# italki vs PolyChat

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.

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.

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.

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

## The numbers

| Metric | italki | PolyChat |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (9.7K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/italki-language-learning/id1140000003/reviews) | **[4.9 (188 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/polychat-language-learning/id6449936635/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **9.7K** | 188 |
| Positive reviews | 67.6% of reviews | **95.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 2 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 306 MB | 88 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.1** | 16.4 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [italki HK Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/569299241) | [Applied AI](https://appshunter.io/developer/1691066680) |

## 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


### PolyChat

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/polychat-language-learning/id6449936635)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (9)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Polychat Plus Monthly | $12.99 | per month |
| Polychat Plus | $89.99 | per year |
| Weekend Getaway | $0.99 | one-time |
| Regional Excursion | $4.99 | one-time |
| Road Trip | $9.99 | one-time |
| Cross Country Adventure | $19.99 | one-time |
| Globetrotter Grand Tour | $49.99 | one-time |
| Space Odyssey | $99.99 | one-time |
| PolyChat Plus — Lifetime | $199.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

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

**What reviewers complain about**

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

**Reported bugs**

- ChatGPT not functioning (Pro subscription issue)
- Pro subscription not working

**Requested features**

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


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