HelloTalk review
Updated September 30, 2026 · AcademyCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 30, 2026
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Our verdict
HelloTalk suits learners who want speaking practice with native speakers across 260 languages and can start on the free tier. It ranks well on yearly price at 6 of 18, so the cost of staying is easier to plan than the monthly cycle.
Key facts
- Best for
- Free-tier speaking practice across many languages.
- Price from
- $12.99 (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Price per month
- $12.99 (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Price per year
- $79.99 (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Free tier
- Yes (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Languages
- English, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, French, Chinese, Portuguese, German, Italian, Russian, Arabic, Turkish, Hindi, Thai, Vietnamese (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Number of languages
- 260 (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- AI conversation practice
- Yes (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Legal entity
- HelloTalk, Inc. (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Headquarters
- Hong Kong (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Founded
- 2012 (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Support channels
- Email, Help-centre (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Learning method
- Mobile app, Live group
- Official website
- hellotalk.com
Apps and profiles
- Get the app
- Google Play
Pros and cons
Pros
- Free tier lets learners test the app before paying, which most language apps also offer
- 260 languages covered, a wider list than most apps in the ranking
- AI conversation adds a practice partner when no native speaker is free
- Yearly price sits at 6 of 18, a strong showing among paid plans
- app and live group adds live group classes to the app, so practice is not limited to text chat
Cons
- Support runs on email and help centre, so a billing or account question goes to email or the help centre with no faster channel
- Monthly billing of $12.99 costs more than the yearly price of $79.99 if you pay monthly
- Entry price of $12.99 is higher than the free entry at €0 and $0
- Being based in Hong Kong, support is not run from the UK or the US, which can matter for account questions
Who it suits
- Learners who want conversation with native speakers rather than a syllabus
- People who can commit to a yearly plan to cut the cost of the monthly cycle
- Anyone starting out who wants to try a language app without paying
Who should look elsewhere
- Learners who want live tutoring by appointment, where Reading Eggs is the better fit
- People who need phone or chat support, since HelloTalk runs on email and help centre only
- Learners on a strict budget who would start free at Phase-6 or Bunpro instead
What it does well
The strongest point is the free tier, which lets a learner test the app before paying anything. 260 languages are covered, from English and Spanish to Japanese, Korean and Arabic. AI conversation gives a practice partner at any hour, and app and live group means the app is joined by live group classes for anyone who wants a room with other learners. For a free entry point, Bunpro and Phase-6 start at $0 and €0, but HelloTalk pairs its free tier with a much wider language list.
Where it sits among rivals
Ranked on entry price, HelloTalk sits at 22 of 35 compared with rivals, so it is not the cheapest way in. On monthly billing it climbs to 14 of 25. The yearly plan is its strongest measure, landing at 6 of 18. Readers who commit for a year get the better showing, while month to month buyers sit lower in the field.
Pricing
The entry price is $12.99, the same figure as the monthly plan at $12.99, so a single month costs as much as joining. The yearly plan is $79.99, a clear cut against paying monthly across a year. Reading Eggs starts at £6.99, which is lower at the point of entry, but HelloTalk's free tier lets a learner try the app first. Decide by billing period, since the monthly and yearly plans sit far apart.
Who runs it
HelloTalk is run by HelloTalk, Inc., founded in 2012 and based in Hong Kong. The app has been building a community for long enough that the language list has grown well past the English, Spanish and Japanese carried in the store listing. Support runs on email and help centre, which means email and a help centre, with account questions going to a shared inbox rather than a named contact.
How HelloTalk compares
9.2 vs 9.0
9.2 vs 8.8
9.2 vs 8.6
9.2 vs 9.1
9.2 vs 8.7
Frequently asked questions
What does HelloTalk cost to start?+
Entry is priced at $12.99, and there is also a free tier so you can try the app first. The monthly plan is $12.99, which is the same figure as entry, so a single month is not cheaper than joining. Bunpro and Phase-6 both offer free entry.
Is the monthly plan worth it or should I pay yearly?+
The monthly plan is $12.99 and the yearly plan is $79.99. Paid yearly plans rank at 6 of 18, which is a stronger showing than the 14 of 25 recorded for monthly billing. If you already know you will stick with it, yearly is the cheaper route.
How many languages can I learn on HelloTalk?+
The app covers 260 languages, including English, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, French, Chinese, Portuguese, German, Italian, Russian, Arabic, Turkish, Hindi, Thai and Vietnamese. The store listing shows a shorter public list of English, Spanish and Japanese, so the full catalogue is wider than the headline selection.
Can I practise without another person being online?+
Yes, AI conversation is available, which gives you a partner to talk to at any hour. app and live group also includes live group classes, so spoken practice is possible in a room with other learners as well as in the app. Support for questions goes through email and help centre.
Does HelloTalk have live tutoring?+
HelloTalk is built around app practice and live group classes, as shown in app and live group. It is not arranged as booked one to one tutor sessions, so if you want a scheduled tutor, Reading Eggs is the more direct fit for that. Practice here runs through conversation with native speakers in the app.
Which company runs HelloTalk?+
The app is operated by HelloTalk, Inc., founded in 2012 and headquartered in Hong Kong. The company is a long standing one in the apps category, and the 260 language catalogue reflects that length of operation.
How do I get help if something goes wrong?+
Support runs on email and help centre, which covers email and a help centre. Those are the channels listed, so a billing or account question goes to email and waits for a reply. If you prefer a UK-based provider, Phase-6 may suit readers who want a local base.
Is there a free trial or money back period?+
There is a free tier, so you can use the app at no cost before deciding. Across apps in the ranking, a typical free trial runs 7 days, but the free tier here removes the need to count down a trial at all.
Sources
- apps.apple.com/app/hellotalk/id557130558 checked September 30, 2026
Backs: Price from, Price per month, Price per year
“Monthly auto-renewal VIP $12.99”
- play.google.com/store/apps/details checked September 30, 2026
Backs: Headquarters, Languages, Learning method
“233 ELECTRIC RD Hong Kong”
- hellotalk.com checked September 30, 2026
Backs: Free tier, Number of languages
“practice for free by chatting with native speakers”
- hellotalk.com/en/about checked September 30, 2026
Backs: AI conversation practice, Founded
“pioneering AI-assisted language learning”
- hellotalk.com/en/terms-of-service checked September 30, 2026
Backs: Legal entity, Support channels
“HelloTalk, Inc. provides its services”
Compiled from 5 source pages, checked September 30, 2026. We did not open an account.
Not confirmed yet: Free trial length, Money-back period.