry information • Reference tools dedicated to the Cantonese language The app is used as both a reference and learning tool by students, self-learners, and language enthusiasts who want to progress with method and clarity. — SUBSCRIPTIONS Full access to all features requires a subscription. • 1-week free trial (except lifetime plan) • Automatic renewal, cancel anytime Available plans: • 1 month • 6 months • 12 months • Lifetime (one-time purchase) — LEGAL INFORMATION Privacy Policy: https://www.xamisoft.com/privacy-policy Terms of Use: https://www.xamisoft.com/cgu

Screenshots

Scribe Cantonese3 screens
Cantonese Guru4 screens

Verdict

The call

Scribe Cantonese and Cantonese Guru both sit at 5.0 stars, but that hides the real split: 100% of Cantonese Guru's written reviews are positive against 86% of Scribe Cantonese's. Scribe Cantonese's advantage is iOS requirement (11.0 vs 17.6). 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 Cantonese Guru sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. 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 Cantonese Guru. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 3 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 86% of Scribe Cantonese's written reviews are positive against 100% of Cantonese Guru's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Scribe Cantonese ships an update every 3 weeks, Cantonese Guru fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Scribe Cantonese versus Cantonese Guru: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterScribe CantoneseCantonese Guru
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (3 ratings)5.0 (3 ratings)
Positive reviews85.7% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings33
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksFortnightly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS11.0 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size59 MB463 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperGuiix Pty LtdSamuel REAUD

Customer experience

Scribe Cantonese

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

Cantonese Guru

All ratings3 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews7 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
5 purchases

Cantonese Guru

Subscriptions3
  • Monthly7 Days trial$3.991 Month
  • Six Months7 Days trial$17.996 Months
  • Yearly7 Days trial$29.991 Year
One-time2
  • Lifetime subscription$42.99
  • Lifetime subscription$79.99

Questions

Is Scribe Cantonese free?
Scribe Cantonese is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Cantonese Guru free?
Cantonese Guru is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Scribe Cantonese or Cantonese Guru?
Scribe Cantonese and Cantonese Guru are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 3 and 3 ratings respectively.
Do Scribe Cantonese or Cantonese Guru have ads?
Neither Scribe Cantonese nor Cantonese Guru shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Scribe Cantonese or Cantonese Guru?
Scribe Cantonese ships an update every 3 weeks, and Cantonese Guru fortnightly. Most recently, Scribe Cantonese was updated on November 1, 2026 and Cantonese Guru on November 3, 2026.

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