Speak app review 2026: is Speak worth it for learning English?
Speak is a guided speaking course with an AI tutor, and one of the most expensive English apps. This review covers what you get, what it costs, who it is worth it for, and who should pick something else.
Based on Speak’s help centre (free trial, Speak Tutor) and US App Store listing, checked 23 October 2026, not on a hands-on test. Prices vary by country.
| App | What it is | What is free | What it costs after | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Speak | Guided speaking course with an AI tutor | No permanent free tier; a 7-day trial that asks for a payment method first | Premium $17.99 a month or $83.99 a year on the US App Store | A course with an order to it, built around speaking |
| ELSA Speak | Pronunciation coach, with AI conversations | The Welcome lessons and the first 2 lessons of every topic, free; a 7-day trial ELSA says needs no card | Premium $19.99 a month or from $71 a year on the US App Store; on ELSA’s website, $29.99 a year or $79.99 lifetime | Pronunciation, if that is the real problem |
| Praktika | AI avatar tutors | A free version: 3 avatars, limited speaking, basic feedback (tap the ✕ on the paywall) | Weekly, monthly, quarterly or yearly; from $49.99 a year on the US App Store | Open conversation, with a free version |
| Fluvia | Spoken conversation with an AI that corrects you as you speak | A trial conversation and the first conversations, which do not expire, with no account and no card; listening tests, dictation and the level test unlimited | From US$5 a month, billed yearly | Open conversation corrected as you speak, free to start |
What Speak is
A speaking course: lessons in order that build towards conversation, plus Speak Tutor, an AI tutor you can ask about grammar, vocabulary or pronunciation, practise real-life conversations with, and ask to create a custom speaking lesson on any topic.
Speak pricing
$17.99 a month or $83.99 a year on the US App Store. There is no permanent free tier: a 7-day free trial with full access, which needs a payment method and renews into the plan you chose unless you cancel at least a day before it ends.
Is Speak worth it?
Worth it if you want structure: a set path, daily lessons, and you are prepared to pay for a year. Less worth it if you mainly want open conversation or are on a tight budget: Praktika has a free version, and Gliglish, TalkPal and Fluvia have free daily speaking.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Speak worth it for learning English?
- If you want a structured speaking course and will use it daily, yes. For open conversation or a small budget, apps with a free tier are a better start.
- How much does Speak cost?
- $17.99 a month or $83.99 a year on the US App Store, after a 7-day free trial that needs a payment method.
- Is Speak free?
- No. Only the 7-day trial is free.