14 Best Language Exchange Apps and Websites for Conversation Partners

Learning a new language is truly an enriching experience. That said, it can also be a daunting experience, especially if you’re learning alone. While books, apps, and podcasts certainly go a long way in helping you learn, nothing beats the reassuring presence of a conversation partner.

Not only does having a language partner offer you a sense of companionship, but you can also practice what you’ve learned and received feedback on your pronunciation, language usage, and more.

To get you started, here are 14 of the best language exchange apps and websites to find the perfect language partner!

1. HelloTalk

When it comes to the best language exchange apps on the market, none are as famous as HelloTalk. After all, this incredible app connects more than 30 million users who collectively speak over 150 different languages!

What I like most about HelloTalk is how it facilitates conversations between people who may not necessarily understand each other otherwise. HelloTalk overcomes potential communication barriers by offering a variety of tools that help you chat with your language partner even if you lack the proficiency to understand each other.

With a voice-to-text mode that’s easy to use, starting a conversation is literally as simple as picking up the phone and saying “Hi!” The app will then transcribe your words into a text that the other person can read. If you’re having trouble understanding the text, simply make use of the translation and transliteration tools to convert it into a language you’ll understand!

Why we love HelloTalk:

Offers plenty of useful tools to help users converse with each other
Comes with a Moments feature that functions like a social media account
Features an easy-to-use interface

Price: HelloTalk and all its functions are completely free. However, you can subscribe to a monthly membership at $6.99/month if you want an ad-free experience.

Devices: HelloTalk is available on the App Store (iOS) and the Google Play Store (Android).

Also read: 14 Best HelloTalk Alternatives to Find Language Exchange Partners

2. Tandem

Much like HelloTalk, Tandem is often considered one of the best apps for language exchange. However, the big difference is that Tandem has a more prominent social networking vibe where users can “Follow” each other, jazz up their profile with pictures and fun trivia, and leave reviews of other users.

Despite that, the fundamentals of Tandem remain largely the same as other language exchange apps: It is primarily a platform where you can practice foreign languages with language partners from around the world. You can text, talk, and even video call someone to converse in Mandarin, Spanish, Arabic, and more.

For those who are just starting out learning a new language, you’ll be happy to know that Tandem comes with beginner-friendly features like translation tools and autocorrect. There’s even a tutor app where you can find vetted tutors to help you further improve your proficiency in a given language, or apply to be a tutor yourself!

Why we love Tandem:

Social networking vibe brings a bit of fun to language exchange
Features a video call function that lets you practice conversations in real-time
Offers a tutoring option that caters specifically to beginners

Price: Tandem is generally free. However, you can subscribe to a Pro Version which unlocks all features for $6.99/month or $34.99/year

Devices: Tandem is available on the App Store (iOS) and the Google Play Store (Android).

Also read: 12 Tandem Alternatives to Help You Speak More Fluently

3. Speaky

If you’re looking for language exchange apps that are easy to use, look no further than Speaky!

Like most other apps on this list, Speaky requires you to fill out your profile and list the languages you speak and wish to learn. The difference is that Speaky actually lets users rank their own languages by order of proficiency to make it easier for them to find the right language partner.

Once you’ve found someone to talk to, you can start conversing via text and audio messages. The other party (and yourself) can then point out things to improve in a casual manner.

Why we love Speaky:

Allows users to list the proficiency of the languages they speak
Features a simple interface with easy filters
Facilitates spontaneous conversations

Price: Speaky is completely free! In fact, it’s one of the best free language exchange apps on the market!

Devices: Speaky is available on the App Store (iOS) and the Google Play Store (Android).

4. Bilingua

While language exchange apps are great for connecting with other language learners, one potential downside to them is that you often end up only having fleeting conversations. You might be able to chat with a lot of people, but you rarely get to have meaningful conversations.

Enter Bilingua to rectify that situation. While the app is similar to the previous ones mentioned in this list where users are matched based on language preferences and learning goals, Bilingua also uses a more in-depth matching algorithm to pair language partners based on personalities and common interests.

The main objective of that is to match users with language partners whom they can converse with over a longer time period and on more engaging conversation topics.

Why we love Bilingua:

Matches users based on more than just language preferences
Offers engaging conversations and easy to use

Price: Bilingua is completely free to use!

Devices: At the moment, Bilingua is only available on the Google Play Store (Android). However, you can also access its web app.

