# italki vs PolyPod

The clearest difference is ads: PolyPod at none against italki's shown. PolyPod also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 68%). italki's advantage is ratings volume (9.8K vs 5) and update cadence (weekly vs every 4 weeks). On price, rating, in-app purchases 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 and PolyPod sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $1.99 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 4.8 for PolyPod. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: italki has 9.8K ratings behind it against 5, 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 100% of PolyPod's.

italki ships an update weekly, PolyPod every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | italki | PolyPod |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (9.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/italki-language-learning/id1140000003/reviews) | [4.8 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/polypod/id6747622986/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **9.8K** | 5 |
| Positive reviews | 67.8% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 4 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 307 MB | 130 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.1** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [italki HK Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/569299241) | [scott saunders](https://appshunter.io/developer/1822064034) |

## 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


### PolyPod

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/polypod/id6747622986)

Learn languages by listening to podcasts with this app. It tracks your listening time, helps you build habits, and visualizes your progress. Features include adjustable playback speed, episode transcription, and achievement earning.

**Highlights:** Automatic listening time tracking, Daily listening goals, Progress visualization (streaks, hours), Podcast tagging and organization, Adjustable playback speed, On-device episode transcription, Achievement system for habit building

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro | $1.99 | per month |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is italki free?

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

### Is PolyPod free?

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

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

italki and PolyPod are both rated 4.8 out of 5 on the App Store, from 9.8K and 5 ratings respectively.

### Do italki or PolyPod have ads?

italki shows ads; PolyPod does not.

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

italki ships an update weekly, and PolyPod every 4 weeks. Most recently, italki was updated on October 15, 2026 and PolyPod on September 30, 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.*