Best Apps for Practicing Speaking a Language
A comprehensive comparison of 12 speaking practice apps—from AI tutors to human conversation partners
Speaking is often the hardest skill to practice when learning a language. You can study grammar alone, read books alone, even listen to podcasts alone—but speaking requires another person. And unlike reading or listening, speaking demands real-time production: you have to recall vocabulary, construct sentences, and pronounce words correctly, all while managing the social pressure of a live conversation.
This is why many language learners plateau at the "I can understand but I can't speak" stage. They accumulate passive knowledge but never get enough speaking practice to activate it.
What Actually Matters in a Speaking Practice App
Not all speaking apps are created equal. After years of building language tools and studying what works, we've identified the features that actually move the needle:
1. Real conversation, not scripted drills
Repeating phrases after a recording isn't speaking practice—it's pronunciation practice. Real speaking means formulating your own thoughts in real-time. The best apps give you open-ended conversations where you decide what to say, not fill-in-the-blank exercises.
2. Low-pressure environment
Performance anxiety kills language learning. When you're worried about embarrassing yourself, your brain shifts into fight-or-flight mode and language production suffers. Async voice messages, patient AI partners, and familiar human partners all reduce this pressure compared to live calls with strangers.
3. Support when you're stuck
The most frustrating moment in any conversation is knowing what you want to say but not how to say it. Apps that provide instant translations, vocabulary suggestions, or grammar hints during the conversation help you push through these blocks instead of giving up or switching to English.
4. Consistency over intensity
Speaking once a week for an hour is less effective than speaking for 10 minutes every day. The best apps make it easy to practice consistently—whether that's through async messaging that fits your schedule, AI partners that are always available, or reminders that keep you on track.
5. Human connection (eventually)
AI has gotten remarkably good at conversation, but it's not the end goal. Language exists to connect with people. The best apps either connect you with real humans or prepare you effectively for real-world conversations.
We built Talkling around these principles—combining real human conversations with AI practice, plus instant translations and vocabulary support when you need it. But we also reviewed 11 other popular speaking apps to give you an honest comparison.
Editorial note: Talkling is our product. We wrote this guide to compare Talkling with popular alternatives as fairly as possible. Where an app is a better fit for a specific need (e.g., meeting strangers or live tutoring), we say so.
Last updated: January 2026. Pricing and free tiers vary by region and can change.
Our Recommendation (TL;DR)
Best overall for: speaking practice that's consistent (async), low-pressure, and supported (translations + vocab) while still allowing real human conversations. That's Talkling—$5/month after a 7-day free trial.
Talkling isn't best if you need: live video calls, meeting strangers, or a native mobile app today.
Who should choose what:
- → Paid tutoring + structure: iTalki
- → Meet strangers + social: Tandem, HelloTalk
- → AI roleplay + curriculum: Speak, Praktika
- → Pronunciation coaching: ELSA
- → Hands-free audio reps: Pimsleur
- → Human convos you can sustain + help mid-sentence: Talkling
How We Evaluated These Apps
We compared each app across the features that matter for speaking practice:
- Human vs AI practice: Can you talk to real people, AI, or both?
- In-conversation support: Does the app help you when you're stuck mid-sentence?
- Vocabulary building: Does it help you learn and remember new words?
- Flexibility: Async voice messages vs. live calls vs. text chat?
- Price: What do you actually get for free, and what does premium cost?
Feature Comparison at a Glance
This table shows key features across all 12 apps. Scroll horizontally to see all columns.
