Updated September 30, 2026 · AcademyCue Editorial Team
HelloTalk vs Reading Eggs
What sets them apart
| Compare |  HelloTalk |  Reading Eggs |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $12.99 | £6.99 |
| Price per month | $12.99 | £6.99 |
| Price per year | $79.99 | £54.99 |
| Free tier | YesHas it | No |
| Free trial length | Not confirmed | 30 days |
| Money-back period | Not confirmed | 30 days |
| Languages | English, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, French, Chinese, Portuguese, German, Italian, Russian, Arabic, Turkish, Hindi, Thai, Vietnamese | Not confirmed |
| Number of languages | 260 | Not confirmed |
| Speech recognition | Not confirmed | Yes |
| AI conversation practice | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Kids version | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Family subscription | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Markets | Not confirmed | GB |
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Key differences
- Reading Eggs scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 9.2.
- Free tier: only HelloTalk.
- Support channels: only Reading Eggs offers Phone.
- 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.
Reading Eggs
Reading Eggs is a children's reading subscription built for families rather than adult learners, with £54.99 a year covering the household and a library of 4,000 titles. The 30 days free trial and 30 days money-back period make it a low risk way to see whether a child keeps reading.
Score breakdown
| Area | HelloTalk | Reading Eggs |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.1Free tier with fees of $12.99, $12.99 and $79.99 puts entry low against £6.99. | 9.5HigherEntry at £6.99 and yearly at £54.99 rank near the top, with £6.99 a month. |
| Offer | 9.3260 languages, app and live group and AI conversation on a free tier. | 9.3Family profiles, a kids version, assessments and 4,000 titles on unlimited access in one family subscription. |
| Trust | 9.32012 founding, HK base and HelloTalk, Inc. behind the app. | Not confirmed |
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | HelloTalk | Reading Eggs |
|---|---|---|
| Language learning apps | 14 of 46 | 7 of 46 |
Availability and regulation
| Country | HelloTalk | Reading Eggs |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | Hong Kong | Australia |
Which one suits you
Pick HelloTalk if free tier matter most.
Pick Reading Eggs if cost matter most.
What we checked
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
Reading Eggs
- readingeggs.co.uk: 14 facts, checked September 30, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | HelloTalk | Reading Eggs |
|---|---|---|
| Learning method | App, Live groupCovers more | App |
| Legal entity | HelloTalk, Inc. | Blake eLearning Pty Limited |
| Headquarters | Hong Kong | Australia |
| Founded | 2012 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Email, Help centre | Email, Phone, Help centreCovers more |
Online courses
| Fact | HelloTalk | Reading Eggs |
|---|---|---|
| Platform type | Not confirmed | Subscription |
| Graded assessments | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Team plan | Not confirmed | Yes |
Audiobooks and ebooks
| Fact | HelloTalk | Reading Eggs |
|---|---|---|
| Access model | Not confirmed | Unlimited |
| Titles in the catalogue | Not confirmed | 4,000 |
| Content types | Not confirmed | Ebooks, Audiobooks |
| Family profiles | Not confirmed | Yes |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | HelloTalk | Reading Eggs | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free trial length | Not confirmed | 30 dayshighest quarter | 7 days |
| Money-back period | Not confirmed | 30 daysat 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
Reading Eggs
Pros
- A free trial of 30 days and a money-back period of 30 days let a family use the service properly before deciding to keep paying.
- The library covers 4,000 titles as ebooks and audiobooks, with unlimited access under a single plan.
- Family profiles, a family subscription and a kids version cover a whole household, and a team plan is offered for larger groups.
Cons
- There is no free tier, so the 30 days free trial is the only look before a payment is due.
- Entry at £6.99 sits above phase-6 and Bunpro, which list €0 and $0, so a family wanting a book library still pays to start.
- Support runs on email, phone and help centre, with no live chat or community forum in the list, so a question sent late waits for a reply.
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
Reading Eggs
Who it suits
- Households with several children who want reading practice and a story library in a single subscription, priced at £54.99 a year.
- Parents in the UK who want to look before committing, since phase-6 and Bunpro both start free and Reading Eggs does not, though its 30 days refund window offsets that.
- Families who read aloud together at home, because speech recognition and assessments sit inside the app rather than being left to a live tutor.
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone whose goal is an adult spoken language rather than a children's library, since SpanishPod101 starts at $4 and Reading Eggs is built around a kids version and family profiles.
- Learners who insist on starting at no cost, because phase-6 and Bunpro both list free entry prices while Reading Eggs opens at £6.99.
- People outside GB, where the listed price and the money-back period do not apply.
Current offers
Reading Eggs
Current offer
Free trial
30 days FREE access to Reading Eggs: 30 days
This offer is only available to new customers.
Source, checked September 30, 2026
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.
Reading Eggs
How much does Reading Eggs cost?+
The family subscription is listed at £6.99 a month and £54.99 for a year, with entry at £6.99. Taking the yearly figure rather than paying monthly costs less across the same stretch of time, and both are the renewal prices to budget for once the trial ends.
Is there a free version of Reading Eggs?+
There is no free tier, so nothing stays available once a trial ends without a payment. The free trial lasts 30 days and the money-back period is 30 days, which lets a family use the whole trial, decide it is not working, and still claim the fee back inside that window.