The best app to learn English depends on what is holding you back: Speak or Loora to start talking, ELSA Speak to be understood, Duolingo for a free start, Busuu or Babbel for a structured course, and Slova for English built around your own goals and interests.
TL;DRTo speak from lesson one, pick Speak, and Loora for work conversation. To fix pronunciation, ELSA Speak. For English built around your goals and interests, from a job abroad to cricket or K-pop, Slova. To start free, Duolingo, the BBC and the British Council. For a person, Cambly or Preply. Prices run from free to about 20 dollars a month.
Most adults learn English for a reason with a date on it: an interview, an IELTS exam, a visa, a promotion, a move. That changes what a good app looks like. You need more speaking and less tapping, a way to hear yourself, and lessons in a language you can read on day one. That last point is why we added a table of which apps work in Hindi, Portuguese, Japanese, Vietnamese and Indonesian.
We compared 20 apps in September and October 2026, from free courses by the BBC and the British Council to AI tutors you talk to, and rechecked every price and free plan in October 2026. Prices are US dollars from each app's pricing page or US App Store listing, and many apps price by country, so check yours. This is not a ranking from worst to best. Every app has a "best for" line, so find the one that sounds like you.
Comparison table
✓Yes◐Partly✕No
| App | Best for | Speaking | Pronunciation | Grammar explained | Words come back |
|---|
| Speak | Speaking from lesson one | ✓ | ◐ | ◐ | ◐ |
|---|
| Loora | Everyday and work conversation | ✓ | ◐ | ◐ | ◐ |
|---|
| Slova | English around your goals and interests | ✓ | ◐tutor corrects with a reason | ✓ | ✓one Lexicon |
|---|
| ELSA Speak | Pronunciation, sound by sound | ◐Premium role-plays | ✓ | ✕ | ◐ |
|---|
| Duolingo | A free daily start | ◐paid Video Call | ✕ | ◐ | ✓ |
|---|
| Busuu | A course with certificates | ◐Premium Plus | ◐ | ✓ | ✓ |
|---|
| Praktika | A friendly AI tutor | ✓ | ◐ | ◐ | ✕ |
|---|
| Mondly | Short lessons in your own language | ◐ | ◐ | ◐ | ◐ |
|---|
| Babbel | Grammar explained in context | ◐Babbel Speak beta | ◐ | ✓ | ✓ |
|---|
| Cambly | On-demand native-speaking tutors | ✓ | ◐a human ear | ◐ | ✕ |
|---|
| Preply | A regular teacher | ✓ | ◐a human ear | ◐ | ✕ |
|---|
| BoldVoice | Accent training | ◐ | ✓ | ✕ | ✕ |
|---|
How we tested
We checked every app between September and October 2026 against the same three tasks. For each one we went through its lesson flow and official help pages, read its store listing and recent store reviews, and rechecked every price and free limit in October 2026.
- Introduce yourself. Say who you are and what you do, out loud, within the first ten minutes.
- Make a mistake on purpose. Say I am agree with you or she don't like it, and see what the app does, how fast, and whether it gives a reason.
- Follow real English. Understand one minute of natural speech from a meeting or an interview at normal speed, with and without help.
Then we scored each app on five things. Each one gets 2 (strong), 1 (partly) or 0 (missing), which is what the marks in the table above show.
- Speaking. How much of a session you spend saying English out loud.
- Pronunciation. Whether the app names the sound you missed, or only says "good".
- Grammar explained. Whether tenses, articles and prepositions are explained in plain words.
- Words that come back. Whether new words return for review or vanish after the lesson.
- Value. What a month costs against what you get, and where the free plan stops.
We also noted which accent each app teaches, whether it prepares you for IELTS or TOEIC, and whether it works in your own language. More on each below.
The best apps to learn English
1
Speak
Best for speaking English from lesson one
Speak is a speaking-first course, and English is the course it teaches to speakers of 15 languages: Korean, Japanese, Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Polish, Vietnamese, Hindi, Thai, Turkish and Indonesian [1]. Each lesson has you say sentences out loud and then use them in a conversation with the Speak Tutor. The Tutor is also a chat coach: ask it about grammar, vocabulary or pronunciation and it answers, and it can write a custom speaking lesson on a topic you pick. Our Speak review goes through the lessons.
