Speak alternatives: 5 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Speak: only a handful of languages, and subscription required after the trial. We ranked 5 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Speak, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Praktika currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#	App	Pricing	Open source	Platforms	Verified facts	Score
1	Praktika	Free plan + paid	No	iOS, Android	3 of 3	66.5
2	Duolingo	Free plan + paid	No	Web, iOS, Android	4 of 4	55.3

1. PraktikaTop pick
Best for: English learners who want cheap, judgement-free speaking practice with AI tutors
Free plan + paidiOS, Android
66.5
score / 100
Why switch from Speak
AI avatar tutors for conversation practice at a similar price.
Pros
Conversation practice available any time
Feedback on pronunciation, grammar and word choice
Much cheaper than a human tutor
Cons
AI can be wrong or mix accents
Strongest for English
Not a substitute for structured grammar study
Visit Praktika Details and reviews
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.3100
Reviews ×0.363
Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
Freshness ×0.1585
Votes ×0.150
0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula
Is Praktika a good Speak alternative?
Verified facts
3 of 3 verified
Learners
30M+
Checked Oct 25, 2026praktika.ai(opens source in a new tab)
Approximate cost
About $8/month
Checked Oct 25, 2026praktika.ai(opens source in a new tab)
Teaching method
AI tutors
Checked Oct 25, 2026praktika.ai(opens source in a new tab)
2. Duolingo
Best for: Beginners and casual learners who want a free, fun daily habit
Free plan + paidWeb, iOS, Android
55.3
score / 100
Why switch from Speak
Max tier adds AI roleplay and video calls inside a full course.
Pros
Full course path is free
Streaks and leagues make daily practice stick
Huge choice of languages and courses
Cons
Little explicit grammar teaching
Hard to reach advanced levels with it alone
Free tier has ads and limits on mistakes
Visit Duolingo Details and reviews
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.363
Reviews ×0.363
Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
Freshness ×0.1585
Votes ×0.150
0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula
Is Duolingo a good Speak alternative?
Verified facts
4 of 4 verified
Max tier
Subscription tier above Super
Checked Oct 25, 2026blog.duolingo.com(opens source in a new tab)
Super benefits
Unlimited energy, no ads, personalised review
Checked Oct 25, 2026blog.duolingo.com(opens source in a new tab)
AI features
Video Call and Roleplay (Max)
Checked Oct 25, 2026blog.duolingo.com(opens source in a new tab)
Max availability
188 countries on iOS and Android
Checked Oct 25, 2026blog.duolingo.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best Speak alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Best Speak alternative for most people

Praktika

AI avatar tutors for conversation practice at a similar price.

Best Speak alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Duolingo

Max tier adds AI roleplay and video calls inside a full course.

Best Speak alternative for iPhone and Android

Cambly

Talk to real native English speakers on demand.

Best Speak alternative for working in the browser

italki

Book affordable human tutors for real conversation.

Speak alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Speak?

Praktika ranks first right now. AI avatar tutors for conversation practice at a similar price. Cambly and italki follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Speak?

Yes. Praktika (free plan + paid) and Duolingo (free plan + paid) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Speak?

None of the 5 alternatives in this list is open source.

Why do people switch from Speak?

The complaints we hear most: only a handful of languages; subscription required after the trial; AI feedback can miss nuance.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces Speak, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.