Comparison

italki vs PolyChat

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

italki

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
Read full description

Start learning or keep improving your Spanish, English, French or any other language with private tutoring, thanks to qualified native teachers. With italki, enjoy an immersive learning experience with native teachers, and learn Spanish, French or any other language by sharing a real and human connection with your teacher. Do you want to learn a new language? Would you like to study English with a native teacher? You speak a bit of French and you’re not sure how to keep on learning? Language academies don’t fit your schedule? Download italki, register for free and learn Spanish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean and more languages. Customize the way you learn languages; connect with native teachers according to your interests, work experience, etc. In italki you’ll find qualified language teachers to learn the language you like best (English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Japanese, Korean…). Make the most of this opportunity to learn languages, practice your conversation skills, get to know new cultures and grow professionally. Aside from the italki’s community’s support, video call tutoring with native teachers is the best tool for you to learn a language. italki, the app to learn languages with tutoring More than 150 languages available with native teachers - Spanish - English - French - Japanese - Korean - German … and much more! ◉ Language classes where and when you want Do you want to make the most of your lunch break at work or your daily walk to learn Spanish? Choose the class duration (30, 45, 60 or 90 minutes) and adjust it to your schedule. Use italki Classroom, Skype, Zoom or another platform for your online language classes and start speaking the language you always wanted to learn, or practice the languages you want to get better at. ◉ Master the language skills you need the most italki's qualified teachers tailor their language classes to your current level (A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2). They will build every lesson based on your personal needs and weaknesses, to ensure you progress fast. Choose a course that fits your priorities: conversation, business, grammar, creative writing, exam preparation… You have lots of options available for each language! ◉ Pay as you go Forget about paying a lot without knowing if you’ll be able to attend all the classes. With italki, you pay per class. You can also buy credits to spend them little by little or buy a package and save on the final price. Educators set their own prices, from less than $10 for qualified teachers to less than $5 for tutors. You also have three classes for less than $5 each to try, so you can make sure it’s right for you! ◉ An immersive learning experience Learn and exchange with native teachers who will teach you everything you need to know about the language and its culture, and with whom you can create a real human connection, far beyond mechanical language learning. Whether you want to learn Spanish, English, Japanese or any other language, progress quickly with a total immersion. ◉ Connect with thousands of native teachers Find Spanish, English, French, Japanese, German, Italian and Korean teachers, and teachers of many more languages. Choose your teacher according to their interests, specialization, or even their accent: British or American English, to learn English and any other language you need. Some teachers use language-teaching materials in their tutoring classes, such as books, videos, cards, etc. ◉ Learning together with your friend Invite your friends to join italki to study a language, and earn $10 every time one of them spends their first $20. They will also earn $5 for adding you as their referrer. Study online, learn languages with native tutors in italki and expand your world. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

PolyChat

Master new languages with interactive lessons, engaging games, and an AI chat tutor. Practice vocabulary, grammar, and conversation with a powerful translator and conjugation tools. Learn at your own pace, anytime, anywhere.

Highlights
  • Interactive lessons
  • Gamified vocabulary challenges
  • AI chat tutor
  • Real-time translator
  • Verb conjugator
  • Progress tracking
Features
Read full description

PolyChat is the leading language learning app for iOS, designed to take you from beginner to fluency with interactive lessons, games, AI chat tools, vocabulary exercises, translation tools, and conversation practice. Learn English, Spanish, French, Italian, German, Dutch, Portuguese, Polish, Romanian, Croatian, Catalan, Czech, Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, Vietnamese, and Albanian with over 5,000 lessons per language. PolyChat is the only app that combines structured lessons with custom lessons, giving you the power to learn exactly what you want, anytime you want. Whether you are learning for travel, work, school, ESL study, or personal growth, PolyChat helps you speak confidently faster than traditional apps. Why PolyChat? • 5,000+ lessons per language from beginner to mastery (CEFR A1–C2) • Placement test to match you with lessons for your level • Unlimited custom lessons • AI chat tutor for conversation practice • Vocabulary games and roleplay challenges • Built-in translator and conjugation challenges • Progress tracker for words, phrases, and verbs • Designed for beginners through advanced speakers • Free to start learning today Master Languages With Structured Lessons PolyChat includes thousands of lessons covering vocabulary, grammar, verbs, conjugation, pronunciation, listening, reading, and speaking skills. Practice beginner lessons, verb drills, grammar exercises, translation practice, listening activities, and roleplay conversations designed to build fluency naturally. Vocabulary modules, phrase matching games, and timed challenges help reinforce what you learn while keeping lessons fun and engaging. Our lesson map makes it easy to stay motivated and track your progress. Unlimited Custom Lessons PolyChat is the only app that lets you generate fully customized language lessons instantly with AI. Create lessons for: • Business English conversation • German travel phrases • Portuguese vocabulary for soccer • Dutch grammar exercises • French slang • Spanish roleplay scenarios • ESL speaking practice • And almost anything else you can imagine Just create your own lesson in seconds and make language learning limitless. AI Chat Tutor and Conversation Practice Practice speaking naturally with your personal AI tutor. PolyChat's AI chat helps you: • Improve conversation skills • Learn useful phrases and vocabulary • Get corrections instantly • Practice realistic situations through interactive roleplay From beginner conversation to advanced discussion, PolyChat adapts to your level. PolyChat also includes powerful language tools such as an instant translator with examples and alternatives, vocabulary and conjugation timed challenges, and exercises with spaced repetition review. Everything works together in one app to help you learn faster and remember more. LEARN THROUGH GAMES AND CHALLENGES PolyChat includes: • Vocabulary games • Speaking challenges • Timed word games • XP rewards • Streaks • Leaderboards • Achievements • Daily challenges • Social learning features These features are designed to keep you motivated while building real language skills. Download PolyChat today and discover why thousands of learners are choosing the most complete language learning app for iPhone and iPad. Learn faster. Speak confidently. Master languages with PolyChat. Privacy Policy: polychatapp.com/privacy Terms of Service: polychatapp.com/terms

