Best Apps To Learn Taiwanese Hokkien In 2026

Some of the best apps to learn Taiwanese Hokkien in 2026 are Ling for fun and practical learning, Glossika for sentence-based practice, and italki for practicing with a tutor. Spoken Hokkien is also worth checking out if you prefer a more traditional, textbook-style approach.

There aren’t nearly as many apps for Taiwanese Hokkien as there are for languages like Mandarin or Japanese, so finding the right one takes a little more digging. Lucky for you, I tried out the options on this list to see what each one does best, how they’re different, and which type of learner they suit best.

The Best Apps To Learn Taiwanese Hokkien

Here’s a quick overview of the best apps to learn Taiwanese Hokkien right now:

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1. Ling: Best For Fun And Practical Learning

The Ling app is the best overall app for Taiwanese Hokkien learners who want structured beginner and intermediate lessons that cover vocabulary, listening, speaking, and everyday conversation. It focuses on helping learners go beyond basic phrases by offering lessons that teach real, useful words and sentences.

What Is Ling Best For?

Ling is best for vocabulary building, speaking practice, pronunciation, and everyday conversations.

Ling App Features

• Bite-sized lessons for easy daily practice
• Interactive dialogues with speaking practice
• Useful words and phrases locals actually use
• Review features like flashcards, tests, and a vocabulary bank
• Beginner and intermediate courses

Ling App Lesson Examples

Ling’s lessons focus on everyday situations like basic greetings, eating out, traveling, shopping, and more. For example, in the “café” unit, you can learn phrases like Chi̍t koàn phì-chiú, pài-thok (一罐啤酒，拜託), “A bottle of beer, please!” or Kó-chap m̄-thang ke thn̂g (果汁毋通加糖), “Fruit juice without sugar.”

Who Is Ling Best For?

Ling is a good fit for travelers who want to chat with locals in Taiwan, heritage learners looking to reconnect with the language, and complete beginners who need a clear place to start. It also works well for learners who want to build everyday vocabulary, improve their pronunciation, or feel more confident speaking Taiwanese Hokkien.

Ling’s Pricing

• Monthly price: $16.99
• Six-month price: $64.99
• Annual price: $89.99 (with 7-day free trial)

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2. Glossika: Best For Structured Sentence-Based Learning

Glossika is an app that focuses on full sentences rather than isolated words. Each sentence comes with audio from native speakers, and you repeat them multiple times to train both your listening and speaking skills.

What Is Glossika Best For?

Glossika is best for listening, repeating, and learning vocabulary in context. You hear complete sentences and repeat them over time, rather than memorizing individual words.

Glossika Features

• Thousands of sentences with native-speaker audio
• Spaced repetition based on your progress
• Listening and speaking practice
• Reading and writing exercises
• Placement test for existing learners

Glossika Lesson Examples

Lessons introduce sentences you might hear in everyday life. One example is Kin-á-ji̍t thinn-khì bē-bái (今仔日天氣袂䆀), meaning “The weather’s nice today”. You hear and review the sentence several times to get used to its vocabulary, pronunciation, and structure.

Who Is Glossika Best For?

Glossika is a good match for independent learners, anyone who likes learning by listening and repeating, and people who already know a little Taiwanese Hokkien and want to get more comfortable with full sentences.

Glossika Pricing

Glossika offers its Taiwanese Taigi course for free. You’ll only need a paid plan if you want access to certain premium features or other paid languages.

3. Italki: Best For Learning With A Tutor

Italki is an online platform that connects language learners with real tutors around the world. Instead of pre-made lessons, you take one-on-one classes with teachers who design sessions just for you.

What Is Italki Best For?

Italki is best for speaking and getting personal feedback. There’s no fixed course to follow. You choose a tutor and focus your lessons on what you actually want to learn.

Italki Features

• One-on-one video lessons
• Lessons based on your goals and level
• Flexible scheduling
• Tutor profiles with prices and availability
• Free language-learning community

Italki Lesson Examples

Italki is best for learners who want personal guidance, direct feedback, and lessons built around their own goals. It’s also a good fit if you struggle to study on your own or simply learn better when there’s a real teacher to ask questions and correct you as you go.

