Comparison

HelloTalk vs LingoDeer

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

LingoDeer

This app offers structured language lessons created by teachers, making learning effective and easy. It covers 20 languages, from beginner alphabets to conversational fluency, with interactive exercises and native speaker audio.

Highlights
  • Short, interactive lessons
  • Clear learning path
  • Grammar tips and notes
  • Native speaker audio
  • Flashcards and quizzes
  • Offline learning
  • Real-life conversation practice
Features
Read full description

#1 app for learning Asian languages and more! Over 20 million people choose to learn with LingoDeer. Why? Our structured lessons created by language teachers make learning easy and effective. From the alphabet, LingoDeer will get you to a conversational level in 20 languages: Korean, Japanese, Chinese, Arabic, French, German, Greek, Hindi, Indonesian, Italian, Malay, Polish, Brazilian Portuguese, Russian, Spanish(Latin American or European), Thai, Turkish, Ukrainian, Vietnamese, and English. Download LingoDeer Today! ⎓⎓⎓⎓⎓⎓⎓⎓⎓⎓⎓⎓⎓⎓⎓⎓⎓⎓⎓⎓ What will you get on LingoDeer? ※ Short, interactive lessons Easy 5-min lessons that fit into your daily plan ※ Clear learning path Each course is tailored to your target language ※ Customized for Asian languages Read & write in a unique alphabet system like Korean or Japanese ※ Better understanding of the grammar Tips & notes within lessons to help you build sentences confidently ※ Listen, imitate, and speak Studio-recorded audio from native speakers ※ Reinforce what you learn Flashcards, quizzes, target training, and more ※ Offline learning Take lessons everywhere you go Powerful features you'll love: • Fluent: real-life conversations! Practice reading, writing, listening, speaking, and get cultural tips as you learn. • Travel Phrasebook: audio phrasebook! Get ready for your trip to your dream country. • Character Drill: writing practices for Japanese kanji and Chinese characters. • Story: mini stories with captions! Expand what you learned in lessons. • Knowledge Cards: printable grammar flashcards! Keep essential grammar concepts at your desk. *Fluent is only available for Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Spanish, and French courses at the moment. ⎓⎓⎓⎓⎓⎓⎓⎓⎓⎓⎓⎓⎓⎓⎓⎓⎓⎓⎓⎓ Find tips, guides, and resources on language learning: ※ LingoDeer Blog: https://blog.lingodeer.com ※ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/lingodeer Come chat with us on social media! Follow us for language learning advice, support, and memes: ※ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lingodeerapp ※ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LingoDeer ※ Twitter: https://twitter.com/lingodeer ⎓⎓⎓⎓⎓⎓⎓⎓⎓⎓⎓⎓⎓⎓⎓⎓⎓⎓⎓⎓ You will need a subscription in order to get full access to all courses and features. The subscription price starts at $14.99/month. Prices are in US dollars, may vary by country, can be converted to local currency depending on the country of residence, and are subject to change without notice. Subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Your iTunes account will be automatically charged at the same price for renewal within the 24-hour period prior to the end of the current payment period unless you change your subscription preferences in your iTunes Account Settings. When a subscription is canceled, access to the app's courses and features will expire at the end of the current payment period. Any unused portion of a free trial period, if offered, will be forfeited when you purchase a LingoDeer subscription, where applicable. - Terms of Use: https://www.lingodeer.com/terms-conditions-html - Privacy Policy: https://www.lingodeer.com/privacypolicy-html CONTACT US: Got ideas you want to share or feedback for the app? Email us at hi@lingodeer.com ⎓⎓⎓⎓⎓⎓⎓⎓⎓⎓⎓⎓⎓⎓⎓⎓⎓⎓⎓⎓ Real reviews from the LingoDeer community: "This has been helping me study Japanese way better than any book can!" "LingoDeer is worth every penny and more, it is an essential tool in the shed for anyone learning any of their offered languages, in or out of a classroom." YOUR JOURNEY TO FLUENCY STARTS HERE: • Learn Korean • Learn Japanese • Learn Mandarin Chinese • Learn Arabic • Learn French • Learn German • Learn Greek • Learn Hindi • Learn Indonesian • Learn Italian • Learn Malay • Learn Polish • Learn Brazilian Portuguese • Learn Russian • Learn Spanish (Latin American or European) • Learn Thai • Learn Turkish • Learn Ukrainian • Learn Vietnamese • Learn English

