Comparison

italki vs Borne

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

Borne

Master new languages with an AI tutor that offers real-world conversations and instant feedback. Practice speaking anytime, anywhere, and build confidence in a judgment-free environment. Achieve fluency faster with personalized lessons tailored to your goals.

Highlights
  • Real-world conversation practice
  • AI-powered adaptive learning
  • Instant feedback on pronunciation and grammar
  • Personalized lessons for various goals
  • Multilingual support
  • Progress tracking
Features
Read full description

Speak Confidently with Borne: Your AI Language Tutor Master Spanish, French, Italian, Dutch, Swedish, Portuguese, English, or German with Borne—your personal AI language tutor designed to make language learning fun, flexible and effective. Engage in real-world conversations tailored to your skill level, practice anytime, anywhere, and start speaking in days, not months. Whether you’re a beginner, a student, a traveler, or a polyglot, Borne can help you achieve fluency. Why Choose Borne? • Real Conversations: Practice natural dialogues with an AI that adapts to your unique learning pace. Borne is your partner in mastering conversational skills for the real-world. • Learn Anytime, Anywhere: No rigid schedules. Borne fits your busy lifestyle, offering 24/7 language practice on your phone. • Instant Feedback: Receive real-time corrections on grammar, pronunciation and vocabulary to improve with every conversation. • Judgment-Free Learning: Make mistakes, learn quickly, and build confidence in a safe, supportive environment. • Affordable and Accessible: Enjoy high-quality language tutoring at a fraction of the cost of traditional tutors or language classes. • Personalized Learning: From greetings to advanced discussions, Borne tailors lessons to your goals, whether for travel, work or personal growth. How Borne Works Borne leverages cutting-edge AI technology to deliver immersive language lessons that mimic native dialogues. Choose your language — Spanish, French, Italian, Dutch, Swedish, Portuguese, English, or German — and dive into customized conversations that match your level and interests. Practice speaking, listening and comprehension through dialogues that feel authentic, helping you sound like a native speaker. Whether you’re preparing for a trip, boosting your career, or exploring a new culture, Borne makes language mastery achievable and enjoyable. Key Features • Interactive Lessons: Engage in dynamic conversations that evolve with your progress. • Multilingual Support: Learn multiple languages simultaneously to become a polyglot. • Cultural Insights: Gain context about customs and phrases to connect more deeply with native speakers. • Progress Tracking: Monitor your improvement with clear, motivating milestones. Start Your Language Journey Today Download Borne now and try a free conversation to experience AI-powered language learning. From beginner Spanish to advanced German, unlock fluency with an AI tutor that’s always ready to guide you. Join thousands of learners worldwide who are speaking confidently with Borne! Why Learners Love Borne: • Speak Spanish, French, German, and more from day one • AI-powered tutor with voice recognition for real speaking practice • Perfect for beginners, travelers, students, and professionals • Practice vocabulary, grammar, listening and speaking in context • Supports accent training and fluency for real-world conversations • Fun, fast-paced daily practice that keeps you motivated • Better than language apps with flashcards – speak naturally instead! Order tapas in Spain or negotiate in German with confidence! Borne’s gamified lessons and advanced voice tech refine your accent to sound native. Unlock new words as you level up. Enjoy a 3-day free trial to test your skills risk-free. Learn Swedish, Dutch, and more with fun, daily practice that fits your life. Speak Spanish, French, Italian, English, Swedish, German, Dutch or Portuguese with confidence from day one! Subscription Details Ready to unlock premium features? Choose a plan that fits your needs! If you choose a Premium plan with Borne, payment will be charged to your Apple account, with renewal charged within 24 hours prior to the end of the current period. Auto-renewal can be disabled anytime in your App Store settings. Any unused portion of a free trial will be forfeited upon purchasing a subscription. Privacy Policy: https://borne.ai/privacy-policy/ Terms of Service: https://borne.ai/terms-of-service/

Screenshots

italki4 screens
Borne4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Borne at none against italki's shown. Borne also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 68%) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.1). italki's advantage is ratings volume (9.8K vs 66). On price, rating, update cadence and in-app purchases 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 Borne sells 12 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Borne holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: italki has 9.8K ratings behind it against 66, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 68% of italki's written reviews are positive against 100% of Borne's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and August 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
italki versus Borne: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameteritalkiBorne
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (9.8K ratings)5.0 (66 ratings) — better
Positive reviews67.6% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings9.8K — better66
Update frequencyWeeklyWeekly
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS15.113.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size306 MB120 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developeritalki HK LimitedMereo Technologies Inc.

Customer experience

italki

All ratings9,782 ratings
Positive96.0%
Neutral1.0%
Negative3.0%
Written reviews1,457 reviews
Positive67.6%
Neutral5.1%
Negative27.2%

Borne

All ratings65 ratings
Positive98.5%
Neutral1.5%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews45 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

User reviews

italki

From 9.8K 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

Borne

From 66 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Easy to use and navigate
  • 🗣️ Great for practicing speaking and fluency
  • 💡 Interactive and engaging learning
  • 🤖 AI understands and adapts conversations
  • 💰 Affordable alternative to tutors

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

Borne

Requested features

1 request
  • Dark mode option

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
12 purchases

Borne

Subscriptions8
  • Borne Basic$5.991 Month
  • Borne Premium (Monthly)3 Days trial$9.991 Month
  • Borne Premium (Monthly)$9.991 Month
Show 5 more
  • Borne Standard$9.991 Month
  • Borne Premium$14.991 Month
  • Borne Premium (Annual)$49.991 Year
  • Borne Premium (Annual)$69.991 Year
  • Borne Premium (Annual)3 Days trial$69.991 Year
One-time4
  • 1 Hour of Conversation$1.99
  • Premium Plan - Extra Hour$1.99
  • Basic Plan - Extra Hour$2.99
Show 1 more
  • Standard Plan - Extra Hour$2.99

Questions

Is italki free?
italki is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Borne free?
Borne is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, italki or Borne?
Borne is rated higher. italki averages 4.8 out of 5 from 9.8K ratings, while Borne averages 5.0 from 66 ratings.
Do italki or Borne have ads?
italki shows ads; Borne does not.
Which is updated more often, italki or Borne?
italki ships an update weekly, and Borne weekly. Most recently, italki was updated on September 25, 2026 and Borne on August 7, 2026.

Other comparisons