Comparison

HelloWords vs Mina

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

HelloWords

Master new words with engaging games and AI-powered stories in 29 languages. Utilize smart review systems to reinforce learning and track your progress. Ideal for quick, daily vocabulary building.

Highlights
  • 29 languages available
  • Fun word games
  • AI-generated stories
  • Smart SRS review
  • Practical vocabulary focus
  • Learning progress tracking
Features
Read full description

BUILD VOCABULARY FASTER IN 29 LANGUAGES HelloWords helps you build vocabulary through fun word games, AI-powered stories, smart review systems, and practical everyday words. Whether you're learning English, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, French, German, or another language, you can make steady progress in just a few minutes a day. [29 LANGUAGES AVAILABLE] Learn vocabulary in any of the following languages for FREE: English, Chinese, Cantonese, Japanese, Korean, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, Arabic, Vietnamese, Turkish, Thai, Norwegian, Polish, Dutch, Swedish, Hindi, Indonesian, Hungarian, Danish, Icelandic, and Hebrew. Whether you want to learn English, improve your Japanese vocabulary, study Korean, practice Spanish, or explore a completely new language, HelloWords makes learning simple and enjoyable. [LEARN THROUGH FUN WORD GAMES] Vocabulary learning doesn't have to be boring. HelloWords transforms vocabulary practice into engaging game experiences designed to help you remember words more effectively. Features include: • Drag-and-drop word games • Word matching challenges • Multiple-choice vocabulary quizzes • Smart SRS-based review Each game is designed to help you recognize, understand, and remember vocabulary while keeping learning fun and motivating. [PRACTICE VOCABULARY WITH AI STORIES] Once you've learned new words through games, it's time to see them in action. HelloWords uses AI-generated stories to help you understand how vocabulary is naturally used in real-life situations. Learning words in context makes them easier to remember and more useful when communicating. Features include: • AI-generated vocabulary stories • Personalized stories using words you've already learned • Context-based vocabulary learning • Story-based review experiences Rather than memorizing isolated words, you'll encounter vocabulary inside engaging stories that reinforce meaning, usage, and recall. [SMART REVIEW WITH SPACED REPETITION] Stop forgetting the words you learn. HelloWords uses a Spaced Repetition System (SRS) based on the Ebbinghaus Forgetting Curve to help you review vocabulary at the right time. By revisiting words at optimized intervals, you can improve retention and build long-term vocabulary knowledge more efficiently. Words you've learned through games and stories are automatically scheduled for review, helping strengthen memory and support long-term learning progress. [LEARN VOCABULARY YOU'LL ACTUALLY USE] Unlike traditional vocabulary lists, HelloWords focuses on practical words and expressions that appear in everyday life. Topics include: • Travel • Food • Shopping • Work • Daily Conversations Learn vocabulary you'll actually use when communicating, traveling, studying, or exploring a new culture. [TRACK YOUR LEARNING PROGRESS] After each study session, you can review your learning progress, including the words you've studied and the vocabulary you've already mastered. [LEARN IN JUST 3 MINUTES A DAY] Busy schedule? No problem. HelloWords is designed for short, focused learning sessions that fit naturally into your daily routine. Just a few minutes a day can help you steadily improve your vocabulary and language skills. Start building your vocabulary today and discover a more enjoyable way to learn languages. Questions or feedback? Email: hellowords@hellotalk.com Privacy Policy: https://www.hellowords.com/privacy-policy Terms of Service: https://www.hellowords.com/terms-of-service

About

Mina

Learn new languages through engaging games and interactive challenges. Track your progress with visual activity maps and compete with friends to improve your vocabulary and performance. Unlock unlimited custom courses and illustrated content with a premium subscription.

