# HelloTalk vs LingChat

The clearest difference is ads: LingChat at none against HelloTalk's shown. LingChat also leads on review sentiment (65% vs 36%). HelloTalk's advantage is ratings volume (44K vs 238) and chart position (#28 vs unranked). On price, rating, update cadence and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. HelloTalk sells 12 in-app purchases, starting at $12.99 per month and LingChat sells 20 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. 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 4.5 for LingChat. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: HelloTalk has 44K ratings behind it against 238, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 36% of HelloTalk's written reviews are positive against 65% of LingChat's.

HelloTalk ships an update fortnightly, LingChat every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on September 26, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | HelloTalk | LingChat |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (44K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hellotalk-language-learning/id557130558/reviews)** | [4.5 (238 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lingchat-ai-speaking-friends/id6450173794/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **44K** | 238 |
| Positive reviews | 36.1% of reviews | **64.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Every 10 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#28** | — |
| Size | 753 MB | 97 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 9+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [HELLOTALK FOREIGN LANGUAGE EXCHANGE LEARNING TALK CHAT APP](https://appshunter.io/developer/557130561) | [Shutter Technology Co., Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1021177509) |

## What reviewers say

### HelloTalk

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

**Currently charting:** #28 Top Grossing · Education, #52 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


### LingChat

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lingchat-ai-speaking-friends/id6450173794)

Practice speaking over 60 languages with AI characters or real people. Get instant feedback, grammar help, and translation tools to build confidence and fluency in a safe, fun environment.

**Highlights:** Practice with AI characters, Connect with real language partners, Instant grammar feedback, Tap to translate messages, Native-like reply suggestions, Real-time word lookup

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (20)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| LingChat Pro Monthly Discount | $9.99 | per month |
| Premium Monthly | $15.99 | per month |
| Premium Monthly Pro Plan | $19.99 | per month |
| Monthly Plan Pro | $19.99 | per month |
| Monthly Plan Pro Special Offer | $19.99 | per month |
| Premium Monthly Standard | $20.00 | per month |
| Monthly Plan Pro+ | $29.99 | per month |
| 3-month Plan Pro | $35.00 | per 3 months |
| Premium Annual Standard | $49.90 | per year |
| Premium 3-Month Pro Plan | $49.99 | per 3 months |
| Premium Annual Discount | $69.99 | per year |
| 3-month Plan Pro+ | $79.99 | per 3 months |
| Premium Annual | $99.99 | per year |
| Premium Annual Plan Pro | $99.99 | per year |
| Annual Plan Limited-Time Offer | $99.99 | per year |
| Annual Plan Pro Special Offer | $99.99 | per year |
| Annual Plan Pro | $99.99 | per year |
| 6-month Plan Pro | $129.99 | per 6 months |
| Annual Plan Pro+ | $189.99 | per year |
| 6-month Plan Pro+ | $189.99 | per 6 months |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is HelloTalk free?

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

### Is LingChat free?

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

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

HelloTalk is rated higher. HelloTalk averages 4.6 out of 5 from 44K ratings, while LingChat averages 4.5 from 238 ratings.

### Do HelloTalk or LingChat have ads?

HelloTalk shows ads; LingChat does not.

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

HelloTalk ships an update fortnightly, and LingChat every 10 days. Most recently, HelloTalk was updated on September 26, 2026 and LingChat on September 24, 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.*