Best App to Learn English (2026): 12 Compared
Last verified: September 21, 2026. Prices and features come from each app’s official pages, help centers and the US App Store listings. They change often and depend on your country, so confirm the price at checkout. Course availability also depends on the language you speak, so check that your language is supported before you pay.
The best app to learn English depends on your level and on what you need most. Duolingo is the best free start, and its English course now runs through CEFR level B2. Busuu is the best structured course, with corrections from native speakers from A1 to C1. The British Council’s LearnEnglish site and apps are the best free resource from a trusted source. For speaking, ELSA Speak is built for pronunciation, Speak, Praktika and TalkPal offer AI conversation, and Cambly, Preply, italki and Lingoda put you in front of a person.
Quick picks by goal
| Your goal | Best pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Start for free | Duolingo | English course for speakers of 30 languages; Duolingo says it now reaches B2 |
| A free course you can trust | British Council LearnEnglish | Free skills, grammar and vocabulary resources from A1 to C1, plus a level test |
| A structured course | Busuu | English from A1 to C1, with native-speaker corrections |
| Better pronunciation | ELSA Speak | AI coach built only for English pronunciation |
| AI speaking practice | Speak | English course for speakers of 15 languages |
| AI tutors with avatars | Praktika | Avatar tutors that can explain in your own language |
| Live chat with native speakers | Cambly | Live video lessons with native English-speaking tutors |
| The most tutors to choose from | Preply | About 45,800 English tutors listed |
| Live classes with levels | Lingoda | Small-group or private classes from A1 to C1 |
The 12 apps at a glance
| App | Best for | US price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duolingo | A free start | Free; Super is a paid upgrade | English for 30 source languages |
| British Council LearnEnglish | Free practice | Free; apps free (ad removal $1.99) | A1 to C1; free level test |
| Busuu | Structured lessons | Free tier; Premium $72.99 for 12 months | A1 to C1; 14 interface languages |
| ELSA Speak | Pronunciation | $89.99 to $99.99 a year | English only; 7-day trial |
| Speak | AI speaking | $17.99 a month or $83.99 a year | 15 source languages; 7-day trial |
| Praktika | AI avatar tutors | App Store: $9.99 a month, $119.99 a year | Free tier with 3 avatars |
| TalkPal | AI chat and calls | $19.99 a month or $119.99 for 12 months | 14-day trial; 30-day web refund |
| Cambly | Native-speaker tutors | Plans priced by lessons per week | 30-minute trial lesson |
| Preply | Tutor choice | About $3 to $50+ per lesson | 25- or 50-minute trial lesson |
| italki | Pay-per-lesson tutors | From $4 per lesson | Trial lessons at a discount |
| Lingoda | Live classes | App Store: 5 group classes $99.99 | A1 to C1; 7-day trial |
| Babbel | Structured lessons | About $107 for 12 months | Only for speakers of 8 languages |
Check your language first
English courses are usually taught through your own language, so availability varies. Duolingo lists English courses for speakers of 30 languages. Busuu offers 14 interface languages, and it says some courses may not be available in all of them. Speak’s help center lists 15 native languages for its English course, from Korean and Japanese to Hindi, Thai and Turkish. Babbel shows English only if your app language is Ukrainian, Polish, German, French, Swedish, Italian, Spanish or Portuguese. If you speak another language, the free British Council resources and the live-tutor services do not depend on this.
Duolingo: best free start
- US price: free with ads and an Energy limit; see what Duolingo costs for Super
- Level: English is one of nine courses that Duolingo says now teach through B2 (April 2026)
- Speaking practice: speaking exercises and a free Practice Hub; the AI Roleplay feature is limited to some course pairs and is part of Max
Duolingo is the easiest place to start English for free, and it builds a daily habit. See Does Duolingo Work? for the evidence on how far it goes.
British Council LearnEnglish: best free resource
- US price: free; the apps are free, with a $1.99 purchase to remove ads
- Levels: A1 to C1, plus a free level test
- US App Store ratings: the Grammar app 4.7 from about 40,000 ratings; the Podcast app 4.8 from about 8,000
The British Council’s LearnEnglish site offers free skills, grammar and vocabulary resources, and it also sells paid Self-Study courses and tutoring. The free material is the draw: it is a reliable place to practice grammar, listening and reading alongside a course app.