| App | Human Partners | AI Conversations | Instant Translations | In-Chat AI Suggestions | Vocab Training | Price | Free Option |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | $5/mo | 7-day free trial (no card required) | |||||
| Subscription (e.g., €9.99/mo, €49.99/yr in EU; varies by region) | Free to download; limited free usage / paywall for full features | ||||||
| Subscription (e.g., €14.99/mo, €89.99/yr in EU; varies by region) | Free plan + 14-day premium trial | ||||||
| Subscription (e.g., €19.99/mo, €149.99/yr in EU; multiple tiers vary by region) | Free plan + Pro trial; 30-day money-back guarantee | ||||||
| Subscription (e.g., €14.99/mo, €99.99/yr in EU; varies by region/plan) | Free download + 7-day trial; full access requires subscription | ||||||
| Pay-per-lesson (teacher-set); optional italki Plus (e.g., €6.99/mo, €69.99/yr in EU) | Some tutors offer discounted trial lessons (not free) | ||||||
| Tandem Pro (e.g., €12.99/mo, €59.90/yr in EU; varies by region) | Free tier available | ||||||
| VIP subscription (e.g., €13.99/mo, €78.99/yr in EU; varies by region) | Free tier available | ||||||
| Subscription (e.g., €12.99/mo, €170.99/yr in EU; varies by plan/region) | Free tier available | ||||||
| All Access (e.g., €22.49/mo, €149.99/yr in EU; varies by region) | Free trial (length varies) | ||||||
| Super subscription (e.g., €89.99/yr in EU; varies by region/plan) | Very generous free tier; Super trial (14 days on iOS) | ||||||
| Subscription (e.g., €65.99/yr, €29.99/3mo in EU; varies by region/plan) | Free first lesson (trial lesson), then subscription |
Detailed App Reviews
Talkling
Web • $5/mo
What makes Talkling different: It combines real human conversations with AI practice, while giving you in-conversation support when you need it.
Most apps force a choice: talk to AI (always available, but less socially real) or find human partners (authentic, but scheduling can be the bottleneck). Talkling lets you do both. Practice with friends, tutors, or language partners through async voice messages, and use AI companions when you need extra practice.
Most distinctive feature: Instant translations and vocabulary suggestions while you're talking. Tap any word to see what it means. Get cognate-based vocabulary suggestions (words that are similar in your native language). No more freezing mid-sentence because you forgot a word.
What sets it apart
- Both human and AI conversation practice
- Real-time translations during conversations
- Cognate-based vocabulary suggestions
- Async voice messages (practice on your schedule)
- 7-day free trial, no credit card required
Consider another app if
- •You want to meet strangers (try Tandem/HelloTalk instead)
- •You need live video calls (Talkling is async-first)
- •You need a native mobile app (web-only for now)
Other Speaking Practice Apps
Below, we review 11 other popular apps for speaking practice. We've grouped them by their primary approach: human conversation partners, AI-only practice, and traditional learning apps with speaking components.
Apps for Practicing with Real People
Nothing replaces talking to a real person. Human conversation partners provide authentic reactions, cultural context, and the unpredictability that forces you to think on your feet. These apps connect you with native speakers—either paid tutors or free language exchange partners.
The trade-off? Scheduling. Finding a time that works for both parties, dealing with no-shows, and the social energy required for live calls with strangers. Some people thrive on this; others find it exhausting enough to quit.
iTalki
iOS, Android, Web • Pay-per-lesson (teacher-set); optional italki Plus (e.g., €6.99/mo, €69.99/yr in EU)
Marketplace connecting learners with professional and community tutors for paid video lessons. One of the largest selections of native-speaker tutors for any language. Lessons via italki Classroom, Skype, or Zoom.
Best for: Serious learners who want professional tutoring with native speakers
What It Does Well
- Best for structured progress with teacher accountability
- One of the largest tutor marketplaces for any language
- Native speakers from around the world
- Find affordable community tutors
Where It Falls Short
- Gets expensive with regular practice
- Requires scheduling in advance
- No in-conversation language support
- Live calls can feel high-pressure
iTalki dominates the paid tutoring space because of sheer scale—you can find teachers for virtually any language, at price points from $5 to $50+ per hour. The quality varies, but reviews help you filter. If you want accountability and structure, a paid tutor is hard to beat.
Tandem
iOS, Android • Tandem Pro (e.g., €12.99/mo, €59.90/yr in EU; varies by region)
Language exchange app for finding partners worldwide. Match with native speakers who want to learn your language, then practice via text, voice, or video.
Best for: Social learners comfortable meeting strangers online
What It Does Well
- Better for meeting new people quickly
- Large community of language partners
- Free to use basic features
- Supports voice and video calls
Where It Falls Short
- Partner quality varies widely
- Can feel like a dating app
- Strangers may ghost or be unreliable
- Has translation/corrections but not guided vocab study or spaced repetition
Tandem and HelloTalk take a different approach: free language exchange. You help someone learn English (or your native language), they help you learn theirs. It's a great deal if you find reliable partners—but "if" is doing a lot of work in that sentence. Many users report ghosting, flaky partners, and conversations that feel more like dating apps than language practice.
HelloTalk
iOS, Android • VIP subscription (e.g., €13.99/mo, €78.99/yr in EU; varies by region)
Social network for language learners. Find partners, post moments, and practice through messaging. Built-in translation and correction tools.
