Many English learners in Brazil, the Philippines, Japan and Mexico can read an email without trouble and still go blank when someone asks a question out loud. Speaking takes practice with a partner who answers back, and until recently that meant paying a teacher by the hour. AI tutors changed that: now you can talk for twenty minutes before breakfast and get corrected in plain words.
TL;DRFor a friendly tutor that makes shy learners talk, pick Praktika. For a structured spoken course, pick Speak. For speaking practice built around your own reason, like an exam, a move or a hobby, pick Slova. For work conversations, Loora. For accent and sounds, ELSA Speak. For a free daily taste, Talkpal.
We used each app on its paid plan in 2026 for at least a week, speaking English out loud every day. We tested the same things everywhere: introducing ourselves, a work conversation, a topic we picked, and one mistake on purpose to see how the app reacted. The question at the end was simple: did we freeze less on day seven than on day one?
This is not a ranking. A nervous beginner and a confident professional need very different tutors, so each app below is the best pick for a different kind of speaker. Look for the line that sounds like you.
Comparison table
✓Yes◐Partly✕No
| App | Best for | How you talk | Pronunciation help | Level | Price band |
|---|
| Praktika | Shy speakers | Video chat with an avatar | ◐ | Beginner to B2 | About 7 to 10 dollars |
|---|
| Speak | A spoken course | Lessons, then roleplay | ✓ | Beginner up | About 18 to 40 dollars |
|---|
| Slova | Speaking for your own reason | Every lesson out loud | ✓ | A0 to C2 | 10 languages and growing |
|---|
| Loora | Everyday work talk | Open voice chat | ◐ | Intermediate | About 15 to 20 dollars |
|---|
| ELSA Speak | Accent and single sounds | Drills and roleplays | ✓by sound | All levels | About 20 dollars |
|---|
| Pingo AI | Easy topic chats | Themed voice lessons | ◐ | Beginner | About 15 to 18 dollars |
|---|
| Fluently | Meetings and calls | Voice practice and call review | ✓ | B1 and up | About 25 dollars |
|---|
| Talkpal | A free daily try | Chat, roleplay, debate | ◐ | All levels | Free, or 10 to 20 dollars |
|---|
| ISSEN | Long, open talks | Hands-free voice calls | ✕ | Intermediate up | About 15 to 39 dollars |
|---|
| Learna | Ten minutes on a break | Short lesson plus chat | ◐ | Beginner | Weekly plans |
|---|
How we chose
- Minutes spent talking. Out of a 15 minute session, how many did we spend speaking English, and how many reading or tapping?
- Honest correction. Many AI apps accept almost anything you say. We gave extra points to apps that caught real mistakes and explained them simply.
- Nerves. Did the app make it easier to open our mouth, with hints, a slower voice or a patient tone?
- Growth. After a week, were the conversations getting harder, or were we repeating the same small talk?
- Local price. Store prices change by country, so we compared what learners in places like Brazil or the Philippines actually see.
The best AI apps to practise English speaking
1
Praktika
Best for shy speakers who need a patient face
Praktika puts an animated tutor on screen who talks to you like a video call, with a name, an accent and a personality. You choose how strict the corrections are, from soft to firm, so a nervous learner can start gently. It is one of the most popular English speaking apps in the world, and its low price makes it easy to try.
On day two we told our tutor about a weekend in Rio and said I'm agree with you when she mentioned the beach, a very common slip for Portuguese speakers. She kept the chat going, then showed I agree with you with a short note that agree is already a verb. Talking to a face that never looked bored made the first week easier. The weak spot came later: the words from our chats were not saved anywhere to review.
GoodLots of speaking time, a friendly feel and a low monthly price.
Watch outThe daily path is fixed, words from calls are not collected, and some users report billing trouble after the trial.
- About 7 to 10 dollars a month
- English plus 11 other languages
- iPhone, Android
2
Speak
Best for a structured spoken course
Speak is a full course where almost every step asks you to say something out loud. You hear a phrase, repeat it, then use it in a short roleplay with an AI partner, and you can ask the tutor a question whenever you are stuck. Its English course started in Korea and has grown into one of the best-known speaking apps.
On day three the lesson was about asking for help at work, and the app made us say Could you give me a hand with this? until the linking between give and me sounded natural. It felt a bit like a drill that evening. On day six, in the roleplay, we used the same sentence without a hint, and that is the strength of Speak: phrases go from the screen into your mouth.
GoodClear lessons with the most guided speaking of any course app.
Watch outOne of the pricier options, and roleplays feel similar after a few months.
- About 18 to 40 dollars a month
- 7 languages
- iPhone, Android
3
Slova
Best for speaking practice built around your own reason
Slova asks one question first: why do you need English? You answer in a sentence, whether it is a career goal like a job interview or the IELTS, a life goal like moving to Toronto, or something you love like football, games or K-pop, and it builds a path of lessons around that. Behind the path sits a full A0 to C2 curriculum made by language learners and computer scientists, and every lesson can be done visually at your own pace or out loud with our AI tutors.
