# italki vs Borne

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.

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.

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.

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

## The numbers

| Metric | italki | Borne |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (9.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/italki-language-learning/id1140000003/reviews) | **[5.0 (66 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/borne-ai-language-learning/id6499499799/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **9.8K** | 66 |
| Positive reviews | 67.6% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Weekly | Weekly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 306 MB | 120 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | **13.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [italki HK Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/569299241) | [Mereo Technologies Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1743672482) |

## 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


### Borne

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/borne-ai-language-learning/id6499499799)

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:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (12)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Borne Basic | $5.99 | per month |
| Borne Premium (Monthly) | $9.99 | per month |
| Borne Premium (Monthly) | $9.99 | per month |
| Borne Standard | $9.99 | per month |
| Borne Premium | $14.99 | per month |
| Borne Premium (Annual) | $49.99 | per year |
| Borne Premium (Annual) | $69.99 | per year |
| Borne Premium (Annual) | $69.99 | per year |
| 1 Hour of Conversation | $1.99 | one-time |
| Premium Plan - Extra Hour | $1.99 | one-time |
| Basic Plan - Extra Hour | $2.99 | one-time |
| Standard Plan - Extra Hour | $2.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

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

**Requested features**

- Dark mode option


## Frequently asked 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.

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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.*