# Tandem vs KaoCha

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: KaoCha at none against Tandem's 14. KaoCha also leads on ads (none vs shown). Tandem's advantage is update cadence (every 6 days vs every 3 months) and chart position (#185 vs unranked). 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. KaoCha asks for nothing beyond the download.

Tandem ships an update every 6 days, KaoCha every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 22, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Tandem | KaoCha |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (38K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tandem-practice-languages/id959001619/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **38K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 47.4% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 6 days** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Best chart rank | **#185** | — |
| Size | 301 MB | 14 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Tripod Technology GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/606999648) | [Sam Yu](https://appshunter.io/developer/1514328113) |

## What reviewers say

### Tandem

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

**Currently charting:** #185 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


### KaoCha

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kaocha/id6741678471)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Tandem free?

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

### Is KaoCha free?

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

### Do Tandem or KaoCha have ads?

Tandem shows ads; KaoCha does not.

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

Tandem ships an update every 6 days, and KaoCha every 3 months. Most recently, Tandem was updated on October 22, 2026 and KaoCha on October 13, 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.*