Comparison

HelloTalk vs Speaky

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

Head to head
About

HelloTalk

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
Read full description

Practice languages with native speakers on HelloTalk! We recently introduced HelloTalk Live and Voiceroom - interactive language and culture events to help you master languages through the content you love! HelloTalk, the original language exchange app, connects you with native speakers to practice languages (English, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, French, Mandarin Chinese, Portuguese, German, Italian, Russian, Arabic, Turkish, Hindi, Indonesian, Thai, Vietnamese and 260+ more) for FREE! HelloTalk equips you with learning tools such as translation and instant captions so you can learn by chatting with native speakers. Learn languages from locals around the world through livestreams and Voicerooms. Connect with expert hosts to discuss interesting topics with language partners in the learning community! Why HelloTalk? ► Real language learning atmosphere Whether you're focused on a widely spoken language or a less common one, HelloTalk caters to your needs. The system smartly matches you based on your native language and proficiency, while allowing you to filter ideal language partners according to various criteria such as age, location, and gender. Plus, with built-in translation and transliteration tools, you can communicate confidently without any language barriers. ► A powerful tool for sharpening your language skills Acquiring new words through conversations with native speakers is more effective than rigid memorization. Whether you're a student preparing for exams like the CET, GRE, TOEFL, IELTS, planning to study abroad, or a professional seeking career advancement through language skills, HelloTalk offers native speakers who match your proficiency level for engaging interactions and valuable learning experiences. ► Immersive multi-person language chat rooms If you choose to learn Spanish, for example, every Voiceroom you enter on HelloTalk gathers Spanish learners and Spanish native speakers from around the world to discuss interesting topics. Here, only your voice needs to be heard, creating a comfortable, introvert-friendly atmosphere. Here, sharing mutual interests allows everyone to freely express themselves and share personal experiences, fostering both language intuition and authentic expression skills. It's incredibly addictive! ► Diverse global Livestreams HelloTalk features handpicked foreign language hosts who offer online video lessons, share language insights, and provide glimpses into their lives abroad. You can even join them on stage for one-on-one video conversations with fellow language learners. Whether you're grappling with pronunciation, speaking speed, or shyness, these hosts will assist you in refining your language skills and guiding the conversation. For rapid improvement in spoken language, there's no substitute for direct communication with native speakers! ► International Moments HelloTalk's Moments offers real-time posts covering learning, lifestyle, and cultural insights from around the world. It's your ticket to discovering fresh perspectives and gaining deeper insights into diverse cultural customs, all from the comfort of your home. Don't forget to engage with posts that catch your interest! What the world is saying about HelloTalk “One of the best apps to help you learn a new language.” - 9to5Mac "When you're ready to experiment with a foreign language, HelloTalk provides an excellent opportunity for interaction with other speakers." –PCMag START PRACTICING LANGUAGES RIGHT AWAY!!! Learn more about the HelloTalk app: - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Hellotalk/ - Twitter: https://twitter.com/hellotalkapp Send any feedback to support@hellotalk.com - Privacy Policy: https://www.hellotalk.com/privacy-policy - Terms of Use: https://www.hellotalk.com/terms-of-service

About

Speaky

Connect with native speakers worldwide to learn languages authentically. Engage in real conversations, discover culture, and practice over 170 languages. It's a rewarding, two-way exchange for learners of all levels.

Highlights
  • Connect with native speakers
  • Learn 170+ languages
  • Authentic conversation practice
  • Cultural exchange
  • Discover slang and customs
  • Web and mobile access
Features
Read full description

Ready to speak a new language the real way? Speaky connects you with native speakers from 195 countries, helping you learn how the language is actually spoken—naturally and authentically. Build real connections, make new friends, and dive into meaningful conversations. With more than 170 languages to choose from, there’s always someone to practice with. Learning with Speaky isn’t just about vocabulary—it’s about culture. Every conversation opens the door to new perspectives and real-world expressions. You share your language, your partner shares theirs. It’s a two-way exchange that’s fun, intuitive, and truly rewarding. Explore local slang, customs, and ways of thinking. Because with Speaky, you don’t just learn a language—you experience it. Prefer a bigger screen? Speaky is also available on your computer at web.speaky.com. Whether you’re a beginner or brushing up your skills, there’s always someone ready to help you grow. Start speaking today—the world is waiting for you on Speaky.