A Hands-Free mode lets you keep going without touching the screen, and an "I Can't Speak" mode plays the spoken parts for you on a train. Premium Plus is where the price jumps: it gives unlimited personalised lessons, while Premium gives a limited number a day. If your language is not on the list above, the English course is not available to you.
GoodGets you saying full English sentences in the first session, with a tutor you can ask questions.
Watch outIt is one of the pricier plans after the free trial, and it is a speaking course, so it will not drill IELTS writing.
- Premium $17.99 a month or $83.99 a year; Premium Plus $39.99 and $164.99 [2]
- English for 15 native languages [1]
- iPhone, Android
- Free trial
- App Store 4.8 from 63K ratings (8 October 2026)
2
Loora
Best for everyday and work conversation in English
Loora is an English-only speaking app. Each lesson is a voice conversation, and you choose Classic, Role-play or Read and Talk. Afterwards you get a main takeaway, grammar corrections and pronunciation feedback [4]. Our Loora review covers the lesson types.
Conversations are matched to your speaking level and everyday topics, with real-time feedback on grammar, pronunciation and fluency, so it suits adults who already know some English and freeze when they talk. The app runs in 12 languages, including Portuguese, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Arabic and Spanish, but not Hindi, Vietnamese or Indonesian.
GoodNatural English conversation with a takeaway after each lesson.
Watch outEnglish only, one free lesson before the paywall, and no Hindi, Vietnamese or Indonesian interface.
- US App Store: monthly $14.99 to $19.99, 3 months $44.99, yearly $59.99 to $119.99 [3]
- English only
- iPhone, Android
- App Store 4.9 from 40K ratings (8 October 2026)
3
Slova
Best for learning English through your own life and interests
Slova starts with one sentence about why you want English, and the answer can be a goal or something you love. A goal might be a job abroad, a call centre or customer-service role, a remote developer position, an IELTS score for a visa, or a move to Toronto, Dubai or Sydney. An interest might be cricket, football, K-pop, anime, gaming or cooking. You can say both. Slova asks a few questions about that topic and builds a path of units and lessons around it, and the path keeps changing as your goals, interests and level change.
Under the path sits a real curriculum from A0 to C2, built by language learners and computer scientists, with visual lessons. Every lesson comes in two forms you can switch between: interactive slides with pictures, audio and quick checks at your own pace, or out loud with our AI tutors, who listen to your answer and correct it with a reason. In a job-interview role-play the tutor plays the interviewer. Say I am agree with your point and the tutor stays in character, answers I agree with your point, and explains that agree is a verb, so it needs no am. Finish the last unit and the path extends itself, so there is no end of course.
You also make your own practice. Describe a place, say a cricket ground or a call-centre floor, and Slova draws it and labels every object in English: stumps, bat, boundary rope, or headset, monitor, cubicle. Ask for a short podcast or story at your level and Audio Lab writes it, with a transcript that follows the audio. You can generate vocabulary and verbs on any topic, from a hotel front desk to a football match. Every word from lessons, pictures, audio and texts you read goes into one list, the Lexicon, which shows where you met it and how well you know it, and brings it back for review. Words you already know can be imported, so you do not start from zero.
That is why results come quickly. The word you learn on Monday is one you use in Tuesday's meeting, match or message, because it comes from your own life. If your reason is a job, your first conversations are interviews and stand-ups, and if it is a passion, your first words come from the game or the show you already follow. It also gives you a reason to open the app in week six, when courses written for everyone start to feel like homework.
GoodEnglish that comes from your own goals and interests, spoken from the first lesson, with every word kept in one list.
Watch outNewer than the big names, and it teaches 10 languages today rather than 40.
- English, French, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, German, Italian, and growing
- A0 to C2 curriculum
- Speaking in every lesson
4
ELSA Speak
Best for fixing English pronunciation, sound by sound
ELSA Speak listens to you say a word or a sentence and shows which sounds were off. The Pro plan covers pronunciation coaching and topic lessons for single words, short phrases and easy sentences. Premium adds AI role-plays, a speech analyzer and courses, and Professional adds coaches for interviews, presentations, sales and meetings [6]. The listing offers accent choices of American, British and Australian, and exam preparation for IELTS, TOEFL, TOEIC and EIKEN with Premium [5]. Our ELSA Speak review goes through the plans.
The free plan lets you do up to 2 lessons a day, plus 3 AI lessons in total that do not refresh [7]. The store lists the interface in English only, so check that you are comfortable following instructions in English.