Best for: Learners who enjoy social media-style language practice
What It Does Well
- Better for discovering partners via social feed
- Active community with social features
- Built-in translation and correction tools
- Both text and voice messaging
Where It Falls Short
- Many users primarily use it for text; speaking depends on how you use it
- Social feed can be distracting
- Stranger matching has challenges
- Quality of interactions varies
AI-Powered Speaking Apps
AI conversation partners have improved dramatically in the past two years. The best ones now feel surprisingly natural—they understand context, remember what you said earlier, and respond in ways that keep the conversation flowing.
The obvious advantage: availability. AI doesn't cancel, doesn't judge, and doesn't get impatient when you pause to think. You can practice at 2am in your pajamas. The downside is equally obvious: it's not real. There's no cultural exchange, no authentic relationship, no stakes that force you to push through discomfort.
For many learners, AI practice is best as a supplement—a way to get extra reps between human conversations, or to build confidence before talking to real people.
Praktika
iOS, Android • Subscription (e.g., €9.99/mo, €49.99/yr in EU; varies by region)
AI tutoring app with realistic avatar-based tutors. Practice with AI characters who provide instant corrections and personalized study plans. Choose from multiple tutor personalities and adjust feedback intensity.
Best for: Learners who want an AI tutor with personality and real-time corrections
What It Does Well
- Highly realistic AI tutors with distinct personalities
- Real-time feedback on pronunciation, grammar, vocabulary, and pacing
- 10M+ downloads, well-established platform
- Designed to provide feedback that stays in-flow with conversation
Where It Falls Short
- AI only—no human conversation practice
- Focused on major languages rather than wide selection
- Can feel repetitive after extended use
- Subscription required for full features
Praktika and Speak represent the polished end of AI tutoring— they've raised significant funding and built refined products with curriculum design, progress tracking, and high production values. If you want an AI-only experience that feels like a premium product, these are the top choices.
TalkPal
iOS, Android, Web • Subscription (e.g., €14.99/mo, €89.99/yr in EU; varies by region)
GPT-powered AI language tutor supporting 80+ languages. Features conversations, roleplays, debates, and multiple learning modes with real-time feedback.
Best for: Learners who want variety across 80+ languages and multiple practice modes
What It Does Well
- Massive language selection (80+ languages)
- Multiple modes: roleplay, debate, photo mode, call mode
- 5M+ learners (per TalkPal); ~4.6–4.7 app store rating
- Generous 14-day premium trial
Where It Falls Short
- No human conversation practice
- Quality varies significantly by language
- Less personal than tutor-style apps
- Can feel shallow for advanced learners
Langua
iOS, Android, Web • Subscription (e.g., €19.99/mo, €149.99/yr in EU; multiple tiers vary by region)
AI conversation app with realistic AI voices (including voices cloned from partnered creators). Features hands-free mode for practice while commuting, instant corrections, and flashcard integration. Also offers 1-on-1 lessons with human tutors (separate service).
Best for: Learners who want AI practice with an option to add human tutoring
What It Does Well
- Realistic AI voices/characters (incl. voices cloned from partnered creators)
- Hands-free mode for practice while commuting
- Save words as flashcards from conversations
- Optional human tutoring integration
Where It Falls Short
- Human tutoring costs extra and is separate
- Newer platform, smaller user base
- Subscription required for full AI features
- Limited language coverage compared to competitors
TalkPal and Langua offer more flexibility—TalkPal covers 80+ languages (useful for less common ones), while Langua adds optional human tutoring on top of its AI conversations. Both are GPT-powered and feel more like chatting with an AI assistant than following a structured curriculum.
Speak
iOS, Android, Web • Subscription (e.g., €14.99/mo, €99.99/yr in EU; varies by region/plan)
AI conversation app with structured speaking curriculum. Speak Tutor learns about you and creates personalized lessons. Strong focus on getting learners speaking from day one with roleplay scenarios.
Best for: Learners who want structured AI lessons with a personal tutor feel
What It Does Well
- Excellent AI conversation quality
- Personalized curriculum based on your goals
- 5M+ downloads, 4.8 App Store rating
- Strong speaking-first methodology
Where It Falls Short
- No human practice option
- Full access requires subscription after trial
- Limited to major languages
- Less flexibility than open-ended AI chat
ELSA Speak
iOS, Android • Subscription (e.g., €12.99/mo, €170.99/yr in EU; varies by plan/region)
AI pronunciation coach that analyzes speech and provides detailed feedback on sounds, stress, and intonation. Now includes AI conversation scenarios.
