HelloTalk

Text, call and correct with native speakers in a language-exchange feed.

AppsCommunitiesFreemiumBeginnerIntermediateAdvancedAny language

Open hellotalk.com ↗

What it actually is

Built-in correction tools let partners fix your messages inline, and the social 'moments' feed gets you corrections from strangers without arranging a call. Free for the core exchange; VIP adds more translations and simultaneous target languages. The persistent caveat is that a fair share of users treat it as a dating app, and exchange partners are unreliable — it works best once you already have some output to correct.

Who it suits

Learners who want free, low-pressure writing practice with native speakers and can type short messages in the language already. The asynchronous text and voice-message format suits shy speakers and people in awkward time zones who cannot commit to live calls.

Who should skip it

Skip it if you need guaranteed, structured feedback: partners owe you nothing and many conversations fade after a few messages. Beginners who cannot yet write a sentence will get little from it, and anyone who wants a purely study-focused space should expect to filter out unwanted contact.

What it costs

Core exchange, voice/text chat and Moments are free, with daily caps on translation, AI correction and new partner contacts. VIP (monthly, yearly or lifetime) lifts those caps and removes ads; HelloTalk does not publish prices on its site - they are shown in the app.

Checked 29 Sept 2026 on the official pricing page. Prices change and can differ by country.

How it compares

  • Tandem

    Pick Tandem instead if you prefer an exchange app built around one-to-one partner matching and scheduled talks.

  • italki

    Pick italki instead if you want someone paid to correct you consistently and show up on time.

  • r/languagelearning

    Pick r/languagelearning instead if you want advice on methods rather than conversation partners.

What it covers

  • Writing
  • Speaking
  • Listening

Learners who used it

From field notes — real posts we read and linked. What they say is their account, not our finding.

Official links

Similar tools

  • Anki

    The gold-standard spaced-repetition flashcard app with community decks for every language.

  • Babbel

    Structured dialogue-based courses in 13 languages, built by actual linguists.

  • Duolingo

    Gamified daily lessons in 40+ languages; great for habit-building, weak beyond A2.

  • Busuu

    Structured CEFR courses with written corrections from native speakers.

  • Memrise

    Vocabulary drills backed by clips of native speakers saying the phrase.

  • Pimsleur

    Audio-only spaced-recall courses that drill speaking from lesson one.

Sources

Prices and features above come from these pages, read on 29 Sept 2026. The judgements are ours.