Updated September 30, 2026 · AcademyCue Editorial Team
HelloTalk vs phase6
What sets them apart
| Compare |  HelloTalk |  phase6 |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $12.99 | €0 |
| Price per month | $12.99 | €3 to €5 |
| Price per year | $79.99 | €35.99 to €59.99 |
| Languages | English, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, French, Chinese, Portuguese, German, Italian, Russian, Arabic, Turkish, Hindi, Thai, Vietnamese | Arabic, Chinese, Danish, English, Finnish, French, Greek, Ancient Greek, Italian, Latin, Dutch, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Swedish, Spanish, Turkish |
| Free trial length | Not confirmed | 7 days |
| Money-back period | Not confirmed | 14 days |
| Number of languages | 260 | Not confirmed |
| AI conversation practice | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Family subscription | Not confirmed | Yes |
Same on both: Free tier (Yes).
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Key differences
- phase6 scores higher overall: 9.5 vs 9.2.
- Languages: only HelloTalk offers Japanese, Korean, German.
- Languages: only phase6 offers Danish, Finnish, Greek.
- Learning method: only HelloTalk offers Live group.
Our verdict on each
HelloTalk
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.
phase6
This app is the pick for self studiers who want broad language choice at the lowest entry point in the group. It suits learners who will practise daily in the app and who like a family plan, and the annual option at €35.99 to €59.99 keeps renewal low.
Score breakdown
| Area | HelloTalk | phase6 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.1Free tier with fees of $12.99, $12.99 and $79.99 puts entry low against £6.99. | 10.0HigherEntry price sits at €0, monthly billing at €3 to €5 and annual billing at €35.99 to €59.99. |
| Offer | 9.3Higher260 languages, app and live group and AI conversation on a free tier. | 9.0A free tier, a 7 days trial, a 14 days money back period and a family subscription sit behind the app. |
| Trust | 9.32012 founding, HK base and HelloTalk, Inc. behind the app. | Not confirmed |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | HelloTalk | phase6 |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | Hong Kong | Germany |
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | HelloTalk | phase6 |
|---|---|---|
| Language learning apps | 14 of 46 | 5 of 46 |
Sources behind this comparison
HelloTalk
- hellotalk.com: 6 facts, checked September 30, 2026
- apps.apple.com: 3 facts, checked September 30, 2026
- play.google.com: 3 facts, checked September 30, 2026
phase6
- phase-6.de: 12 facts, checked September 30, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | HelloTalk | phase6 |
|---|---|---|
| Learning method | App, Live groupCovers more | App |
| Legal entity | HelloTalk, Inc. | phase-6 GmbH |
| Headquarters | Hong Kong | Germany |
| Founded | 2012 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Email, Help centre | Email, Help centre |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | HelloTalk | phase6 | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free trial length | Not confirmed | 7 daysat the median | 7 days |
| Money-back period | Not confirmed | 14 daysbelow the median | 30 days |
| Number of languages | 260highest quarter | Not confirmed | 41 |
Median across 33 listed providers.
Pros and cons
HelloTalk
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
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
phase6
Pros
- Entry price of €0 and monthly billing of €3 to €5 sit well under the €9.49 group median.
- A free tier and a 7 days trial let you try the app before paying anything.
- A 14 days money back period is longer than the 14-day lower quartile in this group.
Cons
- A 14 days money back period ranks near the back of this group at 20 of 29, so a long trial is the safer first test.
- A 7 days free trial also sits low at 8 of 21, shorter than the 14-day group upper quartile.
- Support runs on email and help centre only, with no live chat or phone line listed.
Who each suits
HelloTalk
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
phase6
Who it suits
- Self taught learners who want a free start and decide later whether to pay
- Households planning to share a single family subscription across several learners
- Learners of the older or classical languages in Arabic, Chinese and Danish, such as Latin or Ancient Greek
Who should look elsewhere
- Learners who want a longer free trial than 7 days to judge the app properly
- Anyone who needs live chat or phone support, since contact runs on email and help centre only
- Learners who want Spanish or Japanese structured drilling rather than a general app, where Bunpro or SpanishPod101 fit more closely
Questions about each
HelloTalk
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.
phase6
What does this app cost to start?+
Entry costs €0, and a free tier is included, so there is a way in before any payment. Once you subscribe, monthly billing runs €3 to €5 and annual billing runs €35.99 to €59.99. Compare that entry point with Reading Eggs at £6.99 and SpanishPod101 at $4.
How much does the annual plan cost at renewal?+
The annual option runs €35.99 to €59.99, and the monthly option runs €3 to €5, both covering the same app access. The yearly figure is the number that matters once the first period ends, and it ranks the service second of 18 brands at 2. That keeps the renewal year cheap.