Speaky
Speaky, operated by Belgium-based ALTISSIA INTERNATIONAL S.A., is a free peer-to-peer language exchange platform that connects individual learners worldwide with native speakers via web, iOS, and Android apps for text and audio language practice.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersOttignies-Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingSoftware
What Speaky does
Speaky is a free, peer-to-peer language exchange platform operated by ALTISSIA INTERNATIONAL S.A., a Belgian public limited company headquartered in Genappe, Belgium. The platform connects individual language learners worldwide with native speakers, enabling users to practice speaking, writing, and listening through text and audio messaging. The product is distributed across three channels: a web platform at web.speaky.com, a native iOS app, and a native Android app, with sign-up via email or social identity providers (Google, Apple, Facebook).
The underlying technology stack is a mobile-first messaging and matching system built around user profiles containing language learning preferences. Matching is based on complementary language pairs, and the platform supports a verification photo system for safety, audio messaging, and optional photo sharing. The company claims a global community of 5 million language learners, supports a wide range of languages including English, Spanish, French, German, Mandarin, Japanese, Portuguese, Italian, and Korean, and maintains a content marketing presence through a blog and gated ebooks. The platform is GDPR-compliant, with data hosted within the EEA.
The business model is unambiguously free for end users: there is no subscription, no premium tier, no enterprise plan, and no disclosed monetization mechanism. Speaky is a bootstrapped, privately held venture with no documented funding rounds, no institutional investors, no acquisitions, and no leadership changes of note. Revenue mechanics are not disclosed, and the Speaky product line appears to be operated at no direct cost to users, with the operating costs likely absorbed by the parent entity ALTISSIA INTERNATIONAL S.A. or a sister brand MOJIKU, which is also a registered trademark of the parent.
Speaky firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Speaky
- Legal name
- ALTISSIA INTERNATIONAL S.A.
- Website
- https://speaky.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Speaky, operated by Belgium-based ALTISSIA INTERNATIONAL S.A., is a free peer-to-peer language exchange platform that connects individual learners worldwide with native speakers via web, iOS, and Android apps for text and audio language practice.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Speaky industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Language Learning Platform
- NAICS
- Language Schools (611630), Educational Support Services (611710)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Online Tutoring, Conversation Exchange & Language Coaching Platforms (EDAFAOAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Multilingual/Translation Communication Apps (BPAMACAJ), Online Language Learning Platforms (Self-Paced) (EDAMAFAC)
Keywords
Where Speaky is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Ottignies-Louvain-la-Neuve
- HQ country
- Belgium
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Speaky business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Free Language Exchange Platform: The platform operates as a completely free service with no stated revenue model in available sources. The company (ALTISSIA INTERNATIONAL S.A.) is Belgium-based and may have alternative monetization strategies not disclosed on the website.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Monthly | Free access to all platform features |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
Speaky product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Speaky is a free language exchange platform that connects individual language learners with native speakers worldwide for mutual language practice and cultural exchange. The offering is delivered through a web platform and native iOS/Android mobile applications, enabling users to create profiles, find language partners based on complementary learning preferences, and communicate via private text and audio messages. The platform operates without subscription fees and relies on community-led growth to attract and retain its user base.
Product overview
Speaky is a free language exchange platform operated by ALTISSIA INTERNATIONAL S.A. that connects language learners with native speakers worldwide for mutual language learning and cultural exchange. The platform consists of a web application (web.speaky.com) and native mobile apps for iOS and Android, forming the core product ecosystem. Users can practice speaking, writing, and listening with partners through text and audio messages. The platform includes a community of 5 million users and a supporting blog content library with educational articles on language learning. Customer support services include account support, legal inquiry handling, and a feature suggestion program. The company is headquartered in Belgium with data hosted within the EEA.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- MOJIKU: A trademark brand of ALTISSIA INTERNATIONAL SA alongside SPEAKY.
Products and services
- Speaky Web Platform The web-based Speaky platform accessible at web.speaky.com, enabling individual language learners to register, create profiles, find native-speaker language partners based on complementary learning preferences, and engage in private text and audio conversations for language practice and cultural exchange.
- Speaky Mobile App Native mobile applications for iOS (Apple App Store) and Android (Google Play Store) that allow individual language learners to practice speaking, writing, and listening with native-speaker language partners on-the-go, with text and audio messaging, user verification, and mutual-consent photo sharing.
Companies that use Speaky
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Speaky technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration5 records
AI capability4 records
Feature3 records
Speaky partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators1 record
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights3 records
Speaky competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- ConversationExchange: ConversationExchange is one of the original web-based language-exchange platforms, pairing learners for text, voice, and in-person practice. Speaky is a mobile-first successor targeting the same use case.
- HelloTalk: HelloTalk is the largest direct competitor in the language-exchange space, connecting native speakers for mutual language practice via text, voice, and video. Speaky competes for the same peer-to-peer language-exchange user base with a similar freemium mobile-first model.
- italki: italki combines a community language-exchange feature with a paid marketplace for professional teachers. It competes with Speaky on the community exchange side while offering a paid escalation path Speaky does not.
- Tandem: Tandem is a direct competitor offering language exchange via community chat plus a paid tutor marketplace. Speaky and Tandem compete head-to-head for individual language learners seeking conversation partners.
Emerging players
- Preply: Preply is a paid online-tutor marketplace for languages and other subjects. While Speaky's free exchange model differs, both compete for learners willing to pay for human conversation practice.
Broad incumbents
- Busuu: Busuu is a subscription language-learning platform that also incorporates community feedback from native speakers. It is comparable to Speaky in blending structured learning with community, but with a paid model.
- Memrise: Memrise is a consumer language-learning app focused on vocabulary and short-form practice, with some community video content. It targets the same language-learner audience as Speaky.
- Babbel: Babbel is a leading subscription language-learning platform with structured self-paced courses. It targets the same consumer segment as Speaky but through paid, professionally produced curriculum rather than community exchange.
- Duolingo: Duolingo is the dominant consumer language-learning app, combining self-study with AI-powered conversation features. It competes for the same learner mindshare as Speaky, even though its primary model is gamified self-study rather than peer exchange.
Regional players
- Lingoda: Lingoda is an online language-school offering live group and private classes with certified teachers, strong in Europe. It competes for the same European adult-learner demographic that Speaky reaches through its Belgian base and EU data hosting.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Speaky social profiles
Digital presenceSpeaky compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Speaky financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Speaky leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Speaky funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Speaky M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Speaky
What does Speaky do?
Speaky is a free language exchange platform that connects individual language learners with native speakers worldwide for mutual language practice and cultural exchange. The offering is delivered through a web platform and native iOS/Android mobile applications, enabling users to create profiles, find language partners based on complementary learning preferences, and communicate via private text and audio messages. The platform operates without subscription fees and relies on community-led growth to attract and retain its user base.
Is Speaky a public or private company?
Speaky is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Speaky founded?
Speaky was founded in 2014. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Speaky based?
Speaky is headquartered in Ottignies-Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium, in the Europe region.
How does Speaky make money?
One revenue line is on record: free Language Exchange Platform.
Who are Speaky's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are ConversationExchange, HelloTalk, italki and Tandem. Preply is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are Busuu, Memrise, Babbel and Duolingo. Lingoda is listed as a regional player.
Does Speaky have an API?
No public API is recorded for Speaky.
What industry is Speaky in?
Speaky's product category is Language Learning Platform. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAFAOAB, Online Tutoring, Conversation Exchange & Language Coaching Platforms, with a secondary code of BPAMACAJ, Multilingual/Translation Communication Apps. Its NAICS code is 611630.