Tandem connects 35M+ language learners worldwide with real-time voice and video powered by Agora

Education / Language Learning

Problem

Delivering seamless, real-time conversations across 180+ countries, while scaling to millions of users and thousands of concurrent participants - without compromising audio clarity, latency, or platform stability.

Solution

Agora’s ultra-low latency Voice and Video SDKs provide the real-time infrastructure powering Tandem’s 1:1 audio/video calls and large-scale Language Parties.

Results

  1. 35M+ users supported across 180 countries
  2. 1.7x higher engagement for Language Party participants
  3. 50M+ live visits powered in 2025 alone
About Tandem

Connecting cultures through real conversations

Founded in 2015, Tandem is a global language exchange platform built on a simple idea: the best way to learn a language is by speaking it with real people. Originally launched as a broader cultural exchange platform, Tandem quickly recognized language exchange as its most meaningful and high-demand use case, evolving into one of the world’s largest real-time language communities.

Today, Tandem connects more than 35 million members across 180+ countries and supports 300 languages - including sign, indigenous, and constructed languages - making it one of the most diverse language communities globally. Unlike structured coursework platforms, Tandem enables authentic, real-world conversations through 1:1 text, audio, and video calls, in-app correction and translation tools, and live audio rooms called Language Parties - where real-time communication is the foundation of the experience.

The Problem

An RTC provider that can support global delivery at scale

As Tandem’s global community expanded to 35M+ members across 180+ countries, delivering consistent, high-quality real-time communication became increasingly important to maintain the quality of experience.

Tandem depends entirely on live human interaction. Whether through 1:1 audio/video calls or large-scale Language Parties, users expect conversations to feel natural, immersive, and seamless, regardless of geography, device, or network conditions. Even minor latency, audio distortion, or instability could erode trust and engagement. At the same time, Tandem needed infrastructure capable of supporting rapid user growth, high concurrency events, and evolving product innovation.

Difficulty maintaining consistent, high-quality communication across 180+ countries

Scaling high-concurrency audio rooms without performance degradation

Securing dependable infrastructure to handle rapid user growth

The Solution

An ultra-low latency real-time engagement provider with global infrastructure

To support Tandem’s growing real-time communication needs, the team required a unified infrastructure to power both 1:1 conversations and large-scale audio rooms. The team selected Agora to provide a reliable, production-ready foundation for seamless voice and video experiences across the platform.

In 2021, Tandem consolidated its real-time stack with Agora, transitioning both peer-to-peer calls and Language Parties to Agora’s Voice and Video SDKs. This simplified operations, strengthened reliability, and enabled high-concurrency conversations without compromising audio quality or latency. Agora’s global network ensures stable, natural interactions - whether between two users switching from audio to video mid-call or thousands joining a live Language Party simultaneously.

By transitioning to Agora, Tandem built a scalable foundation to support sustained growth, public-sector initiatives, and future AI-powered voice experiences.

Agora Products

Voice Call iconVoice CallingVoice Calling
Video Call iconVideo CallingVideo Calling

Why Tandem chose Agora:

Ultra-low latency voice and video delivery to ensure conversations feel natural and uninterrupted across geographies 

Scalable high-concurrency architecture, supporting 1M+ Language Parties and 50M+ live visits in 2025 alone 

Dynamic audience scaling, enabling rooms with up to 17 speakers on stage and thousands of listeners 

Enterprise-grade reliability and global coverage, supporting long-duration sessions

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The Power of Real-Time Engagement

Products Used

“With over 35 million members across nearly every country, delivering stable, high-quality real-time communication is fundamental to Tandem. Agora gives us the reliability and scalability we need to power everything from 1:1 conversations to large Language Parties, allowing us to focus on building community rather than managing infrastructure.” 

Tobias Dickmeis, Co-Founder and CPO at Tandem

Results and ROI

Increased engagement, scalability, and platform reliability

After consolidating Tandem’s real-time communication infrastructure with Agora, the platform improved the stability and performance of both 1:1 conversations and large-scale Language Parties. With ultra-low latency voice and video delivery across 180+ countries, the platform now supports millions of users simultaneously without quality degradation.

Agora’s global network enables Tandem to scale high-concurrency events, support long-duration sessions, and expand into new use cases - including public-sector digital education initiatives. Real-time performance has become a competitive differentiator, driving stronger engagement and retention, while supporting continued innovation in AI-driven conversational experiences and global growth.

Results after implementing Agora:

  1. 50M+ live visits and 1M+ Language Parties supported in 2025
  2. 180+ countries reached with stable, ultra-low latency voice and video
  3. 1.7x increase in long-term engagement for Language Party participants
  4. 47-hour continuous sessions successfully hosted without platform failure
“Real-time communication is at the heart of Tandem. With users in almost every country and a community of over 35 million members, we need infrastructure we can trust. Agora empowers us to scale globally today and build the next generation of conversational experiences for tomorrow.” 

Tobias Dickmeis, Co-Founder and CPO at Tandem

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