Best free apps to practice English speaking
Best free apps to practice English speaking
Best free apps to practice English speaking
Written by: Luan Cavallaro, Founder & CMO, BeConfident
Key takeaways from this article
Many Brazilians get stuck in English grammar theory due to a lack of real conversational practice. AI-powered apps and conversations with native speakers help reduce shyness, resolve scheduling conflicts, and expose the student to different accents.
BeConfident leads among apps focused on Brazilians, featuring a free trial, 24/7 personalized AI, native accents, and integration via WhatsApp and smartwatch for pressure-free practice.
Apps like HelloTalk and Tandem offer free language exchanges with real native speakers, ideal for authentic language exposure, but they require reciprocity in teaching Portuguese.
ELSA Speak and TalkPal work well for pronunciation feedback and free solo conversation with limited time, complementing a daily routine of about 20 minutes.
To unlock your speaking with structure, BeConfident's free test shows your CEFR level in just a few minutes and opens up intensive AI conversation.
Best AI apps to practice on your own (without embarrassment)
BeConfident: English conversation app with free trial and personalized AI
BeConfident is a platform focused on Brazilians who want to speak English confidently. With over 200,000 paying students and 3 million total users, it offers unlimited conversation with AI tutors simulating native accents such as American, British, Australian, Canadian, South African, and Indian, as well as specific personas like a photographer, lawyer, or writer.
Pros: The free trial includes a CEFR analysis of your current level, showing you where you stand before making an investment. This assessment guides the personalization of the AI, which adapts conversation to your professional or travel goals. Practice takes place via the app, WhatsApp, or smartwatch, making it easy to fit short sessions into your day, featuring instant feedback, no human judgment, and 24/7 availability.
Setup takes about 5 minutes and primarily serves Brazilians who need English for career growth and travel. The combination of initial evaluation, personalization, and flexible access helps many users overcome the block when it's time to speak.
TalkPal: Conversational AI with free daily practice
TalkPal offers 10 to 15 minutes of free daily practice with conversational AI that adapts to your level. The app supports over 57 languages and includes optional real-time corrections, daily quests, and image descriptions.
Pros: Relatively generous free tier, personalized corrections, and support for less common languages.
Cons: Daily limit in the free version and an interface that might feel cluttered for those who prefer simplicity.
ELSA Speak: Pronunciation feedback with AI
ELSA Speak analyzes speech at the phonetic level with color-coded feedback, where green indicates correct, yellow indicates close, and red indicates need for adjustment. The app also shows mouth diagrams to guide correct positioning.
Pros: Detailed pronunciation analysis, 7-day free trial, and exercises focused on specific sounds.
Cons: Focus is restricted to pronunciation, with little free-form conversation.
Langua: Deeper, hands-free conversations
Langua stands out in conversational depth and voice quality among the leading AI apps for speaking. The call mode allows you to interrupt the AI as in a real phone call, which facilitates hands-free practice during other activities.
Pros: Cloned voices of real native speakers, hands-free mode, and longer, more detailed conversations.
Cons: Less beginner-friendly structure and a higher focus on intermediate levels.
Apps to chat with native speakers for free
After building confidence with AI, it is worth adding conversations with native speakers to train spontaneity and cultural nuances. The following apps connect you directly with English speakers looking for language exchanges.
HelloTalk: Language exchange social network
HelloTalk connects the student with native English speakers who want to learn Portuguese, creating a direct exchange between the two languages. The platform operates as a social network with text, audio, and video chat, along with mutual corrections and instant translation.
Pros: Free access to real native speakers, opportunity for mutual corrections, active community, and integrated translation tool.
Cons: Interaction quality varies depending on the partner, the environment can be intimidating for beginners, and the requirement to teach Portuguese in return.
The student increases their chances of good connections by completing their profile with clear details and goals. Starting with text messages is usually more comfortable before moving on to voice notes or calls.
