Understand English but can't speak it? Which app helps
It depends on what goes wrong when you talk. For a lot of speaking practice with an AI partner, Speak, Praktika or Loora. For pronunciation, ELSA Speak. To talk about anything, ChatGPT in voice mode, free with limits. If you get by, but always with the same simple words, Wispy works on getting the words you already recognise into your own speech.
We make Wispy, so we are one of the options here. Below is what each app is good for, including where the others are the better choice.
Written by the Wispy team. Details about other apps were checked in October 2026 and can change.
Start from what goes wrong
- “I know what I want to say, and nothing comes out.”
- Speak, Praktika, LooraA lot of speaking out loud with an AI partner, so that talking stops being rare.
- “People ask me to repeat myself.”
- ELSA SpeakPronunciation scored down to syllables and stress.
- “I get by, but with the same simple words every time.”
- WispyPractice built on the words you already recognise, and a record of which of them you have said yourself.
- “I have a conversation coming up and want to rehearse it.”
- Wispy, or role-plays in Speak, ELSA Speak and LooraIn Wispy you describe it in your own words and rehearse a similar situation. The others have role-plays from their own lists.
- “I just want to talk about anything.”
- ChatGPT in voice modeA patient partner on any topic, free with limits. It does not keep track of which words you use.
- “I keep forgetting the words I study.”
- Anki, QuizletFlashcards keep words in memory. Speaking still needs practice of its own.
The apps, one by one
This is not a ranking. Each app does a different job, and many people use two: one to talk a lot, and one for something specific.
Speak
speak.com- What it is
- Lessons where you hear phrases from native speakers and repeat and build them out loud, then free talk and role-plays with an AI tutor.
- Good for
- A lot of structured speaking practice every day, with a pronunciation coach. Built for all levels, including complete beginners.
- Keep in mind
- Lessons follow a set course of phrases rather than the words you already know. Full access is a subscription. iPhone and Android.
Praktika
praktika.ai- What it is
- Free conversations with AI tutors shown as animated characters, plus a personal plan with grammar, vocabulary, listening and reading exercises.
- Good for
- Getting used to talking with someone: you speak on any topic and get pronunciation and fluency feedback after each conversation. The tutor can explain in your native language.
- Keep in mind
- Built for all levels, from the first word. Free with limits; full practice is a subscription.
ELSA Speak
elsaspeak.com- What it is
- An AI coach centred on pronunciation: it scores how you say words, down to syllables and stress, and adds role-plays for interviews, meetings and presentations.
- Good for
- When people ask you to repeat yourself, or you want clearer pronunciation for work.
- Keep in mind
- Its strength is how you say things more than which words you reach for. Free with limited lessons; Premium is a subscription. iPhone and Android.
Loora
loora.com- What it is
- An AI conversation partner for English: lessons on any topic, role-plays and read-and-talk, with scores for grammar, fluency and pronunciation after each lesson.
- Good for
- Regular conversation with clear scores, and a view of the words you use and how that range grows.
- Keep in mind
- One free lesson, then a subscription. iPhone and Android.
ChatGPT voice mode
chatgpt.com- What it is
- A general AI assistant you can talk to out loud. You can ask it to play a role, slow down or correct you.
- Good for
- Open conversation on any topic, whenever you like. The free plan includes voice, with limits.
- Keep in mind
- It is not built for language practice: on its own it will not notice that you lean on the same words, will not offer replacements and does not keep track of which words you have said. You get the review you ask for.
Wispy
- What it is
- Our app. Conversations with an AI partner by voice or in chat, rehearsals of conversations you have coming up, and word training, all built on the words you recognise but do not say yet.
- Good for
- People who understand English, roughly B1-B2, and speak it in short, safe phrases. After each conversation you see which of your words came out and which did not, and phrases you repeated three or more times, with natural replacements. Choosing an answer from options never counts as saying a word.
- Keep in mind
- Not for beginners. English only. On iPhone, with an Android version coming soon. After one free trial conversation, conversations are part of the subscription, which starts with a 7-day free trial.
Side by side
| App | Voice conversation with AI | After a conversation | Pronunciation | Tracks the words you use | Devices |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Speak | Yes: free talk and role-plays | Corrections and takeaways from your mistakes (paid plans) | Pronunciation coach for English learners | Partly: Premium Plus has lessons on words you misused | iPhone, Android |
| Praktika | Yes, with an avatar tutor | Pronunciation and fluency feedback | Feedback, no score stated | Not stated | iPhone, Android, web |
| ELSA Speak | Yes: role-plays and open dialogues | Detailed analysis: pace, pauses, grammar | Scored down to syllables and stress | Not stated | iPhone, Android |
| Loora | Yes | Grammar, fluency and pronunciation scores, one key takeaway | Scored | Yes: the words you use over time | iPhone, Android |
| ChatGPT | Yes, on any topic | Only if you ask; the transcript stays in the chat | Not stated | Not stated | Web, iPhone, Android, desktop |
| Wispy | Yes, or in chat | Words that came out and words you avoided; repeated phrases with replacements | Checks when you say words out loud in training | Yes: which of the words you recognise you have said or written yourself | iPhone; Android coming soon |
If you study words in Quizlet or Anki
Keep them. Flashcards are good at keeping words in memory, and that is a real part of speaking: a word you have forgotten cannot come out.
What cards do not train is finding the word yourself in the second you need it, with nobody offering you options. That takes practice where you produce the words: out loud or in writing, in sentences of your own.
Who Wispy is not for
- You are starting English from the beginning. Wispy works with the English you already have, roughly from B1.
- You want conversations for free. The free version includes one trial conversation; after that, conversations are part of the subscription.
- You want one app for many languages or subjects. Wispy is English only.
Questions
What is the best app if I understand English but can't speak it?
There is no single best one: it depends on what goes wrong. For a lot of speaking practice, Speak, Praktika or Loora. For pronunciation, ELSA Speak. For open conversation on any topic, ChatGPT in voice mode. If you speak, but with a small set of simple words, Wispy is built for that. Many people pair a conversation app with flashcards.
Is ChatGPT voice mode enough to practise speaking English?
For talking, often yes: it is a patient partner on any topic, you can ask it to correct you, and the free plan includes voice with limits. What it does not do on its own is notice that you lean on the same words the whole time, offer replacements, or keep track of which words you have actually said yourself. That is the part Wispy adds.
Do I need an app at all?
No. A tutor, a conversation club or a colleague who is happy to talk all work, and at some things a person is better than any app. An app helps when you want to practise often, at any hour, and make mistakes with nobody listening.
Other comparisons
Speak, Praktika, ELSA Speak, Loora, ChatGPT, Anki and Quizlet are trademarks of their respective owners. Wispy is not affiliated with them. Details about other apps come from their websites, help centres and App Store pages.