Busuu: best structured course
- US price: a free tier; Premium $72.99 for 12 months and Premium Plus $87.90 for 12 months on Busuu’s US page (shown against higher list prices)
- Level: English runs from A1 to C1, the only Busuu course that reaches C1
- Premium Plus: adds AI conversations
Busuu combines CEFR-aligned lessons with feedback from native speakers on your writing and speaking. The plan prices above were promotional, so check the current offer. See the Busuu listing: 4.7 from about 100,800 ratings.
ELSA Speak: best for pronunciation
- US price: ELSA Pro $89.99 a year and ELSA Premium $99.99 a year on its pricing page; the US App Store lists a monthly plan at $19.99
- Free trial: 7 days
- Focus: English only, with an AI pronunciation coach and speaking practice
ELSA Speak is a good fit if your grammar is fine but people misunderstand your pronunciation. The US App Store rating is 4.8 from about 112,900 ratings, but Trustpilot shows 2.5 from only 31 reviews, and the complaints there center on trial-to-annual charges and cancellation. Its terms say web purchases can be refunded within seven days, so set a reminder before the trial ends.
Speak: best AI speaking practice
- US price: Premium $17.99 a month or $83.99 a year; Premium Plus $39.99 a month or $164.99 a year
- Free trial: 7 days
- Languages: the English course is for speakers of 15 languages, according to Speak’s help center
Speak is an AI tutor built around speaking out loud. It suits learners who already know some English and want to talk more. See our Speak review and the wider AI apps guide.
Praktika: AI avatar tutors
- US price: the US App Store lists 1 month at $9.99, 3 months at $49.99 and 1 year at $119.99; the free version has three avatars and limited practice
- Approach: animated AI tutors with different personas, hold-to-talk or hands-free calls, and feedback on pronunciation and grammar
- Rating: 4.7 from about 163,700 US App Store ratings; Trustpilot 3.7 from about 1,200 reviews
Praktika’s tutors can explain in your native language, which helps beginners. Recent Trustpilot complaints mention charges after cancelling. See our Praktika review.
TalkPal: AI chat and calls
- US price: $19.99 a month, $119.99 for 12 months or $149.99 for 24 months; a free plan has a 10-minute daily limit
- Free trial: 14 days
- Refund: its terms give a 30-day refund on direct web purchases
TalkPal offers typed chat, voice chat and role plays with an AI tutor, in more than 130 languages by its own count. Trustpilot rates it 4.4 from about 2,200 reviews. See our TalkPal review.
Cambly: best for live chat with native speakers
- US price: Cambly lists plans “starting from” $17 a month for small groups, $39 for private lessons and $56 for Pro, and the price depends on how many lessons you book each week
- Lessons: 30-minute live video lessons with native English-speaking tutors
- Trial: a 30-minute trial lesson (not for Pro); private and Pro lessons are for learners 18 and over
Cambly is a relaxed way to practice conversation with a real person. The US App Store rating is 4.5 from about 9,300 ratings.
Preply and italki: the tutor marketplaces
- Preply: about 45,800 English tutors listed, with prices from about $3 to $50 or more per lesson and a trial lesson of 25 or 50 minutes. Lessons are billed in 28-day cycles. See our Preply review.
- italki: lessons from $4, with community tutors at about $4 to $20 and professional teachers at about $10 to $40. Trial lessons are usually 30 minutes at a discount.
Both let you pick a tutor by price, accent and specialty, such as business English or exam preparation. A tutor is the fastest way to fix speaking problems that an app cannot hear.
Lingoda: live classes with levels
- Levels: English from A1 to C1, plus Business English from A1 to B2
- Format: small-group or private live classes for adults
- Trial and refund: 7-day trial with up to three group classes or one private class, and a 14-day refund window
Lingoda’s Sprint programme gives back 50% or 100% of the fee if you attend every class over about two months. The US App Store lists five group classes at $99.99; prices on its own site follow your country. See our Lingoda review.
Babbel: only for some learners
- US price: about $107.40 for 12 months (about $8.95 a month) and $299.99 for a lifetime plan; the first lesson is free
- Availability: English is offered only when your app language is one of eight, listed above
If your language is on that list, Babbel gives structured lessons with dialogues. See our Babbel review.
