# HelloTalk vs AU SPARK

The clearest difference is rating: HelloTalk at 4.6 against AU SPARK's 3.3. HelloTalk also leads on ratings volume (44K vs 37) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 5 weeks). AU SPARK's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 15) and ads (none vs shown). On price 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. AU SPARK asks for nothing beyond the download.

HelloTalk holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: HelloTalk has 44K ratings behind it against 37, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 36% of HelloTalk's written reviews are positive against 47% of AU SPARK's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

HelloTalk ships an update fortnightly, AU SPARK every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | HelloTalk | AU SPARK |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (44K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hellotalk-language-learning/id557130558/reviews)** | [3.3 (37 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/au-spark/id741393939/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **44K** | 37 |
| Positive reviews | 36.1% of reviews | **46.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 5 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#24** | — |
| Size | 766 MB | 82 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [HELLOTALK FOREIGN LANGUAGE EXCHANGE LEARNING TALK CHAT APP](https://appshunter.io/developer/557130561) | [GREEN MOONS COMPANY LIMITED](https://appshunter.io/developer/1685146068) |

## What reviewers say

### HelloTalk

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

**Currently charting:** #24 Top Grossing · Education, #45 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


### AU SPARK

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/au-spark/id741393939)

Access your academic information, including courses, schedules, and the university calendar, all within a convenient mobile app. This tool is designed specifically for students of Assumption University.

**Highlights:** Access academic information, Check courses offered, View schedule, Access AU calendar, Mobile application access

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is HelloTalk free?

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

### Is AU SPARK free?

AU SPARK is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, HelloTalk or AU SPARK?

HelloTalk is rated higher. HelloTalk averages 4.6 out of 5 from 44K ratings, while AU SPARK averages 3.3 from 37 ratings.

### Do HelloTalk or AU SPARK have ads?

HelloTalk shows ads; AU SPARK does not.

### Which is updated more often, HelloTalk or AU SPARK?

HelloTalk ships an update fortnightly, and AU SPARK every 5 weeks. Most recently, HelloTalk was updated on October 24, 2026 and AU SPARK on October 21, 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.*