# SmallTalk vs Hilokal

The clearest difference is rating: Hilokal at 4.4 against SmallTalk's 1.0. Hilokal also leads on ratings volume (772 vs 1). SmallTalk's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 26) and ads (none vs shown). On price, review sentiment and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Hilokal sells 26 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. SmallTalk asks for nothing beyond the download.

Hilokal holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 1.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Hilokal has 772 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 50% of SmallTalk's written reviews are positive against 44% of Hilokal's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

## The numbers

| Metric | SmallTalk | Hilokal |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [1.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smalltalk-practice-languages/id1433500200/reviews) | **[4.4 (772 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hilokal-language-exchange-app/id1537500613/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 1 | **772** |
| Positive reviews | **50.0% of reviews** | 43.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | — | Every 9 days |
| Monetization | **Free** | Freemium |
| Size | 43 MB | 219 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.0** | 15.1 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [Artur Shkil](https://appshunter.io/developer/1108558376) | [Hilokal](https://appshunter.io/developer/1537500615) |

## What reviewers say

### SmallTalk

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smalltalk-practice-languages/id1433500200)

This app offers a straightforward method for language practice by connecting users with partners for subject-based conversations. It eliminates the need for scheduling or partner searching, focusing solely on speaking practice with minimal distractions.

**Highlights:** Automatic partner matching, Subject-based conversation topics, Partner skill estimation, Simple and distraction-free interface, Focus on speaking practice

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Hilokal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hilokal-language-exchange-app/id1537500613)

Learn languages like Korean and English with an AI tutor and a global community of learners. Practice speaking, writing, and listening with real-time feedback and interactive tools. Engage in themed chats and games to make learning fun and practical.

**Highlights:** AI-powered language tutoring, Real-time grammar and pronunciation correction, Interactive transcripts with AI insights, Word tracking and pronunciation analysis, Global language exchange community, Themed chat rooms and language games, Community-led learning sessions

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (26)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Hilokal Premium | $2.99 | per month |
| Hilokal Premium | $4.99 | per month |
| Hilokal Premium | $4.99 | per month |
| Premium Plus 1 month | $10.99 | per month |
| Premium Plus 1 month | $10.99 | per month |
| Premium Plus 1 month | $19.99 | per month |
| Premium Plus 1 month | $19.99 | per month |
| Hilokal Premium 1 year | $24.99 | per year |
| Hilokal Premium | $24.99 | per 6 months |
| Hilokal Premium | $39.99 | per year |
| Premium Plus 6 months | $41.99 | per 6 months |
| Premium Plus 12 months | $64.99 | per year |
| Premium Plus 12 months | $73.00 | per year |
| Premium Plus 12 months | $73.00 | per year |
| Hilokal 140 Beans | $1.99 | one-time |
| Hilokal Premium bundle 1 | $2.99 | one-time |
| Hilokal Premium(1mo) Gift Card | $4.99 | one-time |
| Hilokal 500 Beans | $6.99 | one-time |
| Premium Plus bundle 1 | $10.99 | one-time |
| Premium Plus bundle 1 | $11.49 | one-time |
| Hilokal 1500 Beans | $18.99 | one-time |
| Hilokal Premium bundle 5 | $24.99 | one-time |
| Premium Plus bundle 3 | $37.00 | one-time |
| Hilokal Premium(1yr) Gift Card | $39.99 | one-time |
| Hilokal 5000 Beans | $64.99 | one-time |
| Premium Plus bundle 10 | $110.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Excellent for language exchange and practice
- 👍 Diverse community of users from around the world
- 🌟 Helpful and knowledgeable teachers/tutors
- 💡 Innovative features like AI tutor and role-playing
- 🤝 Great for making new friends and cultural exchange

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent bugs, crashes, and connection issues
- 🔊 Volume control problems, echo, and audio distortion
- 🤖 Inconsistent performance of AI tutor feature
- 🔒 Weak security and moderation, allowing harassment
- 💰 Expensive subscription, lack of affordable options

**Reported bugs**

- Inability to log in or create account
- Sudden loss of audio/voice functionality
- Incompatibility with older iOS/Android devices
- Disappearing user profiles and conversation history
- Inconsistent performance after recent app updates

**Requested features**

- Allow selecting multiple target languages
- Add option to save/review conversation transcripts
- Implement better filtering and search for tables
- Improve moderation system to address harassment
- Provide more affordable subscription plans


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SmallTalk free?

SmallTalk is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Hilokal free?

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

### Which has better reviews, SmallTalk or Hilokal?

Hilokal is rated higher. SmallTalk averages 1.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while Hilokal averages 4.4 from 772 ratings.

### Do SmallTalk or Hilokal have ads?

Hilokal shows ads; SmallTalk does not.

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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.*