Updated September 30, 2026 · AcademyCue Editorial Team
italki vs Languatalk
italki vs Languatalk: the differences
| Compare |  italki |  Languatalk |
|---|---|---|
| Lesson price from | $5 | €7.95 |
| Free trial length | 30 daysHigher | 5 to 7 days |
| Languages | English, Japanese, Spanish, Chinese, French, Italian, German, Portuguese, Korean, Arabic | English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Dutch, Swedish, Romanian, Russian, Greek, Turkish, Danish, Norwegian, Finnish, Polish, Czech, Croatian, Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Hindi, ArabicCovers more |
| Lesson length (minutes) | 30 to 90 | 55 |
| Price from | $5 | Not confirmed |
| Money-back period | Not confirmed | 30 days |
| Number of languages | Not confirmed | 23 |
| Highest CEFR level | Not confirmed | C2 |
| Kids version | Yes | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Free tier (Yes), AI conversation practice (Yes).
We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings.
Key differences
- italki scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 8.8.
- Free trial length is higher at italki: 30 days vs 5 to 7 days.
- Support channels: only Languatalk offers Email.
- Founded is lower at italki: 2006 vs 2021.
- Languages: only Languatalk offers Dutch, Swedish, Romanian.
- Learning method: only italki offers Live group.
- Learning method: only Languatalk offers App.
Our verdict on each
italki
italki suits learners who want live tutor time rather than self study app drills, and its 30 day trial gives room to try teachers before paying. The trade-off sits in pricing: lessons start at $5, and regular sessions cost more than that entry figure.
Languatalk
LanguaTalk suits learners who want one subscription covering app practice and screened one to one tutors across 23 languages, and the entry lesson price of €7.95 keeps a first booking small. The catch is the $500 package price, which sits above a typical app budget, and support runs on email and help centre only.
Score breakdown
| Area | italki | Languatalk |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.4HigherLessons start at $5, and that lesson price ranks 2 of 6 brands among tutor platforms. | 9.0Lessons start at €7.95, with a 5 to 7 days trial and a 30 days money back window. |
| Offer | 9.1HigherA free tier, a 30 day trial and the live formats in live 1to1 and live group cover most ways learners begin. | 9.0A free tier, 23 languages, AI conversation practice and screened tutors sit on one subscription price. |
| Trust | 9.8HigherFounded in 2006 and run by italki HK Limited with its base in HK, italki has a long trading record. | 8.1A named legal entity in the US, trading since 2021, with support on email and help centre, gives a clear operator to trace. |
How they place
| Ranking | italki | Languatalk |
|---|---|---|
| Online language tutors and classes | 1 of 25 | 10 of 25 |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | italki | Languatalk |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | Hong Kong | United States |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | italki | Languatalk |
|---|---|---|
| Learning method | Live 1to1, Live group | App, Live 1to1 |
| Legal entity | italki HK Limited | LanguaTalk Inc. |
| Headquarters | Hong Kong | United States |
| Founded | 2006Lower | 2021 |
| Support channels | Help centre | Email, Help centreCovers more |
Tutoring
| Fact | italki | Languatalk |
|---|---|---|
| Median lesson price | Not confirmed | €28.63 |
| Subscription price | Not confirmed | $500 |
| Trial lesson | Not confirmed | Free |
| Subjects | Not confirmed | Languages, English |
| Lesson format | Not confirmed | 1to1, App |
| Tutor vetting | Not confirmed | Screened |
| Minimum age | Not confirmed | 13 |
| Cancellation notice | Not confirmed | 24 hours |
| Satisfaction guarantee | Not confirmed | 30-day money-back guarantee |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | italki | Languatalk | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price from | $5below the median | Not confirmed | $13.49 |
| Free trial length | 30 dayshighest quarter | 5 to 7 daysat the median | 7 days |
| Money-back period | Not confirmed | 30 daysat the median | 30 days |
| Number of languages | Not confirmed | 23lowest quarter | 41 |
| Lesson length (minutes) | 30 to 90at the median | 55highest quarter | 30 |
Median across 33 listed providers.
Pros and cons
italki
Pros
- A free tier and a 30 day trial let you test the platform before paying, and the trial length ranks 1 of 21 brands.
- Lessons start at $5, and that entry lesson price ranks 2 of 6 brands among tutor platforms.
- Tutors cover English, Japanese and Spanish, so most learners find a teacher for the language they are studying.
Cons
- Support runs on help centre only, so an urgent booking problem waits in a queue rather than reaching a person on the phone.
- The $5 entry price is above ErsteNachhilfe's €1.99 start and SpanishPod101's $4, so it is not the cheapest opening offer here.
- The $5 figure is a floor: the middle lesson price across the brands we price sits at €44.31, so regular sessions cost more than the headline number.
Languatalk
Pros
- Lessons start at €7.95, so a first one to one session costs little before any commitment.
- Screened tutors and 1to1 and app options let learners pair live teaching with in app work.
- 23 languages run on the same plan, and the top level reached is C2.
Cons
- The package price of $500 is heavier than a plain app subscription, and renewal lands on the same figure rather than a cheaper tier.
- Support runs on email and help centre only, so a scheduling or billing problem waits for a written reply.
- A lesson runs 55 minutes, so a booked slot is longer than the standard short session some learners prefer.
Who each suits
italki
Who it suits
- Learners who want live speaking practice with a tutor instead of self study drills.
- Learners working on English, Japanese and Spanish, who prefer teacher feedback to app exercises.
- People starting small, since lessons begin at $5 and a free tier is available to try the platform first.
Who should look elsewhere
- Shoppers chasing the lowest entry price, since SpanishPod101 and FrenchPod101 list $4 and $4 to start.
- Learners who want help on the phone or in live chat, because support runs on help centre only.
- Anyone budgeting on a single flat monthly fee, since italki prices each lesson from $5 instead.
Languatalk
Who it suits
- Learners who want a single subscription for both app practice and live tutor hours.
- Adults and teens above a minimum age who are ready for spoken lessons with a screened tutor.
- Anyone whose target language sits in the English, Spanish and French list and who wants to reach C2.
Who should look elsewhere
- Cheap self study learners who will not book live lessons and want a low fixed fee instead of $500.
- People who need phone or live chat support, since contact runs on email and help centre.
- Younger children, because the minimum age applies.
Questions about each
italki
How much does a lesson cost on italki?+
italki bills per lesson rather than by subscription. Entry pricing starts at $5, and the cheapest single lesson on the platform is listed at $5. Because each tutor sets their own rate, a first session at $5 is a floor rather than a typical bill.
Is there a free trial, and how long does it last?+
Yes. italki offers a free tier, so you can look through teachers and the platform before paying, and its trial runs 30 days. That trial length ranks 1 of 21 brands in our comparison, which is longer than most tutor and app trials.
Languatalk
What does a LanguaTalk lesson cost?+
Lessons start at €7.95, which is a low entry point for trying a tutor. The typical lesson across the catalogue runs higher than that entry figure, so the real cost depends on which tutor and length you book. Tutors are screened before they appear on the platform.
Is there a free tier or a free trial?+
Yes, there is a free tier for the app side, plus a free trial of 5 days to 7 days on the paid side. That means you can try the product in a light way before subscribing. The free tier is the only part that costs nothing outright.