# HelloTalk vs WHY READ

The clearest difference is review sentiment: WHY READ at 100% against HelloTalk's 36%. WHY READ also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 15) and ads (none vs shown). HelloTalk's advantage is ratings volume (44K vs 1) and chart position (#30 vs unranked). On price, update cadence 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. WHY READ asks for nothing beyond the download.

WHY READ 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 point the same way: 36% of HelloTalk's written reviews are positive against 100% of WHY READ's.

HelloTalk ships an update fortnightly, WHY READ monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | HelloTalk | WHY READ |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 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/why-read/id1574861788/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **44K** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 36.0% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#30** | — |
| Size | 753 MB | 28 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **12.4** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 9+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [HELLOTALK FOREIGN LANGUAGE EXCHANGE LEARNING TALK CHAT APP](https://appshunter.io/developer/557130561) | [sophorn phou](https://appshunter.io/developer/1398468130) |

## What reviewers say

### HelloTalk

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

**Currently charting:** #30 Top Grossing · Education, #41 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


### WHY READ

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/why-read/id1574861788)

Access a curated collection of self-development books and stories designed to foster personal growth. Explore a variety of content aimed at enhancing your knowledge and perspective.

**Highlights:** Self-development books, Stories for personal growth, Curated content, Reading app

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is HelloTalk free?

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

### Is WHY READ free?

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

### Which has better reviews, HelloTalk or WHY READ?

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

### Do HelloTalk or WHY READ have ads?

HelloTalk shows ads; WHY READ does not.

### Which is updated more often, HelloTalk or WHY READ?

HelloTalk ships an update fortnightly, and WHY READ monthly. Most recently, HelloTalk was updated on October 14, 2026 and WHY READ 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.*