Praktika and Speak alternatives for practising spoken English
Praktika and Speak are popular, but they are not the only way to practise speaking English with AI, and not always the cheapest. Here is how the main options compare in October 2026.
What to compare
For speaking practice, four things matter more than the feature list:
- Can you practise for free every day, or only during a trial?
- How a lesson works – free conversation, structured scenes, pronunciation drills?
- What happens when you get stuck or make a mistake?
- Does it run on your phone – iPhone, Android or both?
The comparison
| App | Free option | Paid, US App Store | Platforms | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Praktika | Free download, trial; free limits not stated | from $9.99/month | iPhone, iPad (iOS 18+), Android | AI tutor avatars, many languages |
| Speak | 7-day free trial | Premium from $17.99/month or $83.99/year | iPhone, Android | Structured courses with lots of speaking |
| Loora | Trial | from $14.99/month | iPhone, Android | Open conversation with feedback |
| ELSA Speak | Free plan; 7-day Premium trial | from $19.99/month | iPhone, Android | Pronunciation and accent |
| Talkpal | Free plan, 10 minutes a day | from $19.99/month | Web, iPhone, Android | Many languages, web access |
| Duolingo Max | Free Duolingo has short speaking exercises | Max: price shown in the app | iPhone, Android (Max is mobile only) | Video call with Lily inside the Duolingo course |
| Ling AI | About 5 minutes of voice every day | Plus from $9.99/month | iPhone, iPad (iOS 17+) | Short daily voice scenes with a hint and one main mistake |
Prices are the monthly plans listed on the US App Store on 31 October 2026; yearly plans cost less per month, apps often test several prices, and prices differ by country. Check the store in your region.
The alternatives in more detail
Speak
Speak is built around courses: you repeat, answer and talk your way through lessons, with a lot of speaking time. In English-speaking countries it teaches Spanish, French, Korean, Japanese, Italian and Mandarin; elsewhere it teaches English. It is one of the more expensive options, with a 7-day trial and no free daily allowance.
Loora
Loora positions itself as a personal AI English tutor: you talk freely on many topics and get feedback on your English. It suits learners who already speak a bit and want conversation rather than lessons.
ELSA Speak
ELSA focuses on pronunciation: it listens to how you say words and sounds and shows what to fix. Great if your accent is the issue; less so if you need to practise whole conversations.
Talkpal
Talkpal covers 130+ languages and works in the browser as well as on phones. Its free plan gives you 10 minutes a day, which makes it one of the more generous free options.
Duolingo Max
If you already use Duolingo, Max adds a video call with the character Lily, where you speak about the topics of your course. It's a good add-on for regular Duolingo users, but the speaking practice is part of a wider course rather than the main thing.
Free general assistants
ChatGPT voice and Gemini Live are not language apps, but with the right prompt they make solid free speaking partners. See how to practise English with ChatGPT and all the free ways to practise speaking with AI.
Ling AI
This one is ours, so read it as a description. Ling AI is for people who understand English but freeze when they speak. Each lesson is a 3–4 minute voice scene – ordering coffee, checking in at the airport, chatting with a colleague – inside a plan of 20 lessons built for your goal and level. When you are stuck, Hint gives you a ready phrase; at the end you see one main mistake and say the better version right away. The tutor remembers what you talked about, and you can get help in your own language. About 5 minutes of voice a day are free. The downside: it's iPhone and iPad only for now, and it teaches English only.
Which one should you pick?
- You want to practise for free, every day: Ling AI (iPhone), Talkpal, or ChatGPT/Gemini with a good prompt.
- Your pronunciation is the main problem: ELSA Speak.
- You want a full course and don't mind paying: Speak or Praktika.
- You want free-flowing conversation: Loora, or an AI assistant.
- You already study with Duolingo: try Duolingo Max.
- You are on Android: Praktika, Speak, Loora, ELSA, Talkpal or Duolingo – Ling isn't on Android yet.
Sources: official websites, help pages and US App Store listings of each product, checked on 31 October 2026.