That makes it immersive from day one. You are not practising where is the library when you need English for a sales job or for talking about a match with fans online. You can also make your own practice with AI: describe a place and Slova draws it and labels every object in English, or ask for a short podcast or story on your topic at your level. It is the only app on this list where you make your own practice material with AI.
The results come fast because the English you practise today is the English you need tomorrow, so you use it straight away and it sticks. Every word from lessons, tutor conversations, pictures and texts lands in one list, the Lexicon, and comes back for review. And because the course is about your own life, it is much easier to keep opening it in week six than a course written for everyone.
We gave it an exam goal: IELTS Speaking Part 2, the two minute talk from a cue card. The path opened with units on describing a place, talking about a person and telling a past event, and on day two the tutor lesson had us talk about a favourite city out loud. We said I am living here since 2019 and the tutor changed it to I have lived here since 2019, with the reason in one sentence. By day six we could talk for the full two minutes about a market we love, and the new words from the lesson and a practice podcast about cities were waiting in the Lexicon.
GoodSpeaking practice tied to your real reason for English, with a course behind it and every word kept for review.
Watch outNewer than the big names, so there are fewer reviews to read before you try it.
- 10 languages and growing
- A0 to C2 curriculum
- AI tutors in every lesson
4
Loora
Best for everyday English at work
Loora is an English only AI tutor for people who already know the basics and want to talk about work, travel and daily life. The voice sounds natural, and after each conversation it gives short feedback on grammar and word choice. It suits call centre staff, nurses, engineers and anyone who uses English on the job.
We used it for a week of lunch breaks, ten minutes a day, talking about our job. On day four we said I have a meeting at 3 p.m. but I will try to finish before and the feedback suggested before then, a small fix we would never have noticed alone. It felt like chatting with a helpful colleague, though by the second week some questions were coming back.
GoodVery natural conversations and excellent store ratings.
Watch outEnglish only, not ideal for true beginners, and topics can start to repeat.
- About 15 to 20 dollars a month
- English only
- iPhone, Android, web
5
ELSA Speak
Best for fixing your accent sound by sound
ELSA listens to every sound you make and colours each part of a word green, yellow or red, then gives you a short drill to fix it. If people often ask you to repeat yourself, this is the most exact tool for the job. It also has roleplays and an interview coach for work.
For Japanese speakers, l and r are the classic trouble, so on day one we read The rain will arrive late and ELSA marked both sounds in arrive and late. It played the right mouth position and we tried again, ten times in a row, on the train with earphones and a quiet voice. A few days later the score was up, and so was our nerve on a video call.
GoodThe most detailed pronunciation feedback of any app here.
Watch outGood sounds are not the same as good conversation, and the plans are confusing.
- About 20 dollars a month
- English only
- iPhone, Android, web
6
Pingo AI
Best for easy chats on everyday topics
Pingo AI is a friendly voice tutor with a big library of themed lessons, from ordering food to talking about your weekend. It remembers what you told it and saves new words as you go. It is aimed at beginners and feels light and quick.
On day three we picked the topic "family" and said My brother is more tall than me. The tutor answered warmly but let the mistake pass, and only the summary at the end suggested taller. It kept us talking for fifteen minutes, which is the point for a beginner, but stricter learners will want more correction during the chat.
GoodEasy to start, lots of topics, and it keeps a word list for you.
Watch outSpeech recognition is forgiving, so some mistakes slip through, and the free plan is very small.
- About 15 to 18 dollars a month
- 25+ languages
- iPhone, Android
7
Fluently
Best for meetings and calls at B1 and up
Fluently is an English coach for working people who can already hold a conversation. It gives feedback on grammar, word choice and pronunciation, and it can review your real work calls to find mistakes you repeat. It is not built for beginners.
On day five we practised a stand-up meeting and said We are waiting the answer from the client. Fluently marked it and suggested waiting for the answer, then later flagged the same pattern again in a practice call, which made it hard to forget. It felt like a coach who takes notes on you, though the price is steep for many countries.
GoodUseful work-focused feedback and a way to learn from your real calls.
Watch outExpensive, with an early paywall, and not for learners below B1.
- About 25 dollars a month
- English
- iPhone, Android, Mac
8
Talkpal
Best for a free daily try
Talkpal lets you talk or type with an AI partner in many modes: open chat, roleplays, debates and describing pictures. The free plan gives about 10 minutes a day, which is enough to decide if AI speaking suits you. The paid plans remove the limit.
We used the free minutes for a week before work. On day five, in debate mode, we argued that remote work is better and said It depends of the company, and Talkpal fixed it to depends on. The voice sounded a little robotic, but for zero dollars it was a fair way to warm up before a real call.
GoodA free daily allowance and many ways to practise.
Watch outVoices can sound flat, and there is no real course or level plan.
