On an exchange app, you help a partner with the language you speak, and they help you with theirs.
The eight apps below are grouped by how you meet people, from one-on-one chats to group calls and letters.
Get Ready Before You Chat
Bubblegum
Bubblegum is the best app for serious learners. You learn from text and audio you can mostly understand, which is called comprehensible input.
Before your first chat, practice in any of Bubblegum's 60 languages with Poppy, your AI tutor. Bubblegum's menus come in 74 languages.
- Read a lesson about telling a partner where you grew up, written for your level.
- In most of its languages, you can say the words to Poppy in a live voice chat before you meet a partner.
- Words you save come back inside your next lessons, a feature Bubblegum calls Regenerative Review™.
- Clear, expressive AI voices read every lesson aloud, with a different voice for each speaker.
- Bubblegum doesn't match you with people, so you'll still need an exchange app to meet a partner.
- A new custom lesson costs us real money to make, so your first one is free, and Bubblegum Pro gives you unlimited custom lessons. The lesson library is free for everyone, because we believe everyone should be able to learn.
- Regenerative Review™
Mobile
Find a Partner for One-on-One Chats
These apps help you find one person at a time to text, call, or video chat with.
HelloTalk
HelloTalk has members in over 200 countries and regions, practicing more than 260 languages. Finding a partner and practicing is free.
- Look for partners of a certain age or gender, or who live in a certain place.
- Turn on instant captions while you chat.
- Livestream hosts can invite you on stage for a video chat.
MobileWeb
Tandem
On Tandem, you look for someone who speaks the language you want and wants to learn yours. You can practice any of 300+ languages there, including American Sign Language.
- Translate a message you're writing or one you just got.
- The Nearby feature shows members who live close to you.
MobileWeb
Speaky
Speaky connects you with people in 195 countries and offers more than 170 languages. Speaky says it is completely free, with no hidden fees or subscriptions.
- Chat with partners by text or by voice.
- Use it on a computer at web.speaky.com as well as on your phone.
MobileWeb
Join a Group Voice Room
Hilokal
Hilokal is built around group audio calls with other learners and people who speak the language. Its app also has an AI tutor called Goguma for practice on your own.
- Tap listen to join a live audio call, and send chat messages until you want to speak.
- Start your own audio table and use moderation tools to run it.
MobileWeb
Write Letters or Meet in Person
Slowly
Slowly is a pen-pal app for people who like to take their time. Language learners looking for a partner are one of the groups it's made for.
- A letter takes hours or days to arrive, depending on how far apart you live.
- Send as many letters as you like for free.
Mobile
Conversation Exchange
Conversation Exchange is a website for finding language partners. Meeting people in your area who speak the language is free.
- Look for someone in your town to meet and talk face to face.
- Find a pen pal to trade written messages with.
- Chat by text, voice, or video in its ChitChat tool or another chat app you like.
Web
Ask Quick Questions
HiNative
HiNative is a question-and-answer community for language learners, run by the team behind Lang-8. It supports more than 110 languages.
- Record a question to check how you say something.
- Post a photo of a sign or a menu to ask about it.
Mobile
Languages and Menus on Each App
The first column counts the languages members practice, and the second counts the languages the menus come in.
| App | Languages | Menu Languages |
|---|---|---|
| Bubblegum | 60 | 74 |
| HelloTalk | 260+ | 16 |
| Tandem | 300+ | 14 |
| Speaky | 170+ | 1 |
| Hilokal | Not listed | 1 |
| Slowly | Not listed | 1 |
| Conversation Exchange | Not listed | 11 |
| HiNative | 110+ | 17 |
Other Apps We Looked At (3)
- MyLanguageExchangeA site with four million members practicing 169 languages through pen pals, text chat, and voice and video chat in the browser, plus lesson plans to use with a partner.
- italkiA site for booking teachers that also has a free community where you can practice with learners from more than 190 countries.
- BusuuCourses in 14 languages, with a community of fluent speakers who give feedback on your exercises.
Common Questions
Which language exchange app should a beginner choose?
If you are serious about learning a language, start with Bubblegum. Poppy writes lessons at your level about things you like. Or start with Slowly if you'd like time to think over each reply, or with Hilokal if you'd like to listen in on a group call before you speak.
How do I stay safe on a language exchange app?
Tandem reviews every application to keep its community safe, and Slowly uses no photos and no real names. Keep your address and other personal details to yourself until you know someone well.
Is Bubblegum free?
Yes. The lesson library is free for everyone, because we believe everyone should be able to learn. It holds lessons that other learners asked Poppy for. A new custom lesson costs us real money to make, so your first one is free, and Bubblegum Pro gives you unlimited custom lessons.
Sources
- Bubblegum: Every language you can learn
- HelloTalk: Home page (260+ languages, 200+ countries and regions)
- HelloTalk: App Store listing (matching, Livestreams, 16 menu languages)
- Tandem: Home page (application review, ways to talk)
- Tandem: App Store listing (300+ languages, Nearby, Tandem Pro, 14 menu languages)
- Speaky: Home page and FAQ (free, text or voice)
- Speaky: App Store listing (195 countries, 170+ languages, web app)
- Hilokal: Home page (group audio calls, listener mode)
- Hilokal: App Store listing (Goguma AI tutor, Premium Plus)
- Slowly: App Store listing (letters, stamps, no photos or real names)
- Conversation Exchange: Home page (local partners, pen pals, chat)
- HiNative: App Store listing (110+ languages, HiNative Premium, 17 menu languages)
- MyLanguageExchange: Home page
- italki: Home page (community)
- Busuu: Home page (Busuu Community)
- Busuu: App Store listing (14 languages, community feedback)
- Bubblegum
- Tandem
- Slowly
- HiNative
Checked on October 15, 2026 against each app's own pages.