5. HiNative

HiNative isn’t quite like your typical language exchange app like Tandem or HelloTalk. Instead, it is more like an engaging Q&A platform where language learners can ask questions about the language they’re learning, and receive genuine answers from native speakers.

Simply put, it’s one of the top language exchange apps for those who aren’t comfortable meeting new people.

The app is super simple to use. All you have to do is hit the “Ask” button, fill up the question template with your queries, and HiNative will auto-translate it to the target language and forward it to another user. You can even record yourself asking a question and the native speakers on the app can listen to it and help you improve your pronunciation!

Of course, you can also take the time to help other users with their questions too. Personally, if you’re looking for language exchange platforms that don’t require you to interact a lot with other users, HiNative is arguably one of the best language exchange apps you can find.

Why we love HiNative:

Features a refreshing format that suits introverted learners
Simple interface that fulfills your language exchange needs
Helps learners to better formulate their questions

Price: HiNative is free for use. That said, you can subscribe to a Premium Membership from $5.68/month that unlocks additional perks and priority tickets for your questions.

Devices: HiNative is available on the App Store (iOS) and the Google Play Store (Android).

6. Meetup

On the flipside, Meetup is precisely the language exchange app that is perfect for social butterflies! As the name implies, it is a language exchange app that helps you find people in your area with a shared interest (conversation groups in this case) and meet up with them.

Frankly speaking, Meetup isn’t strictly a language exchange app as you can also find different groups that meet up to talk about different interests, such as sports and history. However, in the “Language and Culture” section, you can find plenty of groups that meet up simply to practice speaking a foreign language.

Why we love Meetup:

Helps find language partners to practice conversations in real life
Allows users to find groups that enjoy the same hobbies and interests

Price: Meetup is a completely free app. However, you may need to pay an RSVP fee for certain events.

Devices: Meetup is available on the App Store (iOS) and the Google Play Store (Android).

7. Idyoma

If you speak Spanish, you’ll notice that Idyoma sounds a lot like idioma (Spanish for “language”). That’s actually an intentional typo because this app was originally created for native Spanish speakers to learn different languages. Today, it has become an engaging language exchange app where you can find different language partners!

Idyoma primarily functions like the Tinder of language exchange apps. Basically, you create a profile, state your native language and what you want to learn, and then start swiping away to find the perfect language exchange partner who shares common interests with you.

Once you’ve matched with someone, you can start conversing with them via chat. The app comes with a translation tool so don’t worry about not being able to understand each other. If you want, you can then choose to meetup in real life too!

Why we love Idyoma:

Features a fun premise and format
Allows users to meet new people
Lets users leave reviews on profiles as a security measure

Price: Idyoma is free to use. However, there is an optional $5 verification fee that you can use to confirm your identity.

Devices: Idyoma is available on the App Store (iOS) and the Google Play Store (Android).

8. Preply

For those who prefer a more serious kind of language exchange, then consider signing up for a tutoring class on Preply. While Preply isn’t exactly a language exchange app since your conversations here will be structured more similarly to a formal lesson, it’s still a great platform to practice conversing with a native speaker.

The obvious benefit of Preply is simply that you can be assured that whenever you hop onto the app or website, you’ll definitely be able to learn something new. Instead of spending loads of time finding the right language partner, you can simply hop into a class with your tutor and get started right away, working on your grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, and more!

Why we love Preply:

One of the most efficient ways to improve language proficiency
Features vetted tutors with tons of experience
Matches users with suitable language partners

Price: The price of a tutoring session on Preply varies but most lessons start from just $5/hour.

Devices: Preply is available on the App Store (iOS) and the Google Play Store (Android).

9. Italki

Similar to Preply, Italki is a language exchange platform where language learners can find tutors and schedule lessons to help them improve their mastery of a particular language. In fact, some may even say that Italki is even more popular than Preply, but we’ll leave that up to discussion.

What sets Italki apart from Preply is that it features a much wider range of tutors. You can find native speakers on the app as well as certified teachers that are experienced in crafting personalized lessons for language learners.

In addition, the comprehensive interface allows you to filter through the many profiles easily to find the perfect tutor for you. All that’s left to do then is simply to schedule a one-on-one lesson and get started!

Why we love Italki:

Holistic language learning platform
Features a wide range of tutors
Comes with a user-friendly interface and filters

Price: Like Preply, the price of tutoring sessions on Italki vary based on the tutor. However, expect to pay an average of $4 to $10 per hour.