GoodNames the sound you missed, with an accent you can choose.
Watch outNot a course, with little grammar, and the interface is English only.
- Monthly $19.99; yearly plans from $71 to $129.99, depending on the tier [5]
- English only
- iPhone, Android, web
- App Store 4.8 from 114K ratings (8 October 2026)
5
Duolingo
Best for a free daily start
Duolingo's English course is free and built around short lessons: tapping, typing, matching and speaking aloud, with instant feedback, and streaks that make you open the app. The app itself runs in 32 languages, including Hindi, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Indonesian, Vietnamese, Japanese and Portuguese [8], so open the course menu and pick English from your own language. Video Call with the character Lily covers English but is a paid Max feature, and the free plan limits lessons in a row with energy. Our guide to what free Duolingo includes has the details.
GoodFree, polished, and easy to keep up every day.
Watch outMostly tapping and typing, with an energy limit and ads on the free plan, and little real conversation without Max.
- Free, or Super at about $10 to $13 a month or $84 to $96 a year [8]
- 40+ languages
- iPhone, Android, web
- App Store 4.7 from 5.5M ratings (8 October 2026)
6
Busuu
Best for a course with certificates and feedback from native speakers
Busuu is a structured course with lessons you can follow in 15 interface languages, including Portuguese, Japanese, Vietnamese and Indonesian, but not Hindi [9]. English is one of its 14 courses. The app connects you with native speakers for feedback, and you can earn a certificate to share as proof of your level.
Premium Plus adds AI conversations leveled to your course, with feedback at the end of the chat, plus speaking practice and a Mistake Repair review. The store lists several unlabeled prices, so check which plan you are buying.
GoodA structured course with certificates you can share.
Watch outSpeaking practice and AI conversations sit behind Premium Plus, and the store prices are confusing.
- Premium Plus 12 months $139.99 on the US App Store; web prices vary by country [9]
- 14 languages
- iPhone, Android, web
- Free plan
- App Store 4.7 from 101K ratings (8 October 2026)
7
Praktika
Best for a patient AI tutor you can see
Praktika puts an animated tutor on screen who talks with you by voice about a topic you pick, and English is its deepest course. You can set feedback to soft, balanced or strict, which helps if you freeze when someone corrects you. The free plan gives you 3 AI tutors, limited speaking and basic feedback, and Premium adds every tutor and mode [11].
GoodLots of speaking time at a low price, with feedback you control.
Watch outNo Hindi, Vietnamese or Indonesian interface (it runs in 15 languages, including Portuguese and Japanese), and the free plan limits speaking.
- $9.99 a month, $49.99 for 3 months, $119.99 a year [10]
- 13 languages
- iPhone, Android
- Free plan
- App Store 4.7 from 165K ratings (8 October 2026)
8
Mondly
Best for short lessons in your own language
Mondly offers American English and British English courses with short daily lessons, a chatbot, voice recognition and a hands-free mode. Its interface covers 32 languages, including Hindi, Indonesian, Japanese, Portuguese, Vietnamese, Thai and Korean, which makes it one of the easiest to start in your own language [12].
The English side has 30-plus progress tests from Pearson, 300-plus business lessons and Business Communication courses. The lessons are gamified and short, so pair it with a speaking app for real conversation.
GoodLessons in your own language, with British and American options and work English.
Watch outFeels more like a game than a class.
- Monthly $15.90 with a 1-week trial, or $74.90 a year [12]
- 41 languages
- iPhone, Android, web
- App Store 4.7 from 33K ratings (8 October 2026)
9
Babbel
Best for English with grammar explained in context
Babbel is a course-style app where each lesson is short and the grammar is explained as you go. You choose American or British English, practise with speech recognition, and it has a smart review system and an offline mode. Babbel Speak, an AI conversation partner, is still in beta [13].
The catch is the language list. The store lists nine interface languages, English, French, German, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish and Ukrainian, so Babbel works for Portuguese speakers in Brazil but does not list Hindi, Japanese, Vietnamese or Indonesian.
GoodClear grammar in context, with a choice of American or British English.
Watch outFew interface languages, and plans are priced per language.
- One language from $17.99 a month or $45.99 for 3 months; all languages $107.99 a year [13]
- 14 languages
- iPhone, Android, web
- App Store 4.7 from 755K ratings (8 October 2026)
10
Cambly
Best for on-demand chats with native-speaking tutors
Cambly connects you by video with native-speaking tutors for open conversation. A trial lesson is $1 for 30 minutes [14]. The plans are Small groups, Private+ and Pro, with 2, 3 or 5 lessons a week of 30 minutes each, and prices are shown in your local currency.
