# HiNative - Language Learning — user reviews > 1,021 indexed App Store user reviews of HiNative by Lang-8, Inc, rated 4.70/5 from 9,088 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hinative-language-learning/id923920480/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hinative-language-learning/id923920480.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 7,575 · 4★ 957 · 3★ 327 · 2★ 91 · 1★ 138 ## What do users think of HiNative? Overall sentiment: positive **Pros** - 👍 Helpful for language learning - 🤝 Friendly and welcoming community - ⚡ Quick response times - 💡 Ability to help others learn languages **Cons** - 💰 Excessive paywalls and premium features - 🔍 Limited free question templates - 🗣️ Inability to listen to audio responses without premium - 🗑️ Outdated or incorrect answers from users **Commonly reported bugs** - Frequent app crashes or freezes - Inconsistent notification behavior - Issues with landscape orientation - Difficulty changing language settings **Most requested features** - Private messaging or chat functionality - Ability to filter or search past questions - Moderation system to ensure quality answers - More language options and dialects ## Newest reviews (16 of 1,021) ### 2/5 — I didn’t even get to look around. *2026-08-19, version 22.19.0* Yes, they offer a free 1 week trial of their app, but I didn’t even get to look around to see if the app is for me before having a subscription shoved in my face. I love the idea of this app, being able to learn from native speakers. I just wish there was a “free” version where I could at least read other’s questions and learn from those, even if I myself don’t get to ask a question on the “free” version. Heck I can’t even go in to cancel / shut down my account without subscribing. ### 3/5 — Теперь платно *2026-05-27, version 22.18.0* Неплохое приложение, спасибо разработчикам, но теперь стало платным. ### 4/5 — エラーが多いです *2026-02-23, version 22.16.0* いつも勉強で楽しく使っています！　エラーが多いのが少し気になります。質問を考えたり音声をつけたりして送信した後、エラーの表示が出ると心が折れます。改善していただけると助かります。 また自分の質問を時系列順に並べ替える機能があるとありがたいです。よろしくお願いいたします🙇‍♀️ ### 2/5 — Why? *2026-02-07, version 22.16.0* I was searching for an app that would help me learn Hungarian, then I came across this app. It SEEMED perfect until I actually downloaded the damn game. I skipped the tutorial…guide…whatever it is, then here’s where the problem starts. I CAN’T DO ANYTHING WITHOUT “fReE tRiAl” getting in my way. Please remove any in-app purchases from the game and get an actual job instead of leeching language learners’ money. ### 1/5 — HORRIBLE *2026-01-04, version 22.16.0* This app USED TO BE FREE AND I LOVED IT. now we have to buy their useless premium to even use the app? horrible FLOP app, DELTED. ### 1/5 — Not for free *2025-12-18, version 22.16.0* Cheated on me ### 2/5 — Good to bad *2025-12-10, version 22.16.0* This use to be a really good app to learn languages, you could ask natives speakers to translate for you But now you have to pay as soon as you load up the app just to use it, I am not paying for it, make it free again because not everyone has money. This update just ruined it for me. ### 1/5 — 유료 강요 앱 *2025-11-28, version 22.16.0* 옛날에 재밌게 썼던 사람이고, 오랜만에 새로 계정 만들어서 하려니 프리미엄을 강요하네요. 모두한테도 아니고, 신규 회원한테만 프리미엄을 강요한다는 게 말이나 되나요? 대안도 많은데 프리미엄을 강요하는 건 스스로 유저를 더 안 받겠다는 거네요. 앱 사용이 안되니 탈퇴도 안 됩니다. 탈퇴하고 싶은데 어디로 연락해야 합니까? ### 1/5 — Abo-Zwang? *2025-11-28, version 22.16.0* Warum wird man zu einem Premium-Abo genötigt, auch wenn man gar keines haben will? ### 2/5 — Paywall *2025-11-08, version 22.16.0* You give them your information then once you have made your account it goes you a paywall to open the app and you can’t delete your account or take back your information ### 1/5 — Greedy Greedy *2025-11-02, version 22.16.0* I only got the app because I didn’t want to read on the website all the time. When I got this app, i have to PAY to use which is ridiculous! I don’t care about the free trail! I just wanted to read similarities questions I have in my target language! That tells me this company only cares for money. You’re just greedy. ### 1/5 — Bug Can’t pass step 8/9 *2025-10-14, version 22.16.0* There is a bug that infinitely load when I submit my question on the step 8 of the 9 steps of the tutorial so I can’t use the app ### 2/5 — 常常發生錯誤無法使用 *2025-10-09, version 22.16.0* 我用的是iPhone 11，已經更新到最新版，最近常常不能用… ### 1/5 — Used to be really good *2025-09-30, version 22.16.0* This app is genuinely