Tandem: Structured audio and video exchange
Tandem is similar to HelloTalk, but places more focus on structured conversations with native speakers through audio and video calls. The app offers suggested topics to break the ice and a rating system for conversation partners.
Pros: Integrated video calls, topic suggestions, and user verification.
Cons: Chat limits in the free version and dependency on partner availability.
HiNative: Pronunciation feedback from native speakers
HiNative allows users to upload audio recordings for native speakers to evaluate pronunciation and answer specific questions about slang, grammar, and natural language usage.
Pros: Direct feedback on pronunciation, quick community responses, and the ability to ask highly targeted questions.
Cons: Absence of real-time conversation and more transactional interaction.
Guided and pronunciation apps
Guided apps help those who prefer to follow clear scripts for daily situations. They work well as a complement to AI apps and conversations with native speakers.
SpeakingPal: Guided simulations
SpeakingPal offers everyday conversation simulations with virtual characters in scenarios like restaurants, airports, and work meetings. Each simulation includes preparatory vocabulary and feedback on fluency.
Pros: Practical scenarios, vocabulary preparation, and structured progress.
Cons: Conversations are limited to scripts and offer less flexibility than conversational AI.
Falou: Daily audio phrases
Falou, which is focused on Brazilian Portuguese, offers pronunciation exercises using common daily phrases. The student compares their pronunciation to native speakers using voice recognition.
Pros: Content designed for Brazilians, everyday phrases, and direct comparison with native speakers.
Cons: Relatively limited library and little free-form conversation.
Univerbal: Gamified missions
Univerbal offers gamified daily missions with scenario-based conversations and supports 23 languages. The app includes a hands-free mode and progress bars to maintain motivation.
Pros: Engaging gamification, support for 23 languages, and hands-free mode.
Cons: Less conversational depth than the main AI apps focused on speaking.
Before choosing a primary app, it is worth considering three factors that influence progress: access to unlimited conversation, the quality of AI feedback, and realistic daily time investment. The table below compares how the most popular apps stack up on these points:
App | Unlimited Conversation | AI Feedback | Free Daily Limit |
BeConfident | ✓ (free trial) | ✓ Personalized | During free trial |
TalkPal | ✗ | ✓ Basic | 10-15 minutes |
HelloTalk | ✓ With native speakers | Native corrections + AI tools | Unlimited |
ELSA Speak | ✗ | ✓ Pronunciation | 7 days trial |
Where to practice English conversation for free?
For solo practice without embarrassment, the choice is usually BeConfident, featuring a free trial and customized AI available 24/7, as described above. For interacting with native speakers, HelloTalk offers unlimited free access to a global community, while TalkPal complements. it with 10 to 15 minutes of daily conversation with AI.
Start your free CEFR assessment now and see what blend of solo and native speaker practice makes the most sense for your current level.
What is the best free app to speak English?
BeConfident stands out as the top free-trial option for speaking English, bringing together CEFR analysis, AI tutors with diverse personalities and native accents, as well as WhatsApp and smartwatch integration. As a complement, TalkPal offers 15 minutes of daily AI practice, and HelloTalk connects users with real native speakers at no initial cost.
Apps to chat with native speakers for free
HelloTalk and Tandem rank among the best free choices for speaking with native speakers. HelloTalk works as a social network built on language exchange, while Tandem organizes more structured calls. Both require reciprocity in teaching Portuguese, but deliver consistent exposure to natural expression and accents.
How to use ChatGPT to practice speaking?
A student can configure ChatGPT for English conversation, requesting immediate corrections and suggesting specific topics. However, ChatGPT has limitations such as mid-sentence cut-offs and inconsistent corrections, which reduces study predictability. For more reliable results, BeConfident offers specialized conversational AI with structured feedback and tracked progress.
