The best sites and apps for language exchange
In a language exchange you help someone with your language while they help you with theirs. Here are well-known sites and apps, what each says about itself, and then Penpalmap, which is new and which we run.
Sites worth a look
Tandem
- Free to sign up, according to the site
- Has translation tools, according to the site
HelloTalk
- Free to use, according to the site
- Has translation tools, according to the site
Speaky
- Free to use, according to the site
ConversationExchange
- Free to use, according to the site
italki
- Paid lessons, according to the site
Information checked on 2026-11-04
How we chose
We picked well-known sites that are open today, and we only note what their own pages say about being free, paid or offering translation tools. Offers change, so read the site's page before you sign up.
Free exchange or paid lessons
In an exchange, two people practise together. Paid lessons are different: a teacher is paid. Some sites on this list offer one, the other, or both.
Staying safe
Never share your address, your phone number or your passwords with someone you have just met. Use the block and report tools where a site has them, and tell an adult if something feels wrong, especially if you are young.
And Penpalmap, a new site
Penpalmap is a new site and we run it, so keep that in mind when you read our opinion. It is a world map where every pin is a person: pick a spot, open a profile and say hello in seconds, with no signup. It is free and has no advertising. With a free account, a button translates the messages you receive. You must be 13 or older.
Questions about language exchange
What is a language exchange?
Two people who speak different languages talk together so that each one practises the other's language.
Do I need to be good at the language?
No. It helps to say your level in your profile, so that your partner knows how fast to go.
Does Penpalmap translate messages?
With a free account, a button translates the messages you receive into your language, among 25 languages. It is there to help you talk, not to replace learning.