# Tandem vs Talkpal

The clearest difference is ads: Talkpal at none against Tandem's shown. Talkpal also leads on review sentiment (58% vs 48%). Tandem's advantage is ratings volume (38K vs 3.6K) and chart position (#162 vs unranked). On price, rating, update cadence and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Tandem sells 13 in-app purchases, starting at $14.99 per month and Talkpal sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $19.99 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 Tandem against 4.7 for Talkpal. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Tandem has 38K ratings behind it against 3.6K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 48% of Tandem's written reviews are positive against 58% of Talkpal's.

Tandem ships an update every 5 days, Talkpal weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Tandem | Talkpal |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (38K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tandem-practice-languages/id959001619/reviews) | **[4.7 (3.6K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/talkpal-ai-language-learning/id6468219825/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **38K** | 3.6K |
| Positive reviews | 47.5% of reviews | **58.4% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 days** | Weekly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#162** | — |
| Size | 301 MB | 76 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 16.4 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 17+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Tripod Technology GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/606999648) | [TalkPal, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1697279211) |

## What reviewers say

### Tandem

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

**Currently charting:** #162 Top Grossing · Education, #206 Top Free · 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


### Talkpal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/talkpal-ai-language-learning/id6468219825)

This AI-powered app helps millions of users speak, listen, read, and write new languages with confidence. Practice realistic conversations with advanced AI and learn over 80 languages. Improve fluency, pronunciation, and grammar through interactive lessons and real-life scenarios.

**Highlights:** GPT-based conversational AI, Practice speaking and pronunciation, Learn 80+ languages, Chat, Word, Sentence, Dialogue modes, Roleplays and character conversations, Pronunciation and grammar corrections, Progress tracking

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium 1 Month Pass | $19.99 | per month |
| Premium 3 Months Pass | $49.99 | per 3 months |
| Premium 12 Months Pass | $119.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Excellent for conversational practice
- 👍 Useful for exam preparation and travel
- 💡 Allows practicing on any topic
- 👍 Provides instant feedback and corrections
- 🚀 Convenient for practicing anytime

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy and glitchy at times
- 👎 Not suitable for complete beginners
- 👎 Pronunciation can be inaccurate for some languages
- 👎 Limited free features, requires paid subscription

**Reported bugs**

- Frequent log-outs and login issues
- Compatibility problems on certain devices
- Inconsistent or incorrect grammar feedback

**Requested features**

- Add more languages and voice options
- Improve responsiveness of AI
- Allow customization of conversation level
- Provide option to save/review past conversations
- Integrate with other language learning tools


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Tandem free?

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

### Is Talkpal free?

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

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

Talkpal is rated higher. Tandem averages 4.6 out of 5 from 38K ratings, while Talkpal averages 4.7 from 3.6K ratings.

### Do Tandem or Talkpal have ads?

Tandem shows ads; Talkpal does not.

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

Tandem ships an update every 5 days, and Talkpal weekly. Most recently, Tandem was updated on September 25, 2026 and Talkpal 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.*