Highlights
  • Gamified learning experience
  • Progress tracking with heatmap
  • Social competition with friends
  • Unlimited custom courses (subscription)
  • Illustrated course creation (subscription)
  • Access to all courses (subscription)
Features
Read full description

Learn languages by playing. Mina is an indie vocab app: tiny games, illustrated words, and progress you’ll actually want to open. A few minutes is a real session. LEARN BY PLAYING • Quiz, Swipe, Bubbles, Spell, and Scroll — short rounds that fit a commute • Picture, sound, and the word together so it sticks • Perfect for Korean, Japanese, Chinese, Spanish, French, and 6 more languages YOUR LISTS, YOUR PACE • Official Mina courses • Unlimited custom courses (Premium) • Import Anki decks and play them as games • Community courses to explore and publish PROGRESS YOU’LL OPEN • Activity heatmap and streaks • XP, levels, and weekly rankings • Compete with friends • Review words you’ve learned or only seen Mina is built by one developer, with players in the loop. Free to start on iPhone and iPad. ———— MINA PREMIUM Unlocks: • Unlimited custom course creation • Illustrated course creation • Access to all Mina courses • Review of learned and seen words • Premium access across Mina products Plans (prices shown in the app, may vary by region): • Premium Monthly • Premium Yearly • Lifetime Premium Payment is charged to your Apple ID at confirmation of purchase. Subscriptions renew automatically unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Your account is charged for renewal within 24 hours prior to the end of the period. Manage or cancel anytime in Settings → Apple ID → Subscriptions. No cancellation of the current period. Terms of Use: https://minatori.app/terms Privacy Policy: https://minatori.app/privacy

Screenshots

HelloWords4 screens
Mina4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: HelloWords at 77% against Mina's 33%. HelloWords also leads on rating (4.4 vs 4.0) and ratings volume (104 vs 2). Mina's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and monetization model 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. HelloWords sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $10.99 per month and Mina sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

HelloWords holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: HelloWords has 104 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 77% of HelloWords's written reviews are positive against 33% of Mina's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 6 weeks. Both last shipped on October 30, 2026.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
HelloWords versus Mina: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHelloWordsMina
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.4 (104 ratings) — better4.0 (2 ratings)
Positive reviews76.8% of reviews — better33.3% of reviews
Number of ratings104 — better2
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeksEvery 6 weeks
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFreemium
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS16.0 — better16.4
Further details — not scored
Size87 MB111 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperHELLOTALK FOREIGN LANGUAGE EXCHANGE LEARNING TALK CHAT APPLUNATORI

Customer experience

HelloWords

All ratings104 ratings
Positive85.6%
Neutral2.9%
Negative11.5%
Written reviews99 reviews
Positive76.8%
Neutral7.1%
Negative16.2%

Mina

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive33.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative66.7%

Bugs and requests

HelloWords

Reported bugs

12 issues
  • Audio errors in multiple languages
  • App bugs and crashes mid-lesson
  • Incorrect sounds played during lessons
  • Purchase restoration issues
  • App doesn't load or freezes
Show 7 more
  • Requires frequent deletion/reinstallation
  • Login issues
  • Inconsistent audio pronunciation
  • Interface bugs (unmovable parts)
  • Images not showing after payment
  • Words don't advance
  • Sound teaching pronunciation is inconsistent

Requested features

5 requests
  • Possibility to review learned words
  • Pronunciation practice functionality
  • Instruction videos within the app
  • Add longer phrases and grammar
  • Dark mode option

Mina

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

7 purchases

HelloWords

Subscriptions6
  • HelloWords (1 Month)$10.991 Month
  • HelloWords (3 Months)$29.993 Months
  • HelloWords -3 Months$29.993 Months
Show 3 more
  • HelloWords (6 Months)$47.996 Months
  • HelloWords (1 Year)$65.991 Year
  • HelloWords (1 Year)7 Days trial$65.991 Year
One-time1
  • HelloWords(Lifetime)2 variants$149.99
3 purchases

Mina

Subscriptions2
  • Premium Monthly$1.991 Month
  • Premium Yealry1 Month trial$17.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime Premium$114.99

Questions

Is HelloWords free?
HelloWords is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Mina free?
Mina is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, HelloWords or Mina?
HelloWords is rated higher. HelloWords averages 4.4 out of 5 from 104 ratings, while Mina averages 4.0 from 2 ratings.
Do HelloWords or Mina have ads?
HelloWords shows ads; Mina does not.
Which is updated more often, HelloWords or Mina?
HelloWords ships an update every 6 weeks, and Mina every 6 weeks. Most recently, HelloWords was updated on October 30, 2026 and Mina on October 30, 2026.

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