BeConfident vs Competitors Comparison
Feature | BeConfident | Duolingo | Cambly |
Focus on speaking | ✓ Specialized | ✗ Gamification | ✓ Pay-per-hour |
Availability | 24/7 AI | Fixed lessons | Tutor schedules |
Cost | Free trial + plans | Limited freemium | $10+ per hour |
Personalization | ✓ Topics for Brazilians | ✗ Generic | Varies by tutor |
BeConfident stands out with a consolidated user base, a top-tier reputation, and a focus on unlocking speaking for Brazilians with AI adapted to career and travel topics. This targeted approach directly serves those who have already studied grammar but still cannot speak naturally.
While Duolingo prioritizes gamification and recognition exercises, and Cambly charges by the hour for conversations with human tutors, BeConfident offers intensive practice during its free trial. The student can experience real conversation without paying by the hour and evaluate if the format fits into their routine.
Try unlimited conversation without paying by the hour and see the impact on your fluency in your very first week of practice.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the best app to practice speaking on your own?
BeConfident is the most complete app to practice speaking on your own, offering 24/7 conversation with AI tutors simulating different native accents and personalities. Practice happens without exposure to other people, featuring customized instant feedback and topics designed for Brazilians in career and travel settings.
Is it possible to become fluent using only Duolingo?
A student will not develop conversational fluency using only Duolingo. The app prioritizes gamification and word recognition without offering consistent speaking practice. To advance in speaking, it is necessary to use specialized speaking apps like BeConfident, which provides real AI conversations and feedback focused on naturalness.
How much time per day do I need to practice speaking?
About 20 minutes of daily practice focused on conversation is enough to see noticeable progress in just a few weeks. BeConfident lets you break up this time into short blocks via the app, WhatsApp, or smartwatch, making it easier to stay consistent. Regularity matters more than long, sporadic sessions.
Are free apps enough to learn English?
Free apps can serve as a starting point, particularly for experiencing conversation. BeConfident offers a free trial that already includes a full level analysis and real speaking practice. To keep progressing and access advanced features, paid plans provide more structure and customization, but the free trial already allows you to feel concrete results.
Written by: Luan Cavallaro, Founder & CMO, BeConfident
Key takeaways from this article
Many Brazilians get stuck in English grammar theory due to a lack of real conversational practice. AI-powered apps and conversations with native speakers help reduce shyness, resolve scheduling conflicts, and expose the student to different accents.
BeConfident leads among apps focused on Brazilians, featuring a free trial, 24/7 personalized AI, native accents, and integration via WhatsApp and smartwatch for pressure-free practice.
Apps like HelloTalk and Tandem offer free language exchanges with real native speakers, ideal for authentic language exposure, but they require reciprocity in teaching Portuguese.
ELSA Speak and TalkPal work well for pronunciation feedback and free solo conversation with limited time, complementing a daily routine of about 20 minutes.
To unlock your speaking with structure, BeConfident's free test shows your CEFR level in just a few minutes and opens up intensive AI conversation.
Best AI apps to practice on your own (without embarrassment)
BeConfident: English conversation app with free trial and personalized AI
BeConfident is a platform focused on Brazilians who want to speak English confidently. With over 200,000 paying students and 3 million total users, it offers unlimited conversation with AI tutors simulating native accents such as American, British, Australian, Canadian, South African, and Indian, as well as specific personas like a photographer, lawyer, or writer.
Pros: The free trial includes a CEFR analysis of your current level, showing you where you stand before making an investment. This assessment guides the personalization of the AI, which adapts conversation to your professional or travel goals. Practice takes place via the app, WhatsApp, or smartwatch, making it easy to fit short sessions into your day, featuring instant feedback, no human judgment, and 24/7 availability.
Setup takes about 5 minutes and primarily serves Brazilians who need English for career growth and travel. The combination of initial evaluation, personalization, and flexible access helps many users overcome the block when it's time to speak.
