The best ELSA Speak alternatives in 2026
By the Katie AI team · Updated
What is a good alternative to ELSA Speak?
ELSA Speak is built for pronunciation drills. If you want to practise full conversations instead, try Katie AI: it corrects your grammar, word choice and pronunciation as you talk. Loora is another option, with a daily fluency score. If you want structured lessons, try Speak. If you want an avatar tutor and a free plan, try Praktika.
Key takeaways
- Best alternative for full conversations: Katie AI
- Alternative with a daily fluency score: Loora
- Best alternative for structured lessons: Speak
- Best alternative with avatars: Praktika
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 full conversations
- 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 lessons
- Free plan: No · Trial: 7 days
- Praktika
- Best alternative with avatars
- Free plan: Yes, a few conversations a day · Trial: Not stated
| App | Best for | Free plan | Free trial |
|---|---|---|---|
| Katie AI | Best alternative for full conversations | No (free speaking test) | 3 days |
| Loora | Alternative with a daily fluency score | No | 1 free lesson |
| Speak | Best alternative for structured lessons | No | 7 days |
| Praktika | Best alternative with avatars | Yes, a few conversations a day | Not stated |
1. Katie AI
Best alternative for full conversations
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. Move from single words to real conversations. Katie corrects grammar, word choice and pronunciation on every sentence.
- 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 fluency and pronunciation 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 lessons
A step-by-step course with AI conversation.
- Free plan:
- No
- Free trial:
- 7 days
Good to know: Almost nothing is free after the 7-day trial.
Katie AI vs Speak →4. Praktika
Best alternative with avatars
Avatar tutors and a limited free plan.
- Free plan:
- Yes, a few conversations a day
- Free trial:
- Not stated
Good to know: Some recent App Store reviews say beginner lessons can feel too advanced.
Katie AI vs Praktika →
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
Is there something better than ELSA Speak for speaking practice?
ELSA Speak is built for pronunciation. For full conversation practice, an AI tutor like Katie AI is a better fit, because you hold real conversations and get corrected as you go.
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.