Speaky Alternatives: 6 Free Language Exchange Apps to Try

Speaky is a free language exchange app where you find native speakers and chat by text or voice, on the web or your phone. It says it has around 5 million learners. If it isn't working for you, whether because of who messages you, bugs, or simply quiet days, there are good free alternatives. Here are six, compared honestly, with who each one suits.

Olu is an independent app, not affiliated with Speaky, HelloTalk, Tandem, MyLanguageExchange, ConversationExchange, Slowly or any app named here. Product names are used only for comparison. Features and plans of third-party apps change often; check each one yourself.

Why people look for a Speaky alternative

Reviews of Speaky tend to mention the same few things:

• Not everyone is there to learn. Some members want to socialise or flirt more than practise a language.
• Bugs. Some users report an app that crashes or messages that don't load.
• Translation limits. The in-app tools can feel limited for real beginners.
• Waiting. Like most exchange apps, you send messages and wait for a reply that may not come.

None of this means Speaky is bad. It means it's worth knowing what else exists.

1. HelloTalk

HelloTalk is the biggest language exchange app. It says it has more than 70 million learners and over 260 languages. You chat by text, voice or video, with translation, transliteration, pronunciation help and corrections built into every chat. A public feed called Moments lets you post a few lines and get them corrected, and Voicerooms let you join group speaking.

Best for: reading and writing, especially in a new script. Watch out for: a busy feed and many unanswered first messages. More in HelloTalk alternatives.

2. Tandem

Tandem describes itself as an app where people teach each other. You chat by text, voice notes, audio or video calls, with correction and translation tools, and filter partners by language, location and interests. It says it reviews every application before you can start, which keeps the community more focused but means a short wait at sign-up.

Best for: one-to-one calls with a vetted community. Watch out for: the review wait and fewer writing tools. See Tandem alternatives, or our side-by-side HelloTalk vs Tandem.

3. MyLanguageExchange

A long-running website where you search for native speakers learning your language, by age, location and languages. You then write as pen pals or use its text and voice chat. It has a free profile and free lesson plans, and a Gold membership too, so check what's included before you pay.

Best for: learners who like to search and choose carefully. Watch out for: an older design and slow replies.

4. ConversationExchange

A simple website for finding exchange partners in three ways: face-to-face meetings in your city, written correspondence, or online chat. You post a profile, search, and write to people.

Best for: finding a partner in your own city to meet in person. Watch out for: a basic site, and the usual care when meeting a stranger: meet in a public place.

5. Slowly

Slowly is a pen pal app where letters take hours or days to arrive, depending on the real distance between you. You can filter by language, and many members use it to practise. The free tier is generous.

Best for: slow, thoughtful writing practice with long replies. Watch out for: it's not a conversation; you'll wait a day for each answer. If you like it, see apps like Slowly.

6. Olu

Olu is a free, ad-free, text-only chat app. On its Language learners planet, you set the language you're learning and tap to take off. People who speak that language and are learning yours are matched with you first, then anyone else on the planet. You don't browse profiles or wait for replies: the person you meet is online now.

Every message is translated both ways, and the original is always visible. The language you're practising shows big and the translation small, so you read the real sentence first. You can write in your own language at the start and switch line by line. If a chat goes well, add each other as friends.

Honest limits: Olu is text only, with no voice, video, feed or correction tool. Its community is small, much smaller than Speaky, HelloTalk or Tandem, so at quiet hours you may not find a speaker of your language at once; when that happens you're told. AI chat partners exist only outside the planet, on a regular flight, and they're always labelled AI. It's for friendship and practice, not dating. Read more in language practice with native speakers.

Best for: beginners who want a real conversation today, in text, without writing the first line in a language they barely know.

Comparison table

	How you meet people	Text, voice, video	Translation	Cost model
Speaky	You browse and message	Text and voice	Has translation; reviews mention limits	Says it's free; check the app
HelloTalk	You browse and message	Text, voice and video	Translation, transliteration, corrections	Free to chat; HelloTalk VIP adds extras
Tandem	You browse and message, after review	Text, voice notes, audio and video calls	Translation and corrections	Free sign-up; Tandem Pro adds extras
MyLanguageExchange	You search members	Pen pal email, text and voice chat	Not a listed feature	Free profile, plus a Gold membership
ConversationExchange	You search members	Meet in person, letters or chat	Not a listed feature	Free to use; check the site
Slowly	Match by interests and language	Delayed letters	Language filters	Generous free tier, paid extras
Olu (Language learners planet)	One tap, matched with an online member, exchange partners first	Text only	Every message, both ways, original visible	Free, no ads

Which one to pick

• You want better writing tools than Speaky: HelloTalk.
• You want calls and fewer people who aren't there to learn: Tandem.
• You want to choose your partner carefully: MyLanguageExchange.
• You want to meet a partner in your city: ConversationExchange.
• You love writing and don't mind waiting: Slowly.
• You want a real person to text with right now, fully translated: Olu.

Whatever you pick, agree a 50/50 split of languages, ask for one correction per chat, and save three new phrases after each session. Our guide on how to find a language exchange partner online has more on keeping a partner. On any app, keep your address and full name to yourself with someone new, and never send money to a chat partner. More in our random chat safety tips.