GoodA real person who answers in real time, and a $1 trial to see if it suits you.
Watch outIt is a conversation service, not a course, so you bring the topic, and tutor quality varies.
- Trial lesson $1 for 30 minutes [14]; plans priced in local currency
- English only
- iPhone, Android, web
- App Store 4.5 from 9.3K ratings (8 October 2026)
11
Preply
Best for a regular teacher at a set time
Preply is a marketplace of private tutors. You choose a teacher by price, reviews and specialty, book a weekly slot and pay per lesson. Preply's own English rates page, updated in March 2026, says English lessons usually cost $15 to $50 an hour, with Preply averages of about $16 for speaking practice, $17 for business English and $18 for IELTS preparation [15].
A weekly teacher fixes what an app cannot, such as a habit you do not notice or a question you did not expect. It costs more per hour than an app, so many learners use an app for daily volume and a tutor once a week.
GoodA teacher who knows your mistakes, with specialties from IELTS to business English.
Watch outPriced per lesson, and quality depends on the tutor you pick.
- English usually $15 to $50 an hour; averages $16 for speaking, $17 for business, $18 for IELTS [15]
- 90+ languages
- iPhone, Android, web
- App Store 4.8 from 45K ratings (8 October 2026)
12
BoldVoice
Best for accent training with coach videos
BoldVoice combines video lessons from accent coaches with AI that checks your speech down to individual sounds. Lessons show how a sound is made with mouth diagrams, you record yourself and compare with a native recording, and a short daily task takes 5 to 10 minutes. It also has professional scenarios, business vocabulary and an AI chat partner.
It is for people who are already understood but want less friction at work. Without a subscription, only the first lesson is free. The app runs in ten languages, including Hindi, Japanese, Portuguese and Korean.
GoodAccent coaching built on short videos and a clear daily routine.
Watch outNot a course, no grammar, and the price is among the highest here.
- Yearly $149.99 ($12.49 a month) with 7 days free, or monthly $24.99 [16]
- English accent training
- iPhone, Android, web
- App Store 4.8 from 54K ratings (8 October 2026)
More apps worth knowing
13
British Council LearnEnglish
Best free official lessons and grammar practice
The British Council's LearnEnglish site has a free library of listening, reading, writing and speaking practice, grammar and vocabulary pages, and a free level test from A1 to C2. Its LearnEnglish Grammar app (UK edition) has more than 1,000 practice questions across four levels, from beginner (CEFR A1) to advanced (C2) [18]. The app is free and an add-on removes ads for $1.99. Paid courses for IELTS, tutors and flexible online study sit beside the free library.
GoodFree, official and well-organised, from beginner to advanced.
Watch outIt feels like a class, and the apps are about practice, not conversation.
- Free library and grammar app; remove ads $1.99 [18]
- English
- Web, iPhone, Android
- App Store 4.7 from 40K ratings (8 October 2026)
14
BBC Learning English
Best free listening and everyday English
BBC Learning English has been teaching since 1943 and is free to use. Sections cover pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, courses, skills and work English, with easy, medium and hard levels. New every week are Real Easy English, 6 Minute English, The English We Speak and Learning English from the News [19]. The site also offers pages for learners in languages including Chinese, Korean, Thai, Burmese and Persian.
GoodFree, British English with series you can follow every week.
Watch outNo feedback on your own speaking, and no review of the words you meet.
- Free
- British English
- Web, podcasts
15
Stimuler
Best for low-cost speaking practice and IELTS speaking mocks
Stimuler is a speaking coach. You record a 60-second answer to a topic and get feedback on pronunciation, fluency and vocabulary, plus insights on filler words, pace, tone and pauses. Premium adds a practice roadmap and live video mock tests with an AI interviewer, with more than 15 full-length IELTS Speaking mock tests [17].
GoodThe cheapest paid speaking coach on this list, with IELTS speaking mocks.
Watch outSpeaking only, and the store lists English as its only interface language.
