Brandwave

How popular isitalki?

In September 2026, people searched for italki by name about 246,000 times worldwide, about the same as the previous year. These searches made up 2.4% of all global language learning app searches, placing italki third out of seven apps. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about language learning apps, italki appeared in four of the five answers and was the fifth most recommended of the seven.

Search and AI answers in September 2026

italki is the third most searched of 7 competitors and the fifth most recommended in AI answers.

  1. DuolingoShare of searches 90.8%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 1st
  2. BusuuShare of searches 2.6%Mentioned in 4 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 3rd
  3. italkiShare of searches 2.4%Mentioned in 4 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 5th
  4. BabbelShare of searches 1.8%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 2nd
  5. MemriseShare of searches 1.1%Mentioned in 1 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 6th

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Top language learning apps in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, italki was mentioned in four out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. italki is the fifth most recommended of the seven.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Duolingo1st
  2. Babbel2nd
  3. Busuu3rd
  4. Pimsleur4th
  5. italki5th
  6. Memrise6th
  7. Mondly–

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • Duolingo5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Babbel5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Busuu4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • italki4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Pimsleur4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Memrise1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Mondly0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about language learning apps

5 answers

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 19, 2026.

Which language learning apps compete with italki?

italki against language learning apps worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for Duolingo, Busuu, italki. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthDuolingoBusuuitalkiBabbelMemrisePimsleurMondly
Oct 202589.3%2.5%2.4%2.6%2%0.71%0.53%
Nov 202586.6%3%2.8%3.1%2.9%1%0.63%
Dec 202588%3.1%2.3%3.1%1.7%1.3%0.53%
Jan 202685.9%3%3.4%3.7%2.4%1%0.63%
Feb 202688.4%2.6%2.9%3.2%1.7%0.86%0.53%
Mar 202687.5%3%2.8%3.1%2%0.85%0.65%
Apr 202688.8%2.5%2.9%2.6%1.7%0.86%0.65%
May 202689.1%2.6%2.9%2.6%1.4%0.86%0.66%
Jun 202689.7%2.6%2.9%2.2%1.4%0.87%0.45%
Jul 202687.9%3.1%3.4%2.6%1.4%1%0.53%
Aug 202689.9%2.7%2.9%2.1%1.1%0.87%0.44%
Sep 202690.8%2.6%2.4%1.8%1.1%0.72%0.54%

  1. 1.Duolingo

    90.8%

    Held 1st. 9.3M estimated branded searches, +21.6% vs prior month. Share +1 points.

  2. 2.Busuu

    2.6%

    Moved from 3rd to 2nd. 266K estimated branded searches, +17.5% vs prior month. Share -0.1 points.

  3. 3.italki

    2.4%

    Moved from 2nd to 3rd. 246K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -0.5 points.

  4. 4.Babbel

    1.8%

    Held 4th. 182K estimated branded searches, -0.55% vs prior month. Share -0.4 points.

  5. 5.Memrise

    1.1%

    Held 5th. 117K estimated branded searches, +19.9% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

  6. 6.Pimsleur

    0.72%

    Held 6th. 74K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -0.1 points.

  7. 7.Mondly

    0.54%

    Held 7th. 55.7K estimated branded searches, +48.3% vs prior month. Share +0.1 points.

Compare popularity between italki and its closest rivals

Every comparison with italki

6 comparisons

How has branded search demand for italki changed worldwide over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for italki worldwide held steady at 246K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, italki’s share of searches among language learning apps worldwide peaked at 3.4% in July 2026 and was lowest at 2.3% in December 2025.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, italki rose from 4th to 3rd among language learning apps worldwide.

How did search popularity change for language learning apps worldwide in September 2026?

5 changes

  1. In September 2026, Duolingo gained share of searches among language learning apps worldwide, from 89.9% to 90.8%.

  2. In September 2026, Busuu rose from 3rd to 2nd among language learning apps worldwide.

  3. In September 2026, italki fell from 2nd to 3rd among language learning apps worldwide.

  4. Estimated monthly branded searches for Memrise worldwide fell 44.7% over 12 measured months, from 212K to 117K in September 2026.

  5. Estimated monthly branded searches for Babbel worldwide fell 32.5% over 12 measured months, from 270K to 182K in September 2026.

How are italki’s branded searches counted?

1 search term

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using italki’s name. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for this branded term can be used to understand whether interest in the brand is growing, holding steady, or fading.

  • italki

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How the Brand Demand Index is measured

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