# Tandem vs Speaky

The clearest difference is rating: Tandem at 4.6 against Speaky's 4.0. Tandem also leads on review sentiment (48% vs 15%) and update cadence (every 5 days vs every 5 weeks). Speaky's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 14) and ads (none vs shown). On price, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Tandem sells 13 in-app purchases, starting at $14.99 per month. Speaky asks for nothing beyond the download.

Tandem holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Tandem has 38K ratings behind it against 3.4K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 48% of Tandem's written reviews are positive against 15% of Speaky's.

Tandem ships an update every 5 days, Speaky every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Tandem | Speaky |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (38K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tandem-practice-languages/id959001619/reviews)** | [4.0 (3.4K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/speaky-language-exchange/id1118877445/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **38K** | 3.4K |
| Positive reviews | **47.5% of reviews** | 15.4% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 days** | Every 5 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#162** | — |
| Size | 301 MB | 135 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 16.4 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Tripod Technology GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/606999648) | [Altissia](https://appshunter.io/developer/1359208064) |

## What reviewers say

### Tandem

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tandem-practice-languages/id959001619)

**Currently charting:** #162 Top Grossing · Education (US App Store)

Connect with native speakers globally to practice and learn new languages through text, voice, and video calls. This community-driven app helps you boost vocabulary, perfect pronunciation, and grasp grammar with features like in-app translation and message correction.

**Highlights:** Connect with native speakers, 1-to-1 chats, Group audio learning (Parties), In-app translation, Voice and video calls, Message correction

**Features:** Family Sharing, iMessage stickers, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (13)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Tandem Pro | $14.99 | per month |
| Tandem Pro | $14.99 | per month |
| Tandem Pro - 1 Month | $14.99 | per month |
| Tandem Pro Plus - 1 month | $14.99 | per month |
| Tandem Pro | $26.90 | per 3 months |
| Tandem Pro | $26.90 | per 3 months |
| Tandem Pro | $38.99 | per year |
| Tandem Pro Intro - 12 months | $39.99 | per year |
| Tandem Pro Plus - 12 months | $64.99 | per year |
| Tandem Pro | $69.90 | per year |
| Tandem Pro | $69.90 | per year |
| Tandem Pro | $69.99 | per year |
| Tandem Pro Intro - 12 months | $80.00 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Great for language learning
- 👍 Helpful features like translation and correction
- 🌎 Connects people from around the world
- 💡 Innovative concept for language exchange

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy and glitchy app
- 💬 Difficulty maintaining conversations
- 📤 Excessive ads and paywalls
- 🔒 Privacy and safety concerns
- ⚠️ Moderation issues and unfair bans

**Reported bugs**

- Messages not being delivered or synced properly
- Frequent crashes and app instability
- Login and account issues when switching devices

**Requested features**

- Better search and filtering options
- Ability to save/review past conversations
- Group chat or language party features
- More language options beyond just popular ones


### Speaky

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/speaky-language-exchange/id1118877445)

Connect with native speakers worldwide to learn languages authentically. Engage in real conversations, discover culture, and practice over 170 languages. It's a rewarding, two-way exchange for learners of all levels.

**Highlights:** Connect with native speakers, Learn 170+ languages, Authentic conversation practice, Cultural exchange, Discover slang and customs, Web and mobile access

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Great app for practicing languages
- 👍 Excellent way to connect with people worldwide
- 💡 Helpful for learning new cultures

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
- 🔌 Connection issues and messages not sending
- 🤖 Presence of fake/inappropriate profiles
- 🚫 Limited functionality on iOS compared to Android

**Reported bugs**

- Messages disappearing or not sending
- App crashing when trying to correct messages
- Login and connection issues
- Inability to update profile and settings

**Requested features**

- Add voice/audio messaging
- Improve blocking and reporting features
- Implement translation tools within the app
- Optimize performance and stability


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Tandem free?

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

### Is Speaky free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Tandem or Speaky?

Tandem is rated higher. Tandem averages 4.6 out of 5 from 38K ratings, while Speaky averages 4.0 from 3.4K ratings.

### Do Tandem or Speaky have ads?

Tandem shows ads; Speaky does not.

### Which is updated more often, Tandem or Speaky?

Tandem ships an update every 5 days, and Speaky every 5 weeks. Most recently, Tandem was updated on September 25, 2026 and Speaky on September 22, 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.*