Talkabout vs HelloTalk

HelloTalk is a busy, social language app with text, voice and video chat, a feed, group voice rooms and livestreams. Talkabout is a quiet, free, browser-based text exchange for adults. If you want lots of ways to practise and don't mind a crowded app, HelloTalk fits. If you want focused one-to-one writing with corrections and no paid tiers, try Talkabout.

We run Talkabout, so read this with that in mind. We have kept to what HelloTalk says on its own pages, which we looked at on 17 September and 19 October 2026. Plans and limits change, so check the official pages before you commit.

At a glance

What HelloTalk does well

Many ways to practise. Chat by text, voice or video, with built-in tools for translation, pronunciation, transliteration and corrections. Moments lets you post and ask questions, and Voicerooms and Livestreams give you group conversation.

A big social surface. If you like a feed and group rooms, HelloTalk has them and Talkabout doesn't.

Where Talkabout is different

No paid tiers. HelloTalk's FAQ says free accounts can contact 10 new partners a day and VIP members up to 25, and lists broader search and other extras for VIP. On Talkabout, filters by language, level and country are free for everyone.

Quieter by design. One-to-one text, no feed, no livestreams. You choose how much correcting you want, and a mood on your profile, such as "Here to practise", tells people what you're up for.

Corrections in the chat. Suggest a fix on your partner's message and they see exactly what changed.

Adults only. Everyone is 18 or older, so there are no separate rules for minors.

Browser first. Nothing to install; HelloTalk's web version is opened by scanning a QR code with the phone app.

What Talkabout doesn't have

No voice or video, no group rooms, no feed and no phone app in the stores yet. And it's new, so how many people you find depends on your language pair: look at Japanese and English or Spanish and English.

How to choose

• You want to speak, join group rooms and have a social feed: HelloTalk.
• You want a calm, free, written exchange with corrections, adults only: Talkabout.
• You're not sure: try both for a week.

Either way, a conversation only helps if it keeps going. Our tips on keeping a language exchange going apply anywhere, and the six-app comparison shows the full field.

FAQ

Is Talkabout a HelloTalk alternative?

If you want quieter, one-to-one text conversation, yes. HelloTalk is a busy social app with voice, video, a feed and group rooms. Talkabout is text chat only, in a browser, for adults.

How many people can I contact per day on HelloTalk?

HelloTalk's FAQ says free accounts can contact 10 new partners a day and VIP members up to 25, to reduce spam.

Does Talkabout limit who I can message?

Talkabout has rate limits against spam too, so a new account can't message everyone at once. They are not tied to a paid plan, because there isn't one.

Can minors use HelloTalk?

HelloTalk says users under 18 can only search for other minors. Talkabout is adults only.

Try it

Sign up to Talkabout and pick your languages, or browse every language first.