helpful but im writing a 1 star review due to the ai slop they integrated as part of the “premium” subscription. Every time you ask a question you get a huge wall of AI garbage thats usually wrong, before any real person can reply. The other features are useful but you really think people wanna pay for something that only worsens the experience? I dont even remember being told that was part of the subscription when they added it. Absolutely delusional behavior. ### 1/5 — Obligation essai gratuit *2025-09-29* L’appli a l’air bien, dommage qu’ils obligent à faire l’essai gratuit premium, ce qui oblige à mettre sa carte de crédit, ce que je refuse de faire… donc impossible d’accéder à l’application, aucune possibilité de refuser l’essai gratuit, aussi bien par l’application que par le navigateur. **Developer response:** Thank you for your feedback. Due to a recent change in our service specifications, new registrants are now required to subscribe to our premium plan to use the app. Please try the 1-week free trial. We would appreciate it if you subscribe to the Premium after the trial ends. We appreciate your kind understanding. ### 1/5 — Money Trap *2025-09-20, version 22.15.0* The app literally won’t let you use their platform without signing for a “free” membership trial first; which is really just a way for them to get you to sign up for their subscription service hoping you forget about it before the free trial is finished so they can bill you. Sure you can “cancel anytime” as they advertise but I don’t see why I should be FORCED to sign up for their subscription plan in the first place. There should be a button that allows me to bypass signing up for their subscription service but, to my knowledge, no such button exists. ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Trash. Don’t bother with this app. *2026-08-02, version 22.19.0* I just made an account and there’s an inescapable popup that says “Premium registration is required to use HiNative”. It’s not even usable without paying. Now they have my email and there’s not even a way for me to delete my account without signing up for a trial of premium. Waste of time. ### 1/5 — I don’t want to do the free trial *2026-06-25, version 22.18.0* I can’t even use the app until I sign up my credit card for a free trial that I don’t want! This is ridiculous ### 1/5 — A Rip-off! *2026-04-20, version 22.18.0* A Rip-off! The first thing that catches your eye is a bunch of spelling and stylistic errors that are presented in your own language. I think other languages are no exception. 2. If no one answers your question, then you will be given a bot under a person's account, their bots are stupid and can transfer such trash to you that it will not match your request at all. Cheap bots, worse than macaques with a grenade. And it's for your money. If you prefer to believe a Toothless dentist, then of course it's your choice. But if you really came to find out something, you're not here - that's a fact! 3. You are forced to pay immediately, even though the AI says that this is a free platform with a free feature. From which we conclude that it was free, now its time has passed and most likely the owner has changed and everything is going in the direction where it smells very bad. 4. You can find the rest of the disadvantages yourself for your own money, if you feel like it or if it's bad luck. 5. Hinative only for you with love. Помойка за 36 $или сколько стоит тупой, дешёвый, никчемный бот для ошибок! Первое что бросается вам глаза это количество ошибок на вашем родном языке в системе. Сразу возникает вопрос на других вряд ли будет лучше! 2. Если никто не ответит на ваш вопрос, то вам подсунут бота под аккаунтом человека, их боты тупые и могут вам перевести такую помойку в которую можете поверить. Вы же заплатили. Если вы предпочитаете беззубого дантиста это конечно ваше дело. 3. Вас вынуждают платить тут же, хотя ИИ говорит, что эта бесплатная платформа с платной функцией. Из чего мы заключаем, что эта платформа бесплатной была, но теперь её время прошло и скорее всего хозяин поменялся и всё идёт в ту сторону, где очень плохо пахнет. 4. Остальные недостатки можете найти сами за свои деньги, если вам охота. 