# HelloTalk vs Luca | AI language tutor

HelloTalk and Luca | AI language tutor both sit at 4.6 stars, but that hides the real split: 83% of Luca | AI language tutor's written reviews are positive against 36% of HelloTalk's. HelloTalk's advantage is ratings volume (44K vs 17) and chart position (#31 vs unranked). On price, rating, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. HelloTalk sells 12 in-app purchases, starting at $12.99 per month and Luca | AI language tutor sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 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 Luca | AI language tutor. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: HelloTalk has 44K ratings behind it against 17, 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 83% of Luca | AI language tutor's.

HelloTalk ships an update fortnightly, Luca | AI language tutor every 11 days. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and June 26, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | HelloTalk | Luca | AI language tutor |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (44K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hellotalk-language-learning/id557130558/reviews)** | [4.5 (17 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/luca-ai-language-tutor/id6497877968/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **44K** | 17 |
| Positive reviews | 36.1% of reviews | **83.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Every 11 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#31** | — |
| Size | 753 MB | 83 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0.0 |
| 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) | [Alldone GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/1729417012) |

## What reviewers say

### HelloTalk

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

**Currently charting:** #31 Top Grossing · Education, #69 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


### Luca | AI language tutor

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/luca-ai-language-tutor/id6497877968)

This AI-powered tutor helps you gain confidence in speaking English, German, Spanish, French, Italian, and Portuguese through real conversation practice. It offers a judgment-free environment and personalized lessons to fit your daily routine.

**Highlights:** AI conversation practice, Multiple language support, Personalized learning paths, No multiple-choice tests, Flexible learning schedule, Free trial available

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Lucas Premium | $7.99 | per month |
| Lucas monthly | $14.99 | per month |
| Lucas yearly | $69.99 | per year |
| 1000 Credits | $3.99 | one-time |
| Lucas lifetime | $89.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is HelloTalk free?

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

### Is Luca | AI language tutor free?

Luca | AI language tutor is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, HelloTalk or Luca | AI language tutor?

HelloTalk is rated higher. HelloTalk averages 4.6 out of 5 from 44K ratings, while Luca | AI language tutor averages 4.5 from 17 ratings.

### Do HelloTalk or Luca | AI language tutor have ads?

Both HelloTalk and Luca | AI language tutor show ads.

### Which is updated more often, HelloTalk or Luca | AI language tutor?

HelloTalk ships an update fortnightly, and Luca | AI language tutor every 11 days. Most recently, HelloTalk was updated on September 24, 2026 and Luca | AI language tutor on June 26, 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.*