Devices: Italki is available on the App Store (iOS) and the Google Play Store (Android).

10. Busuu

Another great language exchange app that you should consider is Busuu, often considered one of the most popular apps to learn foreign languages. Apart from just connecting users to each other, Busuu also functions as a holistic language learning app, offering different resources to help learners master a particular language.

You can sign up for bite-sized lessons to get started and set up personalized tutoring sessions with professional teachers on the platform. However, if you’d like a more casual language exchange, there are also plenty of friendly fellow learners you can connect with to practice conversing in a particular language!

Why we love Busuu:

Comes with other features that help language learners improve their proficiency
Offers the choice between a structured lesson or a casual chat
Features a wide range of lessons to help beginners get started

Price: The basic version of Busuu is free but you can upgrade to Premium and enjoy more features. Prices start from $9.99/month.

Devices: Busuu is available on the App Store (iOS) and the Google Play Store (Android).

11. MyLanguageExchange

At first glance, MyLanguageExchange looks like a website that was created right around the time when the Internet was invented. However, despite being in need of a more modern design, MyLanguageExchange is actually one of the most reliable language exchange websites currently available.

The website comes with text and voice chat, translation tools, and even word games and lessons! More importantly, it features a wide network of language learners, each with comprehensive profiles and bios detailing the language partners they are looking for.

As a result of this, MyLanguageExchange users often connect on a more engaging level compared to those who stick only to language exchange apps. However, since the website isn’t regulated in the same way as an app might be, we do advise users to be careful about the information they share while speaking to other users on the site.

Why we love MyLanguageExchange:

Features an extensive variety of resources
Focuses on building lasting relationships and engaging conversations
Easy to use and completely free!

Price: MyLanguageExchange is free to use with no hidden fees involved.

Devices: Windows and Mac OS

12. The Mixxer

Like MyLanguageExchange, The Mixxer is a language exchange website that focuses on pushing language learners to go beyond casual conversations. One way it does this is by encouraging its users to engage in live conversations more than texting.

To use The Mixxer, you’ll need to connect to your Skype account and reach out to other language learners to start the ball rolling. You can then propose to move the conversation to Skype where you can practice speaking and improving your pronunciation.

The one potential downside to The Mixxer though is that, given the limited resources that are put into this (the website was started by a teacher in the United States without any financial backing), there isn’t really a vetting system in place to verify users. Because of that, you’ll have to be careful with the sort of personal information you share with other users.

Why we love The Mixxer:

Encourages users to interact via Skype more than texting
It is free to use!

Price: The Mixxer is free to use but you will need to have a Skype account to fully enjoy the experience

Devices: Windows and Mac OS

13. Reddit

Ah Reddit, is there anything you DON’T have? Anyone who is familiar with the Internet and social media will know that Reddit is one of the largest and most holistic online community forums of our time. You can find almost anything on Reddit, including language exchange platforms.

To use Reddit as a language exchange website, (or app if you’re on your phone), simply find the language community you want and join in the conversations after creating your account. Start a conversation topic, ask questions, and leave comments, the possibilities are endless.

As a rule of thumb, look for subreddits (forums) that start with “r/learn”, such as r/learnJapanese, r/learnKorean etc. For language learners, these are the best places to start. More importantly, there’s also a language exchange subreddit where you can connect with other language learners and set up a chat on your own!

Why we love Reddit

Offers endless possibilities because of the vast communities that use the platform
Anything goes! You can speak about anything with anyone in the subreddits!

Price: Reddit is completely free and fun to use!

Devices: Windows and Mac OS; also available on the App Store (iOS) and the Google Play Store (Android).

14. Discord

Following on from Reddit, during your journey looking for the right communities, you may find threads or users asking you to join a particular Discord channel. For those not in the know, Discord is basically an instant-messaging platform that also comes with voice chat and streaming services.

The chat rooms actually started as a fun way for gamers to connect but it now has chat rooms for almost every topic, including language exchange. These servers often comprise of like-minded language learners who are keen to master a particular language. So once you’ve joined the right community, you can simply start chatting away!

Why we love Discord

A community-centric platform that makes learning languages fun!
It features voice chat and streaming functions

Price: Discord is completely free. However, you can upgrade to Nitro status for access to some custom emojis. It costs $9.99/month and you have to renew it manually every month.