# HelloTalk vs Speak AI

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Speak AI at 99% against HelloTalk's 36%. Speak AI also leads on rating (4.9 vs 4.6). HelloTalk's advantage is ratings volume (44K vs 414) and chart position (#30 vs unranked). On price, update cadence, ads 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 Speak AI sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Speak AI holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: HelloTalk has 44K ratings behind it against 414, 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 99% of Speak AI's.

HelloTalk ships an update fortnightly, Speak AI every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on September 24, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | HelloTalk | Speak AI |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (44K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hellotalk-language-learning/id557130558/reviews) | **[4.9 (414 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/speak-ai-language-learning/id6473027266/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **44K** | 414 |
| Positive reviews | 36.1% of reviews | **99.4% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#30** | — |
| Size | 753 MB | 73 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **14.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [HELLOTALK FOREIGN LANGUAGE EXCHANGE LEARNING TALK CHAT APP](https://appshunter.io/developer/557130561) | [Meta Innovation](https://appshunter.io/developer/1698636975) |

## What reviewers say

### HelloTalk

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

**Currently charting:** #30 Top Grossing · Education, #77 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


### Speak AI

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/speak-ai-language-learning/id6473027266)

Practice English speaking anytime with an AI partner. Receive pronunciation feedback, engage in AI video calls, and choose from various topics and roles for an immersive and affordable learning experience. Accelerate your language acquisition with comprehensive tools.

**Highlights:** 24/7 AI speaking partner, Pronunciation scoring, AI video calls, Customizable topics and roles, Intelligent example responses, Progress tracking

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| SpeakAI Month | $9.99 | per month |
| SpeakAI Quarter | $29.99 | per 3 months |
| SpeakAI Year | $39.99 | per year |
| SpeakAI Lifetime | $89.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Smooth and fast performance
- 🔒 Reliable and secure
- 💡 Unique and innovative features
- 🤩 Highly recommended by users

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes or bugs
- 🕰️ Slow updates or content refreshes
- 💰 Concerns about pricing or affordability

**Reported bugs**

- Login issues or screen freezes
- Compatibility problems with certain devices

**Requested features**

- Expanded functionality and more customization options
- Improved content organization and search
- Better integration with other apps and services


## Frequently asked questions

### Is HelloTalk free?

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

### Is Speak AI free?

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

### Which has better reviews, HelloTalk or Speak AI?

Speak AI is rated higher. HelloTalk averages 4.6 out of 5 from 44K ratings, while Speak AI averages 4.9 from 414 ratings.

### Do HelloTalk or Speak AI have ads?

Both HelloTalk and Speak AI show ads.

### Which is updated more often, HelloTalk or Speak AI?

HelloTalk ships an update fortnightly, and Speak AI every 3 weeks. Most recently, HelloTalk was updated on September 24, 2026 and Speak AI 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.*