# italki vs HKU Shuttle Bus

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: HKU Shuttle Bus at none against italki's 4. HKU Shuttle Bus also leads on ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.1). italki's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 88 months). On price and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. italki sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. HKU Shuttle Bus asks for nothing beyond the download.

italki ships an update weekly, HKU Shuttle Bus every 88 months. The most recent releases landed on October 28, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | italki | HKU Shuttle Bus |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (9.9K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/italki-language-learning/id1140000003/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **9.9K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 68.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 88 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 307 MB | 5 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [italki HK Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/569299241) | [The University of Hong Kong](https://appshunter.io/developer/451384643) |

## What reviewers say

### italki

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/italki-language-learning/id1140000003)

Connect with qualified native teachers for personalized language lessons. Learn Spanish, English, French, and over 150 other languages at your own pace and schedule. Practice conversation, master grammar, and immerse yourself in new cultures.

**Highlights:** Private tutoring with native teachers, Learn over 150 languages, Customizable lesson plans, Flexible class scheduling, Pay-as-you-go pricing, Video call tutoring

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Wallet, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| italki Plus - 1 Month | $5.99 | per month |
| Plus Monthly Plan with Trial | $5.99 | per month |
| italki Plus - 1 Year | $59.99 | per year |
| Plus Yearly Plan with Trial | $59.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Great platform to connect with native speakers
- 🚀 Flexible scheduling and easy to use
- 💰 Affordable lessons
- 🎓 Helpful for improving language skills
- 🤝 Positive learning experience with great teachers

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy app with glitches and connectivity issues
- 💳 Concerns about pricing changes and fees
- 🕰️ Unreliable teachers who cancel or don't show up
- 🤖 Poor customer service and lack of support
- 📆 Difficulty with scheduling and calendar integration

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes and freezes
- Inaccurate teacher availability information
- Issues with login and account management
- Problems with video/audio quality during lessons
- Syncing and integration problems with other platforms

**Requested features**

- Improved calendar and scheduling functionality
- Better notification system for lessons
- Ability to search for and connect with language partners
- More transparency around teacher availability and cancellations
- Streamlined payment and refund process


### HKU Shuttle Bus

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hku-shuttle-bus/id1194841840)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is italki free?

italki is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is HKU Shuttle Bus free?

HKU Shuttle Bus is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do italki or HKU Shuttle Bus have ads?

italki shows ads; HKU Shuttle Bus does not.

### Which is updated more often, italki or HKU Shuttle Bus?

italki ships an update weekly, and HKU Shuttle Bus every 88 months. Most recently, italki was updated on October 28, 2026 and HKU Shuttle Bus on October 14, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*