Screenshots

HelloTalk4 screens
LingoDeer4 screens

Verdict

The call

HelloTalk and LingoDeer both sit at 4.6 stars, but that hides the real split: 77% of LingoDeer's written reviews are positive against 36% of HelloTalk's. LingoDeer also leads on ads (none vs shown). HelloTalk's advantage is monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription) and chart position (#28 vs #130). On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence 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 and LingoDeer sells 17 in-app purchases, starting at $12.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for HelloTalk against 4.7 for LingoDeer. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 44K and 28K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 36% of HelloTalk's written reviews are positive against 77% of LingoDeer's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

HelloTalk ships an update fortnightly, LingoDeer every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on October 1, 2026.

Scorecard4 real differences · 7 level
HelloTalk versus LingoDeer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHelloTalkLingoDeer
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (44K ratings)4.7 (28K ratings) — better
Positive reviews36.1% of reviews76.7% of reviews — better
Number of ratings44K — better28K
Update frequencyFortnightly — betterEvery 3 weeks
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterSubscription
Best chart rank#28 — better#130
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.015.0
Further details — not scored
Size753 MB216 MB
Age rating9+4+
DeveloperHELLOTALK FOREIGN LANGUAGE EXCHANGE LEARNING TALK CHAT APPLingoDeer Co, Ltd.

Customer experience

HelloTalk

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

LingoDeer

All ratings27,589 ratings
Positive94.3%
Neutral2.0%
Negative3.7%
Written reviews1,263 reviews
Positive76.7%
Neutral6.3%
Negative16.9%

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

LingoDeer

From 28K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Great for learning Asian languages
  • 👍 Thorough grammar and sentence structure explanations
  • 🎨 Aesthetically pleasing design
  • 📚 Comprehensive lessons and review features
  • 🔊 Clear audio and pronunciation guidance

Room to improve

  • 💰 Paywall after initial lessons
  • 🐛 Occasional bugs and glitches
  • 🔍 Limited free content
  • 🔀 Difficulty switching between languages
  • 🔢 Lack of customization options (e.g., dark mode)

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

LingoDeer

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Progress bar not updating correctly
  • Incorrect answers sometimes marked as correct
  • Inability to resume lessons after app update
  • Keyboard issues when typing answers

Requested features

5 requests
  • Allow typing answers instead of just selecting
  • Provide feedback on pronunciation accuracy
  • Improve spaced repetition for vocabulary review
  • Add more languages, especially less common ones
  • Implement a community feature to connect with other learners

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
17 purchases

LingoDeer

Subscriptions11
  • Spanish Monthly Subscription$12.991 Month
  • Japanese Monthly Subscription$12.991 Month
  • Korean Monthly subscription$12.991 Month
Show 8 more
  • Multilingual Pass - Monthly$14.991 Month
  • Korean Quarterly subscription$32.993 Months
  • Multilingual Pass - Quarterly$34.993 Months
  • Korean Pass - Yearly$76.991 Year
  • Multilingual Pass - 6 Months$83.996 Months
  • Multilingual Pass (Annual)$95.991 Year
  • Multilingual Pass (Annual)7 Days trial$95.991 Year
  • Yearly subscription - discount3 Days trial$109.991 Year
One-time6
  • Buy 1200 Gems$4.99
  • Buy 3000 Gems$9.99
  • Multilingual Pass - Lifetime$119.99
Show 3 more
  • Multilingual Pass - Lifetime$159.99
  • lifetime membership for new$299.99
  • lifetime membership discount$499.99

Questions

Is HelloTalk free?
HelloTalk is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is LingoDeer free?
LingoDeer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, HelloTalk or LingoDeer?
LingoDeer is rated higher. HelloTalk averages 4.6 out of 5 from 44K ratings, while LingoDeer averages 4.7 from 28K ratings.
Do HelloTalk or LingoDeer have ads?
HelloTalk shows ads; LingoDeer does not.
Which is updated more often, HelloTalk or LingoDeer?
HelloTalk ships an update fortnightly, and LingoDeer every 3 weeks. Most recently, HelloTalk was updated on October 1, 2026 and LingoDeer on October 1, 2026.
Which is more popular, HelloTalk or LingoDeer?
HelloTalk currently peaks at #28 in the App Store charts, and LingoDeer at #130. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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