Screenshots

italki4 screens
PolyChat4 screens

Verdict

The call

italki and PolyChat both sit at 4.8 stars, but that hides the real split: 96% of PolyChat's written reviews are positive against 68% of italki's. italki's advantage is ratings volume (9.7K vs 188). On price, rating, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. italki sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month and PolyChat sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $12.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for italki against 4.9 for PolyChat. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: italki has 9.7K ratings behind it against 188, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 68% of italki's written reviews are positive against 96% of PolyChat's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

italki ships an update weekly, PolyChat every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on September 24, 2026.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
italki versus PolyChat: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameteritalkiPolyChat
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (9.7K ratings)4.9 (188 ratings) — better
Positive reviews67.6% of reviews95.6% of reviews — better
Number of ratings9.7K — better188
Update frequencyWeekly — betterEvery 2 weeks
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.1 — better16.4
Further details — not scored
Size306 MB88 MB
Age rating4+12+
Developeritalki HK LimitedApplied AI

Customer experience

italki

All ratings9,737 ratings
Positive96.0%
Neutral1.0%
Negative3.0%
Written reviews1,457 reviews
Positive67.6%
Neutral5.1%
Negative27.2%

PolyChat

All ratings188 ratings
Positive96.8%
Neutral2.7%
Negative0.5%
Written reviews68 reviews
Positive95.6%
Neutral0.0%
Negative4.4%

User reviews

italki

From 9.7K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 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

Room to improve

  • 🐛 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

PolyChat

From 188 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 💡 Innovative learning path feature
  • 💡 Custom vocabulary quizzes
  • 👍 Easy to understand lessons
  • 💡 Build your own character
  • 👍 Great user interface

Room to improve

  • 🐛 No writing exercises
  • 🐛 AI chat is too hard (for some)
  • 🐛 Lack of level adjustment for experienced speakers
  • 🐛 Lessons are a bit fast for some

Bugs and requests

italki

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • 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

5 requests
  • 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

PolyChat

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • ChatGPT not functioning (Pro subscription issue)
  • Pro subscription not working

Requested features

3 requests
  • Add writing exercises
  • Ability to open a lesson at any level
  • More lessons for total beginners

In-app purchases

4 purchases

italki

Subscriptions4
  • italki Plus - 1 Month$5.991 Month
  • Plus Monthly Plan with Trial1 Month trial$5.991 Month
  • italki Plus - 1 Year$59.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • Plus Yearly Plan with Trial1 Month trial$59.991 Year
9 purchases

PolyChat

Subscriptions2
  • Polychat Plus Monthly7 Days trial$12.991 Month
  • Polychat Plus7 Days trial$89.991 Year
One-time7
  • Weekend Getaway$0.99
  • Regional Excursion$4.99
  • Road Trip$9.99
Show 4 more
  • Cross Country Adventure$19.99
  • Globetrotter Grand Tour$49.99
  • Space Odyssey$99.99
  • PolyChat Plus — Lifetime$199.99

Questions

Is italki free?
italki is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is PolyChat free?
PolyChat is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, italki or PolyChat?
PolyChat is rated higher. italki averages 4.8 out of 5 from 9.7K ratings, while PolyChat averages 4.9 from 188 ratings.
Do italki or PolyChat have ads?
Both italki and PolyChat show ads.
Which is updated more often, italki or PolyChat?
italki ships an update weekly, and PolyChat every 2 weeks. Most recently, italki was updated on September 24, 2026 and PolyChat on September 24, 2026.

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