- Free 10 minutes a day, or about 10 to 20 dollars a month
- 100+ languages
- iPhone, Android, web
9
ISSEN
Best for long, open conversations
ISSEN is a voice tutor you can talk to hands-free, like a phone call, with no button to hold. It remembers past calls, lets you pick tutors by accent, and turns your mistakes into flashcards. It shines once you can already keep a conversation going.
We chose a tutor with a British accent and talked about a new job for twenty minutes while walking home. The next day the tutor asked how the first week had gone, and we used I'm still getting used to it without planning to. For lower levels, though, the pace was fast and we often had to ask it to slow down.
GoodThe most natural long conversations here, with memory between calls.
Watch outToo fast for beginners, and no pronunciation feedback inside the talk.
- About 15 to 39 dollars a month
- 50+ languages
- iPhone, Android, web
10
Learna
Best for ten minutes on a break
Learna mixes short English lessons with AI chats and brings your mistakes back the next day. Sessions are small, so it fits a coffee break. It is simple and friendly for beginners.
On day two we chatted about lunch and wrote I eat already, and the next session started with a short review of I have already eaten. That return of old mistakes was the best part. The catch is the bill: many plans are charged weekly, which looks cheap until you add up a year.
GoodQuick sessions and useful review of your own mistakes.
Watch outWeekly billing adds up, and the chats are short.
- Weekly plans
- English, Spanish
- iPhone, Android, web
Best app by goal
| Your goal | Our pick | Also good |
|---|
| Stop freezing when you speak | Praktika | Pingo AI |
|---|
| Follow a clear spoken course | Speak | Slova |
|---|
| Prepare for IELTS or a job interview | Slova | ELSA Speak |
|---|
| Talk better at work | Loora | Fluently |
|---|
| Fix your accent | ELSA Speak | Speak |
|---|
| Practise for free | Talkpal | Learna |
|---|
| Hold long conversations | ISSEN | Loora |
|---|
| Keep every new word | Slova | ISSEN |
|---|
Start with your level
The biggest mistake we saw was choosing an app for the wrong level. A beginner who opens ISSEN or Fluently will feel lost in a minute, and an upper intermediate speaker will be bored by the first week of Pingo.
If you can say only a few sentences, start with a guided app that gives hints: Praktika, Speak or Pingo AI. If you can hold a simple conversation but make many mistakes, move to Loora, Talkpal or Slova, where the talk is freer but still corrected. If you are B1 or higher and need English for work, Fluently and ISSEN will push you hardest.
Pronunciation is a separate track. You can be advanced and still have sounds that trouble you, which is why ELSA Speak works well next to any of the others.
AI tutor or a human one
Human tutors on sites like Cambly and Preply are still better at one thing: real, unpredictable conversation with a person who notices your mood and your culture. They are also more expensive, and you have to book a time.
AI tutors win on hours. You can practise at 6 a.m. before work in Manila or at midnight in São Paulo, repeat the same answer ten times without feeling judged, and pay less in a month than one or two human lessons. For most learners, the best plan is daily AI practice and, if the budget allows, an occasional human lesson to test yourself.
Which one should you pick
If you are shy and just need to start talking, Praktika is the kindest first step, and Pingo AI is a lighter option. If you like a clear course, Speak turns phrases into habits. If you already use English at work, Loora gives you daily practice and Fluently goes deeper on meetings and calls.
If people keep asking you to repeat yourself, add ELSA Speak. If you want to test AI speaking without paying, use Talkpal's free minutes. If you are confident and want long talks, try ISSEN.
If you are learning English for a clear reason, like the IELTS, a move abroad, a new job or a hobby you love, Slova is where we would start. It puts the speaking practice, the course and the word review around that one reason.
Conclusion
Every app here will get you talking, but they fix different problems. Praktika and Pingo help with nerves, Speak gives structure, Loora and Fluently bring English to work, and ELSA fixes sounds. If you want spoken English practice built around your own goal or passion, with every new word kept, try Slova.
Related reads: the best AI conversation apps and the best AI apps for IELTS speaking. Deciding between two apps? Our Loora vs Speak comparison goes deeper. Or browse the best AI language learning apps.
Frequently asked questions
Can an AI app really improve my spoken English?
Yes, if you use it most days and speak out loud rather than type. The big gains come from time spent talking and from correction, so pick an app that catches your mistakes instead of praising everything.
Which AI English speaking app is free?
Talkpal gives about 10 minutes of AI conversation a day for free. Most other speaking apps offer a short trial, then need a paid plan.
Which app is best for IELTS speaking practice?
ELSA Speak has exam practice and strong pronunciation scoring. Slova can build a whole path around IELTS Speaking, with every lesson done out loud with its AI tutors and new words kept for review.
How many minutes a day should I practise speaking?
Ten to fifteen minutes of real talking every day beats one long session a week. Keep the sessions short enough that you never skip them.
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