# italki vs Preply

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Preply at none against italki's 4. Preply also leads on ads (none vs shown) and chart position (#101 vs unranked). italki's advantage is review sentiment (68% vs 54%). On price, rating, update cadence and monetization model there is nothing between them.

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

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for italki against 4.8 for Preply. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 9.7K and 44K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 68% of italki's written reviews are positive against 54% of Preply's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly weekly. Both last shipped on September 24, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | italki | Preply |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (9.7K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/italki-language-learning/id1140000003/reviews) | [4.8 (44K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/preply-language-learning-app/id1352790442/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 9.7K | **44K** |
| Positive reviews | **67.6% of reviews** | 54.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Weekly | Weekly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#101** |
| Size | 306 MB | 237 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | 15.1 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [italki HK Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/569299241) | [Preply Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1352790441) |

## 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


### Preply

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/preply-language-learning-app/id1352790442)

**Currently charting:** #101 Top Free · Education (US App Store)

Connect with professional tutors for live, personalized language classes. This platform offers a structured alternative to gamified apps, focusing on real conversations and customized learning paths to achieve fluency.

**Highlights:** Live, personalized classes, Thousands of expert tutors, Practice real conversations, Flexible scheduling, Study over 90 languages, Track progress

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Great app for learning languages
- 👍 Easy to use and navigate
- 💡 Flexible scheduling and wide range of tutors
- 🤩 Excellent tutors who are patient and knowledgeable
- 📚 Helpful lesson materials and resources

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Technical issues with the app, including freezing, crashing, and audio/video problems
- 🤑 Concerns about the subscription model and hidden fees
- 💤 Lack of customer support responsiveness
- 🤯 Frustration with tutors canceling or not showing up for lessons
- 🤖 Complaints about the app's user interface and navigation

**Reported bugs**

- Lessons not properly credited or refunded
- Inability to transfer lesson credits between tutors
- Automatic subscription renewals without user consent
- Inconsistent app functionality across devices
- Tutor profiles and availability not accurately reflected

**Requested features**

- Calendar integration and scheduling improvements
- Better note-taking and lesson history features
- Ability to purchase individual lessons instead of subscriptions
- Improved customer support and communication channels
- More robust tutor vetting and quality control


## Frequently asked questions

### Is italki free?

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

### Is Preply free?

Preply is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, italki or Preply?

italki and Preply are both rated 4.8 out of 5 on the App Store, from 9.7K and 44K ratings respectively.

### Do italki or Preply have ads?

italki shows ads; Preply does not.

### Which is updated more often, italki or Preply?

italki ships an update weekly, and Preply weekly. Most recently, italki was updated on September 24, 2026 and Preply on September 24, 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.*