What is ELSA Speak?
ELSA Speak is an AI English speaking coach that scores your pronunciation and fluency and gives instant feedback for learners. It is made by ELSA Corp. and is available on iOS and Android. The company reports more than 92 million downloads, learners in over 190 countries and a 4.9 star rating, and it also sells programs to more than 1,300 organizations and schools.
ELSA's core strength is detailed speech analysis. Instead of only checking whether you said the right words, it highlights individual sounds you mispronounced and shows how to fix them. On top of that, AI role-play lets you practise realistic conversations for job interviews, meetings, presentations and travel, and a bilingual AI tutor helps beginners start in their own language. Learners use it to reduce accent problems, prepare for IELTS or work, and build speaking confidence.
Main Features
- Score your pronunciation sound by sound and highlight errors in color.
- Practise real conversations with AI role-play scenarios.
- Start in your native language with the bilingual AI tutor.
- Get personalised lessons based on your level, goals and industry.
- Track progress over time on a visual dashboard.
- Practise with avatar coaches for interviews, presentations and meetings.
How to Get Started with ELSA Speak
- Download ELSA Speak from the App Store or Google Play.
- Take the short assessment test to set your speaking level.
- Choose your goals, such as work, travel or exams, to get a personalised plan.
- Practise daily lessons and role-plays, then upgrade to Premium for full access.
ELSA Speak Pricing
ELSA Speak is free to download with a limited set of lessons. ELSA Premium costs about $19.99 per month, $59.99 per quarter or $159.99 per year on the official store, with frequent discounts and a 7-day free trial. Business and school plans are priced on request.
Who Should Use It?
- Non-native English speakers who want clearer pronunciation.
- Job seekers preparing for interviews in English.
- Students preparing for speaking exams such as IELTS or TOEFL.
- Professionals who present or hold meetings in English.
- Companies and schools running English training programs.
ELSA Speak Alternatives
- Speak: more focus on open conversation practice
- Praktika: avatar tutors for conversational English
- Duolingo: free, gamified learning across many languages
Frequently Asked Questions
Is ELSA Speak free?
Partly. ELSA Speak has free lessons, but most content needs ELSA Premium, which costs about $19.99 per month or $159.99 per year.
What is ELSA Speak used for?
ELSA Speak is used to improve English pronunciation and speaking. It analyses your speech and gives feedback on each sound.
Does ELSA Speak help with IELTS?
Yes. Many learners use it to practise speaking and pronunciation for IELTS, and it includes test-style practice content.
ELSA Speak vs Speak: which is better?
ELSA is better for detailed pronunciation correction, while Speak focuses more on free-flowing conversation practice.