5. Hinative only for you with love. ### 1/5 — WHY MARKET YOUR SITE AS FREE WHEN ITS NOT *2026-04-16, version 22.18.0* WHY MARKET YOUR SITE AS FREE WHEN ITS NOT. I SIGNED UP AND IT ASKED ME FOR A FREE TRIAL WITH NO WAY OF GETTING OUT OF IT. I OPENED AND CLOSED THE APP AGAIN AND IT NOW SAYS I NEED A PREMIUM SUBSCRIPTION TO USE THE APP. I DONT NORMALLY REVIEW, BUT THIS IS PRETTY GREEDY. ### 1/5 — GREEDY - read *2026-03-29, version 22.18.0* it used to be free, now everything is paid just to access the app. shame on you, greedy greedy people only caring about money. PS, your ai feature isnt even that great, so i know youre lining your pockets with that money. ### 1/5 — Bad *2026-03-09, version 22.18.0* Forces u to get premium in order to use the app I dont care if i get a free trial i dont want it cause ill forget to cancel ### 1/5 — try something else *2026-02-27, version 22.16.0* useless cash grab ### 1/5 — Cannot use free version without premium trial *2026-02-11, version 22.16.0* The concept is fantastic but sadly the app is completely useless. You can’t open or use it at all unless you agree to a free trial of the premium version. Once you create an account, the HiNative website in your browser will also require you to agree to a free premium trial, making that unusable too. Deleted the app immediately. ### 1/5 — Deceptive premium *2026-01-08, version 22.16.0* This app does not inform the user that a premium account is required to use it before they sign up. I would have been willing to pay if I had been informed ahead of time that premium is mandatory for access. But because the owners decided to play a nasty psychological trick instead of being honest upfront I will be taking my business elsewhere. Don’t play games with your customers. ### 1/5 — A fuerza es de pago *2026-01-05, version 22.16.0* No te da periodo gratis realmente porque debes introducir una forma de pago desde el inicio. Si se te olvida se hará el cobro. ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Availability Issues *2026-07-03, version 22.18.0* Edit: thank you for the developer response. I find the app SUPER helpful; I wouldnt complain of availability if I didn’t like the app so much :) Not sure what happened in the last week or so, but the mobile AND browser app are seeing serious slowness, timeouts, and general lack of availability, with lots of pop-up errors in both UIs. Is there any plan to fix this? ### 5/5 — The service is fantastic , but the ios app sucks *2026-02-05, version 22.16.0* This is genuinely one of the best language learning apps, but the ui is duper old and for some reason I can’t ask questions in too many languages before it asks me to pay. It’s never done thaf before. Maybe it’s just a bug or the iOS app is worse or something. The ui is definitely far more outdated compared to android. Also why the heck does the clanker pop up in my search now? I want answers, not ai slop ### 5/5 — Ultimate Language App *2026-01-16, version 22.16.0* I’ve been using this app for many years. I wanted to learn Japanese around 2018 and I started using this app around 2019. There was a lot of words and phrases I was able to learn with the help of many Japanese people on this app while at the same time, teaching English to other users of the app. I’d say this is probably one of the best apps to use when learning another language & I highly recommend it! I’ll close this by saying to those who are wanting to learn other languages like me, good luck to all of you! ### 5/5 — Una herramienta muy útil *2025-12-22, version 22.16.0* Me encanta ### 5/5 — It was great but *2025-08-28, version 22.15.0* This was used to be great.I started using it when it was called Lang-8,but I believe the company rused to monetize it.It's no longer possible to use without paying🥲 for other users🙌 I recommend trying write & improve by cambridge englsh. ### 5/5 — Love it! *2025-07-20, version 22.14.0* In my Opinión, the best app to perfection a language! To learn from scratch is also a huge help but in combination with other tools. ### 5/5 — Fun for casual interactions! *2025-06-30, version 22.13.0* Easy to handle, available whenever you feel like it! ### 5/5 — everything is working well *2025-05-27, version 22.11.0* i’m able to log in now. thank you for the all the work you do. ### 5/5 — Change? *2025-05-19, version 22.11.0* I can’t see people online to talk to. It’s not available anymore? ### 5/5 — Useful for learning colloquial expressions *2025-05-13, version 22.10.0* It’s useful to Double check the translation with native speakers. Also useful to learn colloquial expressions. --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-09-10.*