Updated September 30, 2026 · AcademyCue Editorial Team
HelloTalk vs Preply
HelloTalk vs Preply: the differences
| Compare |  HelloTalk |  Preply |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $12.99 | €2 |
| Free tier | YesHas it | No |
| Languages | English, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, French, Chinese, Portuguese, German, Italian, Russian, Arabic, Turkish, Hindi, Thai, Vietnamese | English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Chinese, Arabic, Japanese, Portuguese, Polish, Dutch, Turkish, Korean, Hindi, Indonesian |
| Number of languages | 260Higher | 90 |
| Price per month | $12.99 | Not confirmed |
| Price per year | $79.99 | Not confirmed |
| Lesson price from | Not confirmed | €2 |
| Lesson length (minutes) | Not confirmed | 25 to 50 |
| Offline use | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Kids version | Not confirmed | Yes |
Same on both: AI conversation practice (Yes).
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Key differences
- Free tier: only HelloTalk.
- Number of languages is higher at HelloTalk: 260 vs 90.
- Support channels: only Preply offers Chat.
- Languages: only HelloTalk offers Russian, Thai, Vietnamese.
- Languages: only Preply offers Polish, Dutch, Indonesian.
- Learning method: only HelloTalk offers Live group.
- Learning method: only Preply offers Live 1to1.
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.
Preply
Preply suits learners who want live lessons with a tutor they choose, and parents learning alongside a child. Each tutor sets their own price, so the €2 entry point says little about the bill you run up over a term. There is no free tier, so the first lesson is a purchase.
Score breakdown
| Area | HelloTalk | Preply |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.1Free tier with fees of $12.99, $12.99 and $79.99 puts entry low against £6.99. | 9.8HigherEntry sits at €2, ranking 8 of 35 brands compared, with a 12 hours cancellation window. |
| Offer | 9.3Higher260 languages, app and live group and AI conversation on a free tier. | 9.2from 100,000 tutors, 90 languages, ai conversation practice, offline lessons and a kids version on one account. |
| Trust | 9.32012 founding, HK base and HelloTalk, Inc. behind the app. | 9.3Screened tutors with background checks, a switch or full refund if the trial lesson disappoints, and support on email, chat and help centre. |
Also worth a look
Tandem has number of languages at 300, against 260 for HelloTalk and 90 for Preply.
Tandem reviewSources 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
Preply
- preply.com: 14 facts, checked September 30, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | HelloTalk | Preply |
|---|---|---|
| Language learning apps | 14 of 46 | 3 of 46 |
| Online language tutors and classes | 7 of 25 | 2 of 25 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | HelloTalk | Preply |
|---|---|---|
| Learning method | App, Live group | Live 1to1, App |
| Legal entity | HelloTalk, Inc. | Preply Inc. |
| Headquarters | Hong Kong | United States |
| Founded | 2012 | 2012 |
| Support channels | Email, Help centre | Email, Chat, Help centreCovers more |
Tutoring
| Fact | HelloTalk | Preply |
|---|---|---|
| Median lesson price | Not confirmed | €26 |
| Subjects | Not confirmed | Math, English, Languages, School |
| Lesson format | Not confirmed | 1to1, App |
| Number of tutors | Not confirmed | from 100,000 |
| Tutor vetting | Not confirmed | Screened |
| Tutor background checks | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Cancellation notice | Not confirmed | 12 hours |
| Satisfaction guarantee | Not confirmed | Free switch to another tutor or a full refund if the trial lesson disappoints |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | HelloTalk | Preply | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price per month | $12.99below the median | Not confirmed | $13.24 |
| Price per year | $79.99lowest quarter | Not confirmed | $95.99 |
| Number of languages | 260highest quarter | 90above the median | 41 |
| Lesson length (minutes) | Not confirmed | 25 to 50below the median | 30 |
Median across 20 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
Preply
Pros
- You choose the tutor from a pool of from 100,000, so a weak match is a change rather than a commitment.
- A trial lesson that disappoints can be swapped for another tutor or refunded in full, and the cancellation window is 12 hours.
- Ai conversation practice and offline lessons mean study continues on days with no live session.
Cons
- There is no free tier, so nothing can be tried before paying.
- Tutors set their own prices, so the €2 entry is not the bill: the median lesson is €26.
- Support runs on email, chat and help centre, so there is no phone line when a booking goes wrong.
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
Preply
Who it suits
- Learners who want live speaking practice and are happy to interview tutors until the match works.
- Parents who want adult lessons and a kids version under the same account, with 90 languages available.
- Anyone who values a switch or a full refund after a trial lesson more than a fixed course.
Who should look elsewhere
- Bunpro, because it costs $0 and suits anyone unwilling to pay per lesson from the first booking.
- Phase6, because a course at €0 is a smaller commitment than lessons at the €26 median.
- Reading Eggs, because one entry payment of £6.99 is easier on a fixed budget than a per lesson bill.
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.
Preply
How much does a Preply lesson cost?+
The cheapest tutor on Preply is €2 for a lesson, and the median lesson is €26. Every tutor sets their own rate, so what you pay depends on who you book and rises as you move toward experienced teachers. Preply ranks 1 of 6 compared brands on the cheapest lesson price.
Is there a free tier or a free trial lesson?+
There is no free tier, so nothing on Preply is free to use. What stands in its place is cover on the opening lesson: if the trial lesson disappoints, you can switch to another tutor or take a full refund. With lessons of 25 to 50 minutes, the first booking is small enough to treat as a test.