Italki Pricing

• From $5 to $60 per hour, depending on the tutor and language.

4. Spoken Hokkien: Best For Textbook Learners

Spoken Hokkien isn’t technically an app, but it’s a good alternative for beginner and intermediate learners who prefer working through a proper textbook at their own pace.

What Is Spoken Hokkien Best For?

Spoken Hokkien is best for structured learning, especially speaking, listening, and grammar. It follows a clear lesson order, so you always know what to study next.

Spoken Hokkien Features

• Beginner and intermediate e-textbooks
• Dialogues and everyday vocabulary
• Grammar and sentence patterns
• Pronunciation and tone practice
• Cultural notes and exercises
• MP3 audio recordings

Spoken Hokkien Lesson Examples

The beginner book starts with pronunciation and tones before moving into everyday topics. You’ll learn how to meet people, talk on the phone, ask for directions, order food, shop for clothes, book a hotel, and talk about health.

Who Is Spoken Hokkien Best For?

I’d recommend Spoken Hokkien to learners who like textbooks, prefer studying in a clear order, or want more grammar explanations than most apps give you. It’s also designed specifically for English speakers with little or no previous knowledge of Hokkien.

Pricing

E-books can cost from $21 to $27, depending on the level.

Why These Apps Matter

Each option on this list helps with a different part of learning Taiwanese Hokkien:

• Ling builds all-around skills through vocabulary, speaking, listening, and everyday conversations.
• Glossika helps you get used to Taiwanese Hokkien through full sentences and repeated listening.
• Italki gives you one-on-one lessons with a tutor and direct feedback on your speaking.
• Spoken Hokkien offers a more traditional approach with structured textbooks, grammar explanations, and audio practice.

Why Learn Taiwanese Hokkien?

Here’s why Taiwanese Hokkien is worth your time:

• If you’re going to travel in Taiwan, learning some Taiwanese Hokkien is useful simply because you’ll hear people around you speaking it all the time. Around 70% of the population speaks the language to some degree, so knowing even a few phrases gives you more opportunities to chat with people while you’re there.
• It’s also a good language to learn if you have Taiwanese family, want to understand Hokkien-speaking relatives, or simply want to learn something beyond Mandarin before spending time in Taiwan.

You might be wondering why we call it Taiwanese Hokkien and not just Taiwanese. Taiwan has several languages, including Mandarin, Hakka, and Indigenous languages. Taiwanese Hokkien refers to the local form of Hokkien that came to Taiwan from southern China and developed there over the centuries.

Frequently Asked Questions About Apps To Learn Taiwanese Hokkien

So, Which App Is The Best?

This roundup explored five different apps to learn Taiwanese Hokkien, each with its own approach:

• Ling is the best for those who want an all-rounded learning experience.
• Glossika is great for structured learning, but it can feel a bit overwhelming for absolute beginners.
• Italki lets you have one-on-one lessons with native speakers, but it can get pricey, and you need to plan your sessions ahead of time.
• Spoken Hokkien gives beginner-friendly e-textbooks with audio to help you speak and listen, but it can feel slow or repetitive compared to more interactive options.

Each of these options has its strengths, but all fall a little short of providing a fully engaging and comprehensive learning experience. That’s where Ling shines, combining structured lessons, interactive exercises, and gamified practice into a single app, making it the most complete and enjoyable choice for learning Taiwanese Hokkien.

Ling: Our Top Pick For Learning Taiwanese Hokkien

Ready to have fun learning Taiwanese Hokkien? Ling lets you learn with bite-sized lessons, fun challenges, and quizzes that actually help you remember what you learn.

Want to give it a try before you commit? You can try Ling with a 7-day free trial and explore the lessons before deciding if it’s right for you. Download Ling now on Google Play or the App Store and start picking up new, useful words today!