# HelloTalk vs SKApp

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: SKApp at none against HelloTalk's 15. SKApp also leads on ads (none vs shown) and rating (5.0 vs 4.6). HelloTalk's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 3 months) and ratings volume (44K vs 1). On price, review sentiment and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. HelloTalk sells 12 in-app purchases, starting at $12.99 per month. SKApp asks for nothing beyond the download.

SKApp holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: HelloTalk has 44K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 36% of HelloTalk's written reviews are positive against 33% of SKApp's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

HelloTalk ships an update fortnightly, SKApp every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and October 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | HelloTalk | SKApp |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (44K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hellotalk-language-learning/id557130558/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/skapp/id1008052647/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **44K** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | **35.9% of reviews** | 33.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#29** | — |
| Size | 757 MB | 28 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [HELLOTALK FOREIGN LANGUAGE EXCHANGE LEARNING TALK CHAT APP](https://appshunter.io/developer/557130561) | [ST KENTIGERN TRUST BOARD](https://appshunter.io/developer/1008052646) |

## What reviewers say

### HelloTalk

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hellotalk-language-learning/id557130558)

**Currently charting:** #29 Top Grossing · Education, #37 Top Free · Education (US App Store)

Connect with native speakers worldwide to practice languages through chat, voice rooms, and live streams. Utilize built-in translation and caption tools to overcome language barriers and enhance your learning experience.

**Highlights:** Practice with native speakers, Live streams and voice rooms, Built-in translation and captions, Smart partner matching, International Moments feed, Interactive language events

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

**In-app purchases (12)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly auto-renewal VIP | $12.99 | per month |
| VIP Membership Monthly | $12.99 | per month |
| VIP Membership Yearly | $79.99 | per year |
| VIP Membership | $79.99 | per year |
| VIP Membership Yearly | $79.99 | per year |
| 8 HT Coins | $0.29 | one-time |
| 64 HT Coins | $0.99 | one-time |
| 324 HT Coins | $4.99 | one-time |
| 649 HT Coins | $9.99 | one-time |
| Pro Membership (3 Months) | $29.99 | one-time |
| 3249 HT Coins | $49.99 | one-time |
| 10334 HT Coins | $149.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Great app for language learning
- 👍 Helpful features like translation and correction
- 💡 Ability to connect with native speakers
- 🤝 Friendly and supportive community
- 🌍 Exposure to different cultures

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
- 💰 Overly aggressive monetization
- 🔒 Concerns about privacy and censorship
- 🚫 Difficulty changing account details
- 🤖 Issues with bots and fake accounts

**Reported bugs**

- Disappearing messages and chat history
- Inability to create new accounts on same device
- Inconsistent app performance across platforms
- Incorrect language detection and translation
- Unexpected account suspensions or bans

**Requested features**

- Add dark mode option
- Improve messaging and notification features
- Allow more flexibility in language settings
- Enhance moderation and reporting systems
- Provide better customer support channels


### SKApp

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/skapp/id1008052647)

Stay connected with your school community through instant updates, notifications for urgent news, and access to school newsletters. This app facilitates seamless communication between home and school.

**Highlights:** Instant school information, Push notifications for urgent updates, Access to school newsletters, Home and school connection, Developed by Digistorm

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is HelloTalk free?

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

### Is SKApp free?

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

### Which has better reviews, HelloTalk or SKApp?

SKApp is rated higher. HelloTalk averages 4.6 out of 5 from 44K ratings, while SKApp averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do HelloTalk or SKApp have ads?

HelloTalk shows ads; SKApp does not.

### Which is updated more often, HelloTalk or SKApp?

HelloTalk ships an update fortnightly, and SKApp every 3 months. Most recently, HelloTalk was updated on November 3, 2026 and SKApp on October 22, 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.*