# italki vs Dash Academy

The clearest difference is ads: Dash Academy at none against italki's shown. Dash Academy also leads on iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.1). italki's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs monthly). On price, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. italki sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month and Dash Academy sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

italki ships an update weekly, Dash Academy monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 11, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | italki | Dash Academy |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (9.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/italki-language-learning/id1140000003/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **9.8K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 67.8% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 307 MB | 124 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | **12.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [italki HK Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/569299241) | [Ibrahim Ahmed](https://appshunter.io/developer/1683023823) |

## 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


### Dash Academy

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dash-academy/id6752520299)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Product Tier 10114 | $0.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is italki free?

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

### Is Dash Academy free?

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

### Do italki or Dash Academy have ads?

italki shows ads; Dash Academy does not.

### Which is updated more often, italki or Dash Academy?

italki ships an update weekly, and Dash Academy monthly. Most recently, italki was updated on October 14, 2026 and Dash Academy on October 11, 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.*