TalkPal: Conversational AI with free daily practice
TalkPal offers 10 to 15 minutes of free daily practice with conversational AI that adapts to your level. The app supports over 57 languages and includes optional real-time corrections, daily quests, and image descriptions.
Pros: Relatively generous free tier, personalized corrections, and support for less common languages.
Cons: Daily limit in the free version and an interface that might feel cluttered for those who prefer simplicity.
ELSA Speak: Pronunciation feedback with AI
ELSA Speak analyzes speech at the phonetic level with color-coded feedback, where green indicates correct, yellow indicates close, and red indicates need for adjustment. The app also shows mouth diagrams to guide correct positioning.
Pros: Detailed pronunciation analysis, 7-day free trial, and exercises focused on specific sounds.
Cons: Focus is restricted to pronunciation, with little free-form conversation.
Langua: Deeper, hands-free conversations
Langua stands out in conversational depth and voice quality among the leading AI apps for speaking. The call mode allows you to interrupt the AI as in a real phone call, which facilitates hands-free practice during other activities.
Pros: Cloned voices of real native speakers, hands-free mode, and longer, more detailed conversations.
Cons: Less beginner-friendly structure and a higher focus on intermediate levels.
Apps to chat with native speakers for free
After building confidence with AI, it is worth adding conversations with native speakers to train spontaneity and cultural nuances. The following apps connect you directly with English speakers looking for language exchanges.
HelloTalk: Language exchange social network
HelloTalk connects the student with native English speakers who want to learn Portuguese, creating a direct exchange between the two languages. The platform operates as a social network with text, audio, and video chat, along with mutual corrections and instant translation.
Pros: Free access to real native speakers, opportunity for mutual corrections, active community, and integrated translation tool.
Cons: Interaction quality varies depending on the partner, the environment can be intimidating for beginners, and the requirement to teach Portuguese in return.
The student increases their chances of good connections by completing their profile with clear details and goals. Starting with text messages is usually more comfortable before moving on to voice notes or calls.
Tandem: Structured audio and video exchange
Tandem is similar to HelloTalk, but places more focus on structured conversations with native speakers through audio and video calls. The app offers suggested topics to break the ice and a rating system for conversation partners.
Pros: Integrated video calls, topic suggestions, and user verification.
Cons: Chat limits in the free version and dependency on partner availability.
HiNative: Pronunciation feedback from native speakers
HiNative allows users to upload audio recordings for native speakers to evaluate pronunciation and answer specific questions about slang, grammar, and natural language usage.
Pros: Direct feedback on pronunciation, quick community responses, and the ability to ask highly targeted questions.
Cons: Absence of real-time conversation and more transactional interaction.
Guided and pronunciation apps
Guided apps help those who prefer to follow clear scripts for daily situations. They work well as a complement to AI apps and conversations with native speakers.
SpeakingPal: Guided simulations
SpeakingPal offers everyday conversation simulations with virtual characters in scenarios like restaurants, airports, and work meetings. Each simulation includes preparatory vocabulary and feedback on fluency.
Pros: Practical scenarios, vocabulary preparation, and structured progress.
Cons: Conversations are limited to scripts and offer less flexibility than conversational AI.
Falou: Daily audio phrases
Falou, which is focused on Brazilian Portuguese, offers pronunciation exercises using common daily phrases. The student compares their pronunciation to native speakers using voice recognition.
Pros: Content designed for Brazilians, everyday phrases, and direct comparison with native speakers.
Cons: Relatively limited library and little free-form conversation.
Univerbal: Gamified missions
Univerbal offers gamified daily missions with scenario-based conversations and supports 23 languages. The app includes a hands-free mode and progress bars to maintain motivation.
Pros: Engaging gamification, support for 23 languages, and hands-free mode.
Cons: Less conversational depth than the main AI apps focused on speaking.
