7 alternatives to Duolingo for English conversation
7 alternatives to Duolingo for English conversation
7 alternatives to Duolingo for English conversation
Written by: Luan Cavallaro, Founder & CMO, BeConfident
If you have already taken your first steps in English with Duolingo but feel that you lack conversation practice to speak with confidence, this article brings practical solutions. Many Brazilians know vocabulary and grammar, but face difficulties in keeping a natural conversation going.
Real-time practice makes all the difference, especially for those who want to prepare for travel, careers, or studies abroad.
Here, we list 7 platforms and methods that help develop oral fluency through immersion and feedback. Our focus is on authentic conversation tools, including AI technologies that simulate dialogues with native speakers at any time. Check out the options and find the ideal one for your goal.
Try it for free and start practicing English now to accelerate your journey toward fluency.
Why is real-time practice essential for fluency?
Speaking English goes beyond learning rules or vocabulary. You need to process information and respond quickly in dynamic situations. Apps like Duolingo help with the basics, but they do not reproduce the rhythm and unpredictability of a real conversation.
During an authentic interaction, you face various accents, informal expressions, and the need to react in the moment. This skill only develops with constant practice, which improves not only the language but also your confidence and naturalness when speaking.
Fluency involves improvising and grasping the context of a conversation. Many Brazilians feel stuck even after months of study because they lack practical experience in real communication, something