The best Duolingo alternatives for speaking English in 2026
By the Katie AI team · Updated
Duolingo isn't helping me speak. What should I use instead?
Duolingo is a game-like course for the basics, but its free course is mostly tapping and reading, and AI speaking needs the top Max tier. To actually speak English, use an app built for speaking. Katie AI gives you open conversation with instant corrections. Loora adds a daily fluency score. Speak gives structured speaking lessons. ELSA Speak focuses on pronunciation. Cambly gives you a real person to talk to.
Key takeaways
- Best alternative for speaking out loud: Katie AI
- Alternative with a daily fluency score: Loora
- Best alternative for structured speaking lessons: Speak
- Best alternative for pronunciation: ELSA Speak
- Best alternative with real people: Cambly
Written by the Katie AI team. We list a real limit for every app, including our own. Free plans and trials are from the US App Store and each app's website, as of October 20, 2026.
At a glance
- Katie AI
- Best alternative for speaking out loud
- Free plan: No (free speaking test) · Trial: 3 days
- Loora
- Alternative with a daily fluency score
- Free plan: No · Trial: 1 free lesson
- Speak
- Best alternative for structured speaking lessons
- Free plan: No · Trial: 7 days
- ELSA Speak
- Best alternative for pronunciation
- Free plan: Yes, limited · Trial: 7 days
- Cambly
- Best alternative with real people
- Free plan: Not stated · Trial: Not stated
| App | Best for | Free plan | Free trial |
|---|---|---|---|
| Katie AI | Best alternative for speaking out loud | No (free speaking test) | 3 days |
| Loora | Alternative with a daily fluency score | No | 1 free lesson |
| Speak | Best alternative for structured speaking lessons | No | 7 days |
| ELSA Speak | Best alternative for pronunciation | Yes, limited | 7 days |
| Cambly | Best alternative with real people | Not stated | Not stated |
1. Katie AI
Best alternative for speaking out loud
Katie remembers your past conversations and builds a learning path around your day-to-day life, with the phrases and vocabulary you will actually use. No generic curriculum. Built around speaking from the first minute. Every sentence gets corrected, with the reason why.
- Free plan:
- No (free speaking test)
- Free trial:
- 3 days
Good to know: Katie teaches English only, so it is not the pick if you are learning another language. It is built for people who already know some English, so complete beginners may want a beginner course first. If what you need most is someone to hold you accountable, or a teacher's judgement on your career or exam, a human tutor still wins.
2. Loora
Alternative with a daily fluency score
AI conversation practice with instant feedback and a daily fluency score.
- Free plan:
- No
- Free trial:
- 1 free lesson
Good to know: There is no free plan after one trial lesson.
Katie AI vs Loora →3. Speak
Best alternative for structured speaking lessons
A lesson-first course that gets you talking.
- Free plan:
- No
- Free trial:
- 7 days
Good to know: Almost nothing is free after the 7-day trial.
Katie AI vs Speak →4. ELSA Speak
Best alternative for pronunciation
Pronunciation and accent coaching, with a free plan.
- Free plan:
- Yes, limited
- Free trial:
- 7 days
Good to know: Some recent App Store reviews mention slow loading and speech not being recognised well.
Katie AI vs ELSA Speak →5. Cambly
Best alternative with real people
Live video lessons with human tutors.
- Free plan:
- Not stated
- Free trial:
- Not stated
Good to know: Lessons are booked in advance, so practice depends on your plan and the tutor's schedule.
Katie AI vs Cambly →
How we compared these apps
- We looked at the 11 English speaking apps and tutor services people compare most often: Katie AI, Speak, ELSA Speak, Loora, Praktika, TalkPal, Fluently, ChatGPT Voice, Cambly, Preply and Duolingo.
- For each one we checked its US App Store listing, its own website, and its most recent US App Store reviews, on October 20, 2026.
- Where an app does not publish something, we say "Not stated" instead of guessing.
- Each app's limit comes from its own website or from patterns in recent reviews. We make Katie AI, and we list a limit for Katie too.
Frequently asked questions
Why can't I speak after using Duolingo?
Speaking is a separate skill. It grows when you speak out loud often and get corrected. Duolingo's free course is mostly reading, tapping and listening.
Can I use Duolingo and Katie AI together?
Yes. Use Duolingo for the basics and Katie AI for speaking practice, with the phrases and vocabulary for your own topics. They do different jobs.
Does Katie AI remember previous conversations?
Yes. Katie remembers what you talked about before and what you want to learn, so it feels like talking to a person who knows you, not starting over with a new app each time. It uses that to choose topics that matter to you and to pick up where you left off.
Read next
Sources
- Katie AI on the US App Store
- Loora plans (free lesson)
- Loora on the US App Store (App Store listing)
- Speak FAQ (trial, plans)
- Speak on the US App Store (App Store listing)
- ELSA Speak website (plans)
- ELSA Speak on the US App Store (App Store listing)
- Cambly plans
- Cambly on the US App Store (App Store listing)