Before choosing a primary app, it is worth considering three factors that influence progress: access to unlimited conversation, the quality of AI feedback, and realistic daily time investment. The table below compares how the most popular apps stack up on these points:
App | Unlimited Conversation | AI Feedback | Free Daily Limit |
BeConfident | ✓ (free trial) | ✓ Personalized | During free trial |
TalkPal | ✗ | ✓ Basic | 10-15 minutes |
HelloTalk | ✓ With native speakers | Native corrections + AI tools | Unlimited |
ELSA Speak | ✗ | ✓ Pronunciation | 7 days trial |
Where to practice English conversation for free?
For solo practice without embarrassment, the choice is usually BeConfident, featuring a free trial and customized AI available 24/7, as described above. For interacting with native speakers, HelloTalk offers unlimited free access to a global community, while TalkPal complements. it with 10 to 15 minutes of daily conversation with AI.
Start your free CEFR assessment now and see what blend of solo and native speaker practice makes the most sense for your current level.
What is the best free app to speak English?
BeConfident stands out as the top free-trial option for speaking English, bringing together CEFR analysis, AI tutors with diverse personalities and native accents, as well as WhatsApp and smartwatch integration. As a complement, TalkPal offers 15 minutes of daily AI practice, and HelloTalk connects users with real native speakers at no initial cost.
Apps to chat with native speakers for free
HelloTalk and Tandem rank among the best free choices for speaking with native speakers. HelloTalk works as a social network built on language exchange, while Tandem organizes more structured calls. Both require reciprocity in teaching Portuguese, but deliver consistent exposure to natural expression and accents.
How to use ChatGPT to practice speaking?
A student can configure ChatGPT for English conversation, requesting immediate corrections and suggesting specific topics. However, ChatGPT has limitations such as mid-sentence cut-offs and inconsistent corrections, which reduces study predictability. For more reliable results, BeConfident offers specialized conversational AI with structured feedback and tracked progress.
BeConfident vs Competitors Comparison
Feature | BeConfident | Duolingo | Cambly |
Focus on speaking | ✓ Specialized | ✗ Gamification | ✓ Pay-per-hour |
Availability | 24/7 AI | Fixed lessons | Tutor schedules |
Cost | Free trial + plans | Limited freemium | $10+ per hour |
Personalization | ✓ Topics for Brazilians | ✗ Generic | Varies by tutor |
BeConfident stands out with a consolidated user base, a top-tier reputation, and a focus on unlocking speaking for Brazilians with AI adapted to career and travel topics. This targeted approach directly serves those who have already studied grammar but still cannot speak naturally.
While Duolingo prioritizes gamification and recognition exercises, and Cambly charges by the hour for conversations with human tutors, BeConfident offers intensive practice during its free trial. The student can experience real conversation without paying by the hour and evaluate if the format fits into their routine.
Try unlimited conversation without paying by the hour and see the impact on your fluency in your very first week of practice.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the best app to practice speaking on your own?
BeConfident is the most complete app to practice speaking on your own, offering 24/7 conversation with AI tutors simulating different native accents and personalities. Practice happens without exposure to other people, featuring customized instant feedback and topics designed for Brazilians in career and travel settings.
Is it possible to become fluent using only Duolingo?
A student will not develop conversational fluency using only Duolingo. The app prioritizes gamification and word recognition without offering consistent speaking practice. To advance in speaking, it is necessary to use specialized speaking apps like BeConfident, which provides real AI conversations and feedback focused on naturalness.
How much time per day do I need to practice speaking?
About 20 minutes of daily practice focused on conversation is enough to see noticeable progress in just a few weeks. BeConfident lets you break up this time into short blocks via the app, WhatsApp, or smartwatch, making it easier to stay consistent. Regularity matters more than long, sporadic sessions.
Are free apps enough to learn English?
Free apps can serve as a starting point, particularly for experiencing conversation. BeConfident offers a free trial that already includes a full level analysis and real speaking practice. To keep progressing and access advanced features, paid plans provide more structure and customization, but the free trial already allows you to feel concrete results.