More options
- Memrise: short scenario phrases with native-speaker videos and AI conversation practice; the US App Store lists $61.99 a year, $24.99 a month and a $329.99 lifetime plan.
- Mondly: free daily lessons, with levels A1 to B2; the US App Store lists $15.90 a month or $74.90 a year.
- Rosetta Stone: immersion-style lessons, $19.99 a month or $159 a year; check that your language is supported for English. See the Rosetta Stone review.
- EnglishCentral: AI-scored video lessons plus live lessons; the US App Store lists Premium at $64.99 a month.
- BBC Learning English: free lessons on its website, in three levels. We did not find a current BBC Learning English app in the US App Store.
- VOA Learning English: free news lessons at three levels, though the newest we found were dated April 2025, so treat it as an archive.
- Cake: free short video clips with real expressions; the optional paid plan costs $15.99 to $84.99 in the US App Store.
How to combine apps for English
- Free stack: Duolingo for a daily habit and the British Council’s LearnEnglish resources for grammar, listening and a level test.
- Speaking stack: an AI app such as Speak, Praktika or TalkPal for daily practice, plus a weekly lesson on Cambly, Preply or italki.
- Pronunciation stack: ELSA Speak for daily drills and a tutor to check the sounds you still miss.
Exam preparation such as IELTS or TOEFL needs dedicated practice tests, which is beyond what these apps cover.
How long does English take?
Cambridge English publishes approximate guided learning hours for each level: about 180 to 200 hours to reach A2, 350 to 400 for B1 and 500 to 600 for B2. At 30 minutes a day, B2 is roughly 33 to 39 months of study, so consistency matters more than the app. The hours depend on your first language, how much English you hear each day and how much you speak.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best app to learn English?
Duolingo is the best free start, Busuu the best structured course and the British Council’s LearnEnglish the best free resource. For speaking, Speak, Praktika and TalkPal offer AI practice, and Cambly, Preply and italki offer live tutors. Most learners combine a course app with speaking practice.
What is the best free app to learn English?
Duolingo is the most popular free option, and its English course now runs through B2. The British Council’s LearnEnglish apps and website are also free and cover A1 to C1, with a free level test. BBC Learning English is a free website.
What is the best app to learn English for beginners?
Duolingo suits beginners on a budget, and Busuu suits beginners who want corrections from native speakers. Praktika’s tutors can explain in your own language, which helps at the start. Check that your native language is supported.
What is the best app to improve English pronunciation?
ELSA Speak is built only for English pronunciation, with an AI coach and speaking practice. Check the trial and refund terms first, since complaints on Trustpilot mention trial-to-annual charges. A tutor on Cambly, Preply or italki can also fix specific sounds.
Can you learn English with Duolingo?
You can get a long way. Duolingo says English is one of nine courses that now teach through B2. It is strongest at reading, listening and vocabulary, so add speaking practice with a tutor or an AI app to build fluency.
What is the best AI app to practice English speaking?
Speak, Praktika and TalkPal all offer AI conversation, and ELSA Speak focuses on pronunciation. Check each app’s free plan or trial first, and watch the renewal date, since complaints about charges after cancelling appear for several of them.
Do I need a tutor to learn English?
Not to start, but a tutor helps once you want to speak with confidence. Cambly offers live chat with native English speakers, Preply lists tens of thousands of tutors, and italki starts at $4 a lesson. Lingoda offers structured live classes.
How long does it take to learn English?
Cambridge English estimates about 500 to 600 guided learning hours to reach B2 from the beginning. At 30 minutes a day, that is roughly 33 to 39 months. Daily practice and speaking with real people shorten the path.
Sources and how this was researched
This guide compares information published by each app and by app stores as of September 21, 2026. It does not claim first-hand testing of every app. Main sources:
- Duolingo: the course list and the blog post courses now teach advanced content
- British Council: LearnEnglish and its US App Store listings
- Busuu: Premium and courses; Babbel: the help center’s Available languages and prices
- ELSA Speak: subscription page and terms; Speak: the help center’s English course languages; Praktika: official site and help center; TalkPal: pricing and terms
- Tutors and classes: Cambly, Preply’s English page, italki’s price guide and Lingoda’s English page
- Trustpilot pages for ELSA, Praktika and TalkPal, and the US App Store listing for each app
- Levels: Cambridge English guided learning hours