Best for: Learners focused on pronunciation and accent improvement
What It Does Well
- Best pronunciation feedback granularity available
- Best-in-class pronunciation analysis
- Detailed feedback on specific sounds
- Progress tracking for pronunciation
Where It Falls Short
- English-focused (not for other languages)
- Drills can feel repetitive
- Conversation feature is newer/less polished
- Not designed for free-flowing chat
ELSA Speak is in a category of its own—it's less about conversation and more about pronunciation. If you specifically want to improve your accent in English, ELSA's phoneme-level feedback is more granular than any other app. But it's English-only and won't help you have actual conversations.
Traditional Learning Apps with Speaking Components
Apps like Duolingo, Babbel, and Pimsleur weren't designed primarily for speaking practice—they're comprehensive language courses that include some speaking exercises. They're best for beginners who need to build vocabulary and grammar foundations before jumping into real conversations.
The speaking practice in these apps is usually scripted: repeat after a recording, answer predetermined questions, or translate sentences aloud. It's useful for pronunciation and building basic patterns, but it won't prepare you for the unpredictability of real conversation.
Pimsleur
iOS, Android, Web • All Access (e.g., €22.49/mo, €149.99/yr in EU; varies by region)
Audio-based language learning using spaced repetition and call-and-response drills. Designed for hands-free learning during commutes. Includes AI voice coach.
Best for: Busy learners who want to practice during commutes
What It Does Well
- Best hands-free speaking reps without planning
- Learn while doing other things (commute, chores)
- Proven spaced repetition method
- Speaking practice from day one
Where It Falls Short
- Scripted, not real conversation
- Pricing can feel high if you only need one language vs alternatives
- No personalization
- Gets repetitive with same patterns
Duolingo is one of the most popular language-learning apps (and reports being the world's most downloaded education app)—it's free, gamified, and genuinely effective for building basic vocabulary. But its speaking exercises are limited to repeating phrases. It's a great starting point, not a speaking solution.
Duolingo
iOS, Android, Web • Super subscription (e.g., €89.99/yr in EU; varies by region/plan)
Gamified language learning with bite-sized lessons. Includes speech recognition for pronunciation practice, though primarily focused on reading/writing.
Best for: Beginners who want gamified, low-commitment daily practice
What It Does Well
- Completely free to use core features
- Gamification keeps you motivated
- Great for absolute beginners
- 40+ languages available
Where It Falls Short
- Minimal actual speaking practice
- Repetitive sentence patterns
- Not conversational—mostly drills
- Speaking features are basic
Babbel takes a more traditional course structure with better grammar explanations than Duolingo. Its speech recognition gives feedback on pronunciation, but again—you're repeating scripted phrases, not having conversations.
Babbel
iOS, Android, Web • Subscription (e.g., €65.99/yr, €29.99/3mo in EU; varies by region/plan)
Structured lessons with speech recognition. More grammar-focused than conversation-focused, with practical dialogues and review sessions.
Best for: Structured learners who prefer curriculum-based study
What It Does Well
- Well-structured curriculum
- Practical, real-world dialogues
- Speech recognition included
- Good review system
Where It Falls Short
- Not real conversation practice
- Limited speaking exercises
- No human interaction
- Feels like traditional textbook study
Pimsleur deserves special mention because it's entirely audio-based and designed for speaking from day one. The call-and-response format forces you to produce language, not just recognize it. It's particularly good for commuters who want hands-free practice. The downside: it's expensive, scripted, and can feel repetitive.
How to Choose the Right App for You
With so many options, here's a framework for narrowing down your choice:
If you want to practice with real humans...
Talkling lets you practice with friends, tutors, or language partners you already know—with instant translations and vocabulary support built right into the conversation. iTalki connects you with paid tutors. Tandem and HelloTalk help you find language exchange partners online.
If you prefer AI-only practice...
Talkling includes AI companions that adapt to your level and provide the same translation support as human chats. Praktika, TalkPal, Speak, and Langua offer AI-only conversation practice with various approaches to feedback and curriculum.
If you're on a tight budget...
Talkling offers a 7-day free trial with no credit card required, then $5/month. Tandem and HelloTalk have free tiers for language exchange. Duolingo is free with ads.
Ready to Start Speaking?
Try Talkling free for 7 days—no credit card required. Practice with real people or AI, with instant translations when you need them.