# italki vs Courses@HKU

The clearest difference is review sentiment: italki at 68% against Courses@HKU's 0%. italki also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 3 months). Courses@HKU's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4) and ads (none vs shown). 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. Courses@HKU asks for nothing beyond the download.

italki ships an update weekly, Courses@HKU every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 1, 2026 and September 29, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | italki | Courses@HKU |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (9.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/italki-language-learning/id1140000003/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **9.8K** | — |
| Positive reviews | **67.6% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 306 MB | 4 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | **10.0** |
| 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


### Courses@HKU

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/courseshku/id1325936379)

This application helps HKU undergraduate students plan and select their courses. It requires login to the HKU Portal to access information.

**Highlights:** Course planning assistance, Course selection guidance, HKU Portal login required, Information for undergraduates

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is italki free?

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

### Is Courses@HKU free?

Courses@HKU is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do italki or Courses@HKU have ads?

italki shows ads; Courses@HKU does not.

### Which is updated more often, italki or Courses@HKU?

italki ships an update weekly, and Courses@HKU every 3 months. Most recently, italki was updated on October 1, 2026 and Courses@HKU on September 29, 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.*