- US App Store: weekly $1.99, monthly $4.99, quarterly $8.99, yearly $24.99 [17]
- English only
- iPhone, Android
- App Store 4.8 from 8.3K ratings (8 October 2026)
16
Cake
Best for learning from short video clips
Cake teaches English with short clips from celebrities, vloggers, movies and shows, a new set of daily expressions, speaking practice and an AI pronunciation coach. The App Store lists 20 interface languages, including Hindi, Indonesian, Japanese, Portuguese, Thai and Vietnamese. The app is free to use, and Cake Plus removes limits and ads.
GoodReal phrases from real clips, in a short, friendly format.
Watch outMore about phrases than a full course, and the store prices are not labeled.
- Free; Cake Plus about $14 to $16 a month, with yearly options on the US App Store
- English and Korean
- iPhone, Android
- App Store 4.9 from 16K ratings (8 October 2026)
17
Engoo
Best for 25-minute one-on-one video lessons
Engoo offers one-on-one, 25-minute video lessons with tutors from 113 countries, on a phone or computer. The site advertises plans from $33.50 a month and up to 50 percent off to start.
GoodShort lessons that fit a busy day, with lots of tutors to choose from.
Watch outNo built-in course, and each lesson is short.
- From $33.50 a month
- English
- Web, mobile
18
Talkpal
Best for open chat in many languages
Talkpal is an AI chat and voice tutor with modes for chat, words, sentences, dialogue, calls, role-plays, characters and debates. The free plan gives you 10 minutes a day, and Premium has a 14-day trial. It lists 130-plus languages, and its store listing shows 39 interface languages, including Hindi, Indonesian, Japanese, Portuguese, Vietnamese and Filipino.
GoodMany modes and a free daily allowance.
Watch outIt is not a structured course, so you decide what to practise.
- Free 10 minutes a day; Premium $19.99 a month, $49.99 for 3 months, $119.99 a year
- 130+ languages
- iPhone, Android, web
- 14-day trial
- App Store 4.7 from 3.8K ratings (8 October 2026)
19
italki
Best for human tutors paid per lesson
italki is a marketplace of English tutors. The English page listed 4,242 tutors when we checked, and says English lessons cost $4 to $60 an hour, with a 30-minute lesson typically $4 to $10. Community Tutors are fluent speakers focused on conversation, while Professional Teachers are certified and prepare structured lessons. Trial lessons in the listings ranged from $5 to $60.
GoodCheap, flexible lessons with real people, paid per lesson.
Watch outQuality varies by tutor, and there is no built-in course.
- $4 to $60 an hour; Plus $5.99 a month or $59.99 a year
- 150+ languages
- iPhone, Android, web
- App Store 4.8 from 9.8K ratings (8 October 2026)
20
HelloTalk
Best for free practice with native speakers
HelloTalk is a language-exchange app: you find an English speaker who wants to learn your language, then text, send voice notes or call, and correct each other. Practice with native speakers is free.
GoodFree, real conversation with real people.
Watch outNo lessons, and quality depends on your partner.
- Free; VIP $12.99 a month or $79.99 a year
- 260+ languages
- iPhone, Android
- App Store 4.6 from 44K ratings (8 October 2026)
Which apps work in your language
A beginner needs instructions they can read. This table shows which apps list your language as an interface language in the US App Store on 8 October 2026. Speak is marked by the native languages its English course supports. ELSA Speak and Stimuler list English only. An interface language does not guarantee a full English course for every pair, so check before you pay.
✓Yes◐Partly✕No
| App | Hindi | Portuguese | Japanese | Vietnamese | Indonesian |
|---|
| Speak | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
|---|
| Duolingo | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
|---|
| Mondly | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
|---|
| Talkpal | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
|---|
| Cake | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
|---|
| Busuu | ✕ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
|---|
| Praktika | ✕ | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ | ✕ |
|---|
| Loora | ✕ | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ | ✕ |
|---|
| Cambly | ✕ | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ | ✕ |
|---|
| Preply | ✕ | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ | ✓ |
|---|
| BoldVoice | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ | ✕ |
|---|
| italki | ✕ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ |
|---|
| Babbel | ✕ | ✓ | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ |
|---|
Talkpal is the only app we checked that lists Filipino.
