7 AI English coaches compared: what each one does and who it suits

Last updated: October 6, 2026. Every fact below was checked on that date against the product's own App Store listing or help center.

If you want to speak English better, there are now more AI coaches than anyone can try. They look alike in screenshots and differ a lot in practice: some focus on your pronunciation, some on conversation.

The order is not a ranking.

1. Speak: best for structured speaking lessons

Speak's help center (updated July 2, 2026) says it offers English courses for speakers of 15 native languages, including Spanish and Portuguese. Its App Store listing describes real-life conversation practice with an AI tutor, with feedback on pronunciation, intonation and fluency.

• Good fit: you want a guided course built around speaking.
• Worth knowing: the US App Store listing shows Premium at $17.99 a month or $83.99 a year, and Premium Plus at $39.99 a month or $164.99 a year. Prices vary by country.

2. ELSA Speak: best for pronunciation

ELSA Speak's App Store listing leads with pronunciation training and offers accent choices including American, British and Australian. It also lists AI conversations, open-ended dialogues and role-plays.

• Good fit: your vocabulary is fine, but people ask you to repeat yourself and you want to work on specific sounds.
• Worth knowing: the listing mentions a 7-day free trial for Premium. The US listing shows $19.99 a month, $47.99 for three months or $99.99 a year.

3. Praktika: best if you like a named tutor

Praktika's App Store listing describes AI tutors that each have a distinct personality and accent, including American, British and Latin American. It lists 1,000+ lessons covering travel, careers, job interviews and everyday conversation, plus IELTS and TOEFL preparation.

• Good fit: you stay motivated when you are talking to a consistent character, and you want some exam preparation alongside conversation.
• Worth knowing: the app is a free download with in-app purchases. Check the current plans on the listing before you commit, because they come in several lengths.

4. Loora: best for English-only conversation practice

Loora focuses on English. Its website describes conversation practice for situations like business meetings and job interviews, with feedback on pronunciation, grammar and accent, and a summary after each lesson. The App Store listing shows an iPhone app, and the site says a free trial is offered.

• Good fit: you only need English and want conversation with feedback on tap.
• Worth knowing: the US listing shows several monthly plans from $14.99 to $19.99, and yearly plans from $59.99 to $119.99.

5. Duolingo Max: best if you already use Duolingo

Duolingo Max adds two AI features to Super Duolingo, according to Duolingo's help center: Roleplay, and Video Call with Lily, a Duolingo character. Video Call is available to Max subscribers learning English on iOS and Android. Roleplay is available for English courses taught from Spanish, Portuguese, Japanese, German and French.

• Good fit: you already practice in Duolingo and want to add spoken conversation to a habit you have.
• Worth knowing: Max is sold only in the iOS and Android apps, not on the web. Duolingo says some AI features are not available in every course, so check yours before paying.

6. Pingo AI: best for a many-language app

Pingo AI's App Store listing describes real conversations with an AI speaking companion, scenario-based practice and pronunciation feedback across 25+ languages, English included.

• Good fit: you are learning English and another language, and want one app for both.
• Worth knowing: the app is free to download, but full conversation practice needs a Pingo Pro subscription. The listing does not mention a free trial. The US listing shows Pro plans starting at $14.99.

7. Verbalta: best for speaking out loud in your browser (our product)

Verbalta is an AI speaking coach that runs in the browser on your phone or computer. Every turn is spoken, never typed. Your coach replies with one fix and invites you to say it again, and it brings your trickiest sentences back in later conversations. If your first language is Spanish or Portuguese, the explanations come in your language and the practice stays in English.

• Good fit: you want short, realistic conversations for interviews, meetings and everyday life, without installing an app.
• Not a fit: if you need a certified exam result such as IELTS or TOEFL, or you want writing practice, choose something built for that.
• Worth knowing: your first twenty minutes are free. Plans are here.

How to choose in one minute

• Pronunciation is the problem: start with ELSA Speak.
• You want a guided course: try Speak or Praktika.
• You already use Duolingo: look at Max, and check your course is supported.
• You want English-only conversation practice: compare Loora and Verbalta.

Whichever you pick, use the free trial or free plan to say one real sentence out loud, such as your answer to "tell me about yourself." The product that makes you want to say it again is usually the right one.

Prices are from US App Store listings on October 6, 2026 and vary by country. Verbalta sells a competing product, so we have a commercial interest, and we're not affiliated with any company named here.