# HelloTalk vs Langmate

HelloTalk and Langmate both sit at 4.6 stars, but that hides the real split: 69% of Langmate's written reviews are positive against 36% of HelloTalk's. HelloTalk's advantage is chart position (#25 vs unranked) and ratings volume (44K vs 9.6K). On price, rating, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. HelloTalk sells 12 in-app purchases, starting at $12.99 per month and Langmate sells 13 in-app purchases, starting at $8.49 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for HelloTalk against 4.7 for Langmate. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 44K and 9.6K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 36% of HelloTalk's written reviews are positive against 69% of Langmate's.

HelloTalk ships an update fortnightly, Langmate weekly. Both last shipped on October 31, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | HelloTalk | Langmate |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (44K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hellotalk-language-learning/id557130558/reviews) | **[4.7 (9.6K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/langmate-japanese-friends/id1093968775/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **44K** | 9.6K |
| Positive reviews | 36.1% of reviews | **69.4% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#25** | — |
| Size | 766 MB | 173 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 9+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [HELLOTALK FOREIGN LANGUAGE EXCHANGE LEARNING TALK CHAT APP](https://appshunter.io/developer/557130561) | [Langmate Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1286930432) |

## What reviewers say

### HelloTalk

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

**Currently charting:** #25 Top Grossing · Education, #39 Top Free · Education (US App Store)

Practice languages with native speakers through chat, voice, and live events. Connect with locals worldwide to improve fluency and cultural understanding. Features include translation tools, instant captions, and interactive Voicerooms.

**Highlights:** Practice with native speakers, Live video lessons, Interactive Voicerooms, Translation tools, Instant captions, Global community, Cultural insights

**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


### Langmate

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/langmate-japanese-friends/id1093968775)

Connect with Japanese locals and Japan enthusiasts globally. Practice natural Japanese conversation, build friendships, and explore Japanese culture. Features include matching, location-based discovery, virtual travel, voice messaging, and handwriting practice.

**Highlights:** Swipe, match, and chat with Japanese users, Find people nearby with 'Around Me', Explore Japanese cities virtually, Practice pronunciation with voice messages, Improve writing with handwriting tool, Connect with Japan culture enthusiasts

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (13)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Langmate PREMIUM 1week offer | $8.49 | per 7 days |
| Langmate PREMIUM 1week | $10.99 | per 7 days |
| Langmate PREMIUM 1month offer | $14.99 | per month |
| 1-Month Offer PREMIUM+Smile | $17.99 | per month |
| 1-Month PREMIUM +Bonus Smile | $24.99 | per month |
| Langmate PREMIUM 1month | $24.99 | per month |
| Langmate PREMIUM 3months offer | $29.99 | per 3 months |
| 50coins | $2.99 | one-time |
| Boost | $4.99 | one-time |
| 300coins | $4.99 | one-time |
| Langmate PLUS+ | $5.49 | one-time |
| 1000coins | $9.99 | one-time |
| 3000coins | $12.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Great for language learners
- 👍 Friendship
- 👍 Good for maintaining language skills
- 👍 Excellent app to meet new friends
- 👍 User-friendly

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔒 Lack of profile authentication system
- 💰 Expensive subscription
- 💰 Coins required for many features
- 🐛 Buggy app with crashes and issues
- 🔒 Many fake/scammer profiles

**Reported bugs**

- Accounts being suspended/blocked without explanation
- Notifications not working properly
- Profiles and chat logs disappearing
- Inconsistent app performance and bugs

**Requested features**

- Allow more free messages/interactions
- Improve filters and search options
- Add translation/language learning features
- Enhance user verification and moderation
- Reduce subscription costs


## Frequently asked questions

### Is HelloTalk free?

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

### Is Langmate free?

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

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

Langmate is rated higher. HelloTalk averages 4.6 out of 5 from 44K ratings, while Langmate averages 4.7 from 9.6K ratings.

### Do HelloTalk or Langmate have ads?

Both HelloTalk and Langmate show ads.

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

HelloTalk ships an update fortnightly, and Langmate weekly. Most recently, HelloTalk was updated on October 31, 2026 and Langmate on October 31, 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.*