# Cambly vs italki

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Cambly at none against italki's 4. Cambly also leads on ads (none vs shown). italki's advantage is rating (4.8 vs 4.5). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. italki sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. Cambly asks for nothing beyond the download.

italki holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 9.3K and 9.8K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 64% of Cambly's written reviews are positive against 68% of italki's.

Cambly ships an update every 10 days, italki weekly. Both last shipped on September 25, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Cambly | italki |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (9.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cambly-learn-english/id564024107/reviews) | **[4.8 (9.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/italki-language-learning/id1140000003/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 9.3K | **9.8K** |
| Positive reviews | 63.5% of reviews | **67.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 10 days | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 213 MB | 306 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 15.1 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Cambly, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/544121602) | [italki HK Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/569299241) |

## What reviewers say

### Cambly

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cambly-learn-english/id564024107)

Engage in real conversations with native English speakers to improve your language skills. This app offers immersive lessons tailored to your goals, suitable for any proficiency level, anytime and anywhere.

**Highlights:** Live conversations with native speakers, Immersive learning experience, Personalized lessons, Anytime, anywhere access, Suitable for all levels

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🌟 Helpful for improving English speaking skills
- 👍 Friendly and patient tutors
- 🌍 Opportunity to practice with native speakers
- 📽️ Recorded lessons for review
- 🕰️ Flexible scheduling

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🤖 Inconsistent or unreliable tutors
- 💰 Expensive subscription fees
- 🔌 Connection issues and dropped calls
- 🗓️ Difficulty cancelling or managing subscription
- 🤷‍♀️ Lack of customer support responsiveness

**Reported bugs**

- Automatic subscription renewals without consent
- Lesson time deductions for connection issues
- Inability to access account/lessons after cancellation

**Requested features**

- Accent/dialect filters for tutors
- Improved tutor search and scheduling options
- In-app messaging and feedback system
- Tutor-focused app version
- Refund/credit options for missed/cancelled lessons


### italki

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/italki-language-learning/id1140000003)

Connect with qualified native teachers for personalized language lessons. Learn Spanish, English, French, and over 150 other languages at your own pace and schedule. Practice conversation, master grammar, and immerse yourself in new cultures.

**Highlights:** Private tutoring with native teachers, Learn over 150 languages, Customizable lesson plans, Flexible class scheduling, Pay-as-you-go pricing, Video call tutoring

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| italki Plus - 1 Month | $5.99 | per month |
| Plus Monthly Plan with Trial | $5.99 | per month |
| italki Plus - 1 Year | $59.99 | per year |
| Plus Yearly Plan with Trial | $59.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Great platform to connect with native speakers
- 🚀 Flexible scheduling and easy to use
- 💰 Affordable lessons
- 🎓 Helpful for improving language skills
- 🤝 Positive learning experience with great teachers

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy app with glitches and connectivity issues
- 💳 Concerns about pricing changes and fees
- 🕰️ Unreliable teachers who cancel or don't show up
- 🤖 Poor customer service and lack of support
- 📆 Difficulty with scheduling and calendar integration

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes and freezes
- Inaccurate teacher availability information
- Issues with login and account management
- Problems with video/audio quality during lessons
- Syncing and integration problems with other platforms

**Requested features**

- Improved calendar and scheduling functionality
- Better notification system for lessons
- Ability to search for and connect with language partners
- More transparency around teacher availability and cancellations
- Streamlined payment and refund process


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Cambly free?

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

### Is italki free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Cambly or italki?

italki is rated higher. Cambly averages 4.5 out of 5 from 9.3K ratings, while italki averages 4.8 from 9.8K ratings.

### Do Cambly or italki have ads?

italki shows ads; Cambly does not.

### Which is updated more often, Cambly or italki?

Cambly ships an update every 10 days, and italki weekly. Most recently, Cambly was updated on September 25, 2026 and italki on September 25, 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.*