| Where you are | What to know | Start with |
|---|
| India | Hindi works in Speak, Mondly, Talkpal, Cake and BoldVoice, and Duolingo runs in Hindi, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Marathi, Urdu and Punjabi. Busuu, Babbel, Praktika and Loora do not list Hindi. | Speak for speaking, Stimuler for cheap practice and IELTS mocks, Duolingo for a free start |
|---|
| Philippines | Many learners already speak English and want sharper sounds, work English and exam scores. IELTS General Training is the version for migration. | ELSA Speak or BoldVoice for sounds, Loora for work talk, Slova for a job path |
|---|
| Brazil | Portuguese works in every app in the table above, and Pimsleur has English courses for Brazilian Portuguese speakers. | Speak or Praktika for speaking, Babbel for grammar, Cambly or Preply for a tutor |
|---|
| Japan | Japanese works in Speak, Duolingo, Busuu, Praktika, Loora, Mondly, Cambly, Preply, Talkpal, BoldVoice, Cake and italki, but not Babbel. Pimsleur has English for Japanese speakers, and ELSA prepares for EIKEN. Native Camp sells unlimited on-demand lessons for 7,480 yen a month with tax. | Speak or Loora for speaking, ELSA for sounds and EIKEN, Native Camp for daily tutor chats |
|---|
| Vietnam | Vietnamese works in Speak, Duolingo, Busuu, Mondly, Talkpal, Cake and italki, but not in Praktika, Loora, Babbel or Preply. | Speak or Mondly for lessons, ELSA for sounds |
|---|
| Indonesia | Indonesian works in Speak, Duolingo, Busuu, Mondly, Talkpal, Cake and Preply, but not in Praktika, Loora or Babbel. | Speak for speaking, Busuu for a course, Preply for a tutor |
|---|
Best free apps to learn English
For most people the best free way to learn English is Duolingo for the daily habit, with BBC Learning English and the British Council's LearnEnglish for lessons you can trust, and Write & Improve for free writing feedback. Here is where each free plan stops, checked in October 2026.
| App | What is free | Where it stops | Paid price |
|---|
| Duolingo | Every English lesson | Energy limits lessons in a row, ads play, Video Call is paid | Super about $10 to $13 a month |
|---|
| BBC Learning English | The whole site and podcasts [19] | Nothing, but no feedback on your speaking | Free |
|---|
| British Council LearnEnglish | The resource library and level test, plus the LearnEnglish Grammar app [18] | Ads in the app, IELTS courses and tutors are paid | Remove ads $1.99 |
|---|
| Write & Improve (Cambridge) | A free tool for writing, with a CEFR level and feedback, no sign-up needed | Add-ons such as Test Zone are separate | Free |
|---|
| ELSA Speak | 2 lessons a day and 3 AI lessons in total [7] | Premium has the AI role-plays, courses and exams | $19.99 a month |
|---|
| Talkpal | 10 minutes a day | Premium has the rest | $19.99 a month |
|---|
| Praktika | 3 AI tutors, limited speaking and basic feedback [11] | Premium adds every tutor and mode | $9.99 a month |
|---|
| Loora | One full lesson, no card [4] | Then a subscription | From $14.99 a month |
|---|
| Cake | Free to use | Cake Plus removes limits | About $14 to $16 a month |
|---|
| HelloTalk | Text and voice chat with native speakers | VIP removes translation limits | $12.99 a month |
|---|
Speak, Busuu's AI conversations, BoldVoice, Cambly and Preply are trial-only or paid. A free start that works: BBC Learning English for listening, the LearnEnglish Grammar app for rules, Duolingo for the daily habit, and a free exchange on HelloTalk, following our plan for learning English by yourself.
Fastest way to learn English with an app
No app makes you fluent in weeks, and any app that says so is selling. What speeds you up is the same everywhere: speak every day, hear real English, and review the words you meet.
The fastest setup we found has three parts:
- One speaking app, every day. Fifteen to twenty minutes with Speak, Loora or Praktika, or with Slova if you are learning for a specific reason, gets sentences out of your mouth early.
- One listening habit, in the background. Ten minutes of BBC 6 Minute English, or a pronunciation app such as ELSA Speak, so you hear real English and what you say.
- One human, once a week. A 30-minute lesson on Preply, italki or Cambly with a person who can catch what an app misses.
Our guide to the best speaking practice apps compares all five ways to practise speaking.
Best English learning apps for beginners and adults
Adults usually want two things a child does not: to know why a sentence works, and a plan that fits into 20 minutes a day. A true beginner should start with lessons in their own language. An adult who can read English and freezes when speaking can skip the beginner courses and go straight to conversation.
For the first month, we would pick one of these starts:
- Free and structured: Duolingo for the daily habit, plus BBC Learning English or the British Council when you want a lesson.
