Millions of people use Duolingo every day to learn new languages.

Unfortunately, Duolingo doesn’t currently offer a Malay course.

The platform has Indonesian, which is very similar, but it lacks a dedicated path for standard Bahasa Melayu.

This leaves many Malay learners searching for other effective ways to study the language.

Fortunately, there are several excellent alternatives that will help you reach your goals.

In this guide, I’ll show you the best apps and resources to use instead of Duolingo to learn Malay.

Talk in Malay

Talk In Malay is the number one alternative for anyone wanting to learn authentic Malay.

I built this platform specifically because major apps like Duolingo completely ignore the Malay language.

Our platform focuses heavily on how native speakers actually talk in daily life.

You’ll learn both the formal standard language and the informal spoken variations used across Malaysia.

The lessons are designed using clear, comprehensible input so you can naturally absorb the grammar.

We also provide extensive audio recorded by native speakers to help you perfect your pronunciation.

If you want a structured, straight-to-the-point path to speaking Malay, this is the best place to start.

Lingodeer

LingoDeer is another strong alternative if you enjoy structured, app-based learning.

Unlike Duolingo, LingoDeer actually provides a dedicated course for Bahasa Melayu.

The app is highly respected for how well it teaches Asian languages and their specific grammar rules.

Each lesson includes thorough grammar explanations so you understand exactly why sentences are built a certain way.

It also features clear audio from native speakers to help you train your ear.

Drops

Drops is an excellent choice if you love the gamified, visual aspect of Duolingo.

This app focuses entirely on helping you build your Malay vocabulary quickly.

You’ll learn new words by matching them to high-quality illustrations in fast-paced mini-games.

It limits your learning time to five minutes a day, which helps prevent burnout and builds a consistent habit.

Keep in mind that Drops doesn’t teach grammar or sentence structure.

It’s strictly a vocabulary tool that you should use alongside a main course like Talk In Malay.

Italki

italki is a platform where you can book one-on-one lessons with native Malay tutors.

Duolingo is often criticized because it doesn’t give you actual speaking practice with real human beings.

On italki, you can find professional teachers or affordable community tutors from Malaysia.

Speaking with a native speaker from day one will drastically improve your conversational confidence.

Your tutor can correct your mistakes in real time and teach you the local slang.

Clozemaster

Clozemaster is a great app for intermediate learners who want to learn words in context.

The app uses a retro, gamified interface to teach you through fill-in-the-blank sentences.

Instead of learning isolated words, you learn how Malay vocabulary functions inside complete thoughts.

This method helps you rapidly improve your reading comprehension.

It’s a fantastic step up once you already understand basic Malay grammar rules.

Summary of Duolingo alternatives

Here’s a quick overview of the best alternatives to learn Malay.

You can mix and match these resources to create a study routine that works best for you.