Screenshots

HelloTalk4 screens
Speaky4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: HelloTalk at 4.6 against Speaky's 4.0. HelloTalk also leads on review sentiment (36% vs 15%) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 5 weeks). Speaky's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 15) and ads (none vs shown). On price, device support and iOS requirement 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. HelloTalk sells 12 in-app purchases, starting at $12.99 per month. Speaky asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

HelloTalk holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: HelloTalk has 44K ratings behind it against 3.4K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 36% of HelloTalk's written reviews are positive against 15% of Speaky's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

HelloTalk ships an update fortnightly, Speaky every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 1, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 3 level
HelloTalk versus Speaky: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHelloTalkSpeaky
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (44K ratings) — better4.0 (3.4K ratings)
Positive reviews36.1% of reviews — better15.4% of reviews
Number of ratings44K — better3.4K
Update frequencyFortnightly — betterEvery 5 weeks
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
Best chart rank#28 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better16.4
Further details — not scored
Size753 MB135 MB
Age rating9+17+
DeveloperHELLOTALK FOREIGN LANGUAGE EXCHANGE LEARNING TALK CHAT APPAltissia

Customer experience

HelloTalk

All ratings43,831 ratings
Positive90.9%
Neutral2.7%
Negative6.4%
Written reviews2,556 reviews
Positive36.1%
Neutral11.9%
Negative52.0%

Speaky

All ratings3,436 ratings
Positive71.2%
Neutral9.9%
Negative18.9%
Written reviews941 reviews
Positive15.4%
Neutral13.9%
Negative70.7%

User reviews

HelloTalk

From 44K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 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

Room to improve

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

Speaky

From 3.4K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Great app for practicing languages
  • 👍 Excellent way to connect with people worldwide
  • 💡 Helpful for learning new cultures

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
  • 🔌 Connection issues and messages not sending
  • 🤖 Presence of fake/inappropriate profiles
  • 🚫 Limited functionality on iOS compared to Android

Bugs and requests

HelloTalk

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • 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

5 requests
  • 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

Speaky

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Messages disappearing or not sending
  • App crashing when trying to correct messages
  • Login and connection issues
  • Inability to update profile and settings

Requested features

4 requests
  • Add voice/audio messaging
  • Improve blocking and reporting features
  • Implement translation tools within the app
  • Optimize performance and stability

In-app purchases

12 purchases

HelloTalk

Subscriptions5
  • Monthly auto-renewal VIP$12.991 Month
  • VIP Membership Monthly$12.991 Month
  • VIP Membership Yearly1 Year trial$79.991 Year
Show 2 more
  • VIP Membership$79.991 Year
  • VIP Membership Yearly3 Days trial$79.991 Year
One-time7
  • 8 HT Coins$0.29
  • 64 HT Coins$0.99
  • 324 HT Coins$4.99
Show 4 more
  • 649 HT Coins$9.99
  • Pro Membership (3 Months)$29.99
  • 3249 HT Coins$49.99
  • 10334 HT Coins$149.99
None

Speaky

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is HelloTalk free?
HelloTalk is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Speaky free?
Speaky is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, HelloTalk or Speaky?
HelloTalk is rated higher. HelloTalk averages 4.6 out of 5 from 44K ratings, while Speaky averages 4.0 from 3.4K ratings.
Do HelloTalk or Speaky have ads?
HelloTalk shows ads; Speaky does not.
Which is updated more often, HelloTalk or Speaky?
HelloTalk ships an update fortnightly, and Speaky every 5 weeks. Most recently, HelloTalk was updated on October 1, 2026 and Speaky on September 22, 2026.

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