- Paid and explained: Busuu or Babbel, if you want grammar and a certificate or clear rules before you speak.
- Speaking from day one: Speak or Loora, if you would rather talk badly now than read perfectly later.
- Built around your reason: Slova, if you are learning for a job, a move, an exam or a passion, so the first words are ones you will use this week.
Learning English in the car, or by listening
Audio is the best way to use a commute or a walk. Four options work without looking at a screen:
- BBC 6 Minute English is a free weekly series, and The English We Speak teaches everyday phrases.
- VOA Learning English has video, audio and reading lessons at beginning, intermediate and advanced levels.
- British Council LearnEnglish Podcast is a free app of listening practice.
- Pimsleur is built for the car, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto modes and a hands-free driving mode. It has English courses for speakers of Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese and Japanese.
Keep your eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel. Anything that needs the screen can wait until you park.
Best English speaking apps and conversation
Understanding English is easier than saying it, and the only fix is saying it. You have three kinds of partner, and our guide to the best speaking practice apps goes deep on each, so here is the short version.
| Partner | Best picks | What it costs |
|---|
| AI tutors | Speak for a guided course, Loora for work talk, Praktika for a patient face, Talkpal for open chat, Stimuler for cheap speaking mocks, Slova for speaking about your own life | About $5 to $20 a month for most, $40 for Speak Premium Plus |
|---|
| Human tutors | Cambly for on-demand chats, Preply for a regular teacher, italki for flexible lessons, Engoo for 25-minute lessons | $1 Cambly trial, $15 to $50 an hour on Preply, $4 to $60 on italki |
|---|
| Exchange partners | HelloTalk for free chat with native speakers | Free, VIP $12.99 a month |
|---|
A sensible split is AI for volume during the week and a human tutor once a week for the unexpected.
Apps other than Duolingo
Duolingo is a good habit builder, and many people outgrow it. The cure depends on what is missing. If you want speaking, use Speak, Loora or Praktika. If you want grammar explained, Busuu or Babbel. If you want pronunciation, ELSA Speak or BoldVoice. If you want a free class, the BBC or the British Council. If you want English built around your goals and interests, Slova.
Pronunciation and accent apps
You do not need to sound native to be understood, so choose one accent and stay with it. ELSA Speak lets you pick American, British or Australian, Babbel and Mondly offer American and British English courses, and BBC Learning English is British English.
ELSA Speak and BoldVoice name the sound you missed: ELSA scores words and sentences, and BoldVoice pairs the feedback with mouth diagrams and a daily plan. A speaking app such as Speak or Loora gives pronunciation feedback inside a conversation. A human tutor on Cambly or Preply is the best check on whether people understand you.
Grammar apps
Grammar is easier to learn with a reason than with a table. Three kinds of app help:
- Explained in context: Babbel and Busuu show a rule in a short lesson, then make you use it.
- Free practice: the British Council's LearnEnglish Grammar app has more than 1,000 questions across four levels, and BBC Learning English has a grammar section.
- Your own writing: Write & Improve, from the University of Cambridge, gives a CEFR level and feedback on a text you write, free and without registering.
A speaking app can correct grammar as you speak, but it will not teach you the tense system on its own. Pair it with one of these.
IELTS, TOEIC and other exams
IELTS comes in two versions. IELTS Academic is for study in an English-speaking country and professional registration, and IELTS General Training is for migration and everyday English. The Speaking and Listening sections are the same, and Reading and Writing differ [20]. TOEIC, from ETS, measures English used in the workplace, and ETS publishes a free sample test for Listening and Reading.
No app on this list is a full exam course, but several help with one skill. Stimuler has IELTS Speaking mock tests, ELSA Premium prepares for IELTS, TOEFL, TOEIC and EIKEN, and Preply averages about $18 an hour for IELTS preparation tutors. Our guide to the best AI apps for IELTS speaking goes deeper. For the written parts, Write & Improve gives free feedback.
Work English
For an interview, a meeting or a presentation, you need set phrases and the confidence to say them. Loora practises everyday and work conversation, ELSA's Professional plan has coaches for interviews, presentations, sales and meetings, and Mondly has 300-plus business lessons. Slova builds the path from your job, so your first role-plays are your own interview and meetings. Our guide to the best apps for business English goes deeper.
