# HelloTalk vs Speaky

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.

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

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.

HelloTalk ships an update fortnightly, Speaky every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 2, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | HelloTalk | Speaky |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (44K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hellotalk-language-learning/id557130558/reviews)** | [4.0 (3.4K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/speaky-language-exchange/id1118877445/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **44K** | 3.4K |
| Positive reviews | **36.1% of reviews** | 15.4% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 5 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#28** | — |
| Size | 753 MB | 135 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 16.4 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 9+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [HELLOTALK FOREIGN LANGUAGE EXCHANGE LEARNING TALK CHAT APP](https://appshunter.io/developer/557130561) | [Altissia](https://appshunter.io/developer/1359208064) |

## What reviewers say

### HelloTalk

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

**Currently charting:** #28 Top Grossing · Education, #55 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


### Speaky

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/speaky-language-exchange/id1118877445)

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:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

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

**What reviewers complain about**

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

**Reported bugs**

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

**Requested features**

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


## Frequently asked 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 2, 2026 and Speaky on September 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.*