The best free apps to practise speaking English in 2026
By the Katie AI team · Updated
Is there a free app to practise speaking English?
The best free way to practise speaking English without limits is Katie AI: take a free speaking test, then get unlimited conversations for 3 days at no charge, with a correction on every sentence. If you only want a free plan, ELSA Speak offers pronunciation practice, Praktika a few AI conversations a day and TalkPal 10 minutes a day. Duolingo is free, but it is built for vocabulary more than speaking.
Key takeaways
- Best free way to try unlimited speaking practice: Katie AI
- Best free plan for pronunciation: ELSA Speak
- Best free AI conversations: Praktika
- Best free daily minutes: TalkPal
- Best free course: Duolingo
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 free way to try unlimited speaking practice
- Free plan: No (free speaking test) · Trial: 3 days
- ELSA Speak
- Best free plan for pronunciation
- Free plan: Yes, limited · Trial: 7 days
- Praktika
- Best free AI conversations
- Free plan: Yes, a few conversations a day · Trial: Not stated
- TalkPal
- Best free daily minutes
- Free plan: Yes, 10 minutes a day · Trial: 14 days
- Duolingo
- Best free course
- Free plan: Yes · Trial: 14 days (Super)
| App | Best for | Free plan | Free trial |
|---|---|---|---|
| Katie AI | Best free way to try unlimited speaking practice | No (free speaking test) | 3 days |
| ELSA Speak | Best free plan for pronunciation | Yes, limited | 7 days |
| Praktika | Best free AI conversations | Yes, a few conversations a day | Not stated |
| TalkPal | Best free daily minutes | Yes, 10 minutes a day | 14 days |
| Duolingo | Best free course | Yes | 14 days (Super) |
1. Katie AI
Best free way to try unlimited speaking practice
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. The 3-day free trial gives unlimited conversations with a correction on every sentence, and a free speaking test shows your level before you sign up.
- Free plan:
- No (free speaking test)
- Free trial:
- 3 days
Good to know: Katie has no free plan. 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. ELSA Speak
Best free plan for pronunciation
A limited free plan with pronunciation practice and feedback.
- 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 →3. Praktika
Best free AI conversations
A few AI tutor conversations a day with feedback, on the 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 →4. TalkPal
Best free daily minutes
10 minutes a day of AI chat on the free Basic plan.
- Free plan:
- Yes, 10 minutes a day
- Free trial:
- 14 days
Good to know: Some recent App Store reviews say it is hard for beginners.
Katie AI vs TalkPal →5. Duolingo
Best free course
Every course is free. Good for vocabulary and grammar, less for speaking.
- Free plan:
- Yes
- Free trial:
- 14 days (Super)
Good to know: AI speaking (Video Call and Roleplay) needs the top Max tier, and only some courses have it.
Katie AI vs Duolingo →
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
Can I practise speaking English for free?
Yes. Use the free plans of ELSA Speak, Praktika or TalkPal, or the free trials of Katie AI or Speak. You can also practise with a friend or a language exchange partner.
Is Katie AI free?
Katie AI is free to download, with a free speaking test and a 3-day free trial of unlimited practice. There is no free plan after the trial.
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
- ELSA Speak website (plans)
- ELSA Speak on the US App Store (App Store listing)
- Praktika website
- Praktika blog (free plan, June 2026)
- Praktika on the US App Store (App Store listing)
- TalkPal plans (free plan, trial)
- TalkPal on the US App Store (App Store listing)
- Duolingo Max (Video Call, Roleplay)
- Duolingo on the US App Store (App Store listing)