Best app by goal
| Your goal | Our pick | Also good |
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| Start English for free | Duolingo | BBC Learning English |
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| Speak English from the first week | Speak | Loora |
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| Learn English around your goals and interests | Slova | Speak |
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| Speak from day one about your own life | Slova | Praktika |
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| A job abroad or a move | Slova | Loora |
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| Fix pronunciation | ELSA Speak | BoldVoice |
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| Reduce an accent | BoldVoice | ELSA Speak |
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| Grammar explained | Babbel | Busuu |
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| Free grammar practice | LearnEnglish Grammar | BBC Learning English |
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| A course with certificates | Busuu | Babbel |
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| Work English | Loora | ELSA Professional |
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| IELTS speaking practice | Stimuler | ELSA Premium |
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| Cheap daily speaking practice | Stimuler | Praktika |
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| Lessons in your own language | Mondly | Duolingo |
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| Learn from videos and clips | Cake | BBC Learning English |
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| Learn in the car | BBC 6 Minute English | Pimsleur |
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| Talk to a real person | Preply | Cambly |
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Which one should you pick
If you want to spend nothing, begin with Duolingo, add the BBC for listening, and use the British Council's grammar app for rules. When you are ready to pay, Speak or Loora gets English out of your mouth early, and ELSA Speak helps you be understood.
If you want a course with certificates, Busuu. If grammar must make sense first, Babbel, if your language is on its list. If you want a person, a Cambly trial lesson costs $1.
If you are learning English for something specific, a job abroad, an exam, a move, a promotion, or a passion like cricket, football or K-pop, Slova is the one we would start with. It builds the lessons, the speaking practice and the word review around your own reason, so what you learn today shows up in your life tomorrow.
Conclusion
English rewards a clear reason and a daily habit. Start free with Duolingo, the BBC and the British Council, then pay for the one thing you are missing: speaking, sounds, grammar or a person. Speak and Loora lead for speaking, ELSA Speak for pronunciation, and Busuu or Babbel for a course. If you want one course, speaking included, built around your own goals and interests, give Slova a try.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best app to learn English?
It depends on what holds you back. Speak or Loora for speaking, ELSA Speak for pronunciation, Busuu or Babbel for a structured course, Duolingo for a free start, and Slova for English built around your goals and interests, like a job abroad or cricket.
What is the best free app to learn English?
Duolingo for a daily habit, plus BBC Learning English and the British Council's LearnEnglish for free lessons and grammar practice. Write & Improve gives free writing feedback, and ELSA Speak and Talkpal have limited free plans for speaking and pronunciation.
What is the best English speaking app?
Speak is the strongest guided course for speaking from lesson one, and it supports Hindi. Loora is the best for everyday and work conversation. Stimuler is the cheapest on this list for IELTS speaking mocks. If your reason is a job or a passion, Slova builds speaking practice around it.
Which app is best for English pronunciation and grammar?
ELSA Speak for pronunciation, with American, British and Australian accents, and BoldVoice for accent coaching. For grammar, the British Council's LearnEnglish Grammar app is free, and Babbel and Busuu explain rules in short lessons.
Sources
- Speak Help Center. What languages can I learn with Speak? the 15 native languages that can learn English
- Speak on the App Store (US) plans and prices
- Loora on the App Store (US) plans, prices, interface languages
- Loora Support. Is there a free version of Loora? one free lesson, lesson types, feedback
- ELSA Speak on the App Store (US) prices, accents, exam prep
- ELSA Speak Help Center. Choosing the right plan what Pro, Premium and Professional include
- ELSA Speak Help Center. The free plan daily and one-time AI lesson allowance
- Duolingo on the App Store (US) Super prices, interface languages
- Busuu on the App Store (US) prices, languages, certificates
- Praktika on the App Store (US) plans, prices, interface languages
- Praktika Help Center. Is there a free version? free plan limits
- Mondly on the App Store (US) prices, courses, interface languages
- Babbel on the App Store (US) prices, languages, features
- Cambly Help Center. Try Cambly the $1 trial lesson
- Preply Blog. English tutor rates hourly price for English and specialties
- BoldVoice. Plans yearly and monthly price, 7-day trial
- Stimuler on the App Store (US) prices, speaking and IELTS features
- British Council LearnEnglish Grammar (UK ed.) on the App Store (US) levels, questions, ad-free price
- BBC Learning English sections, weekly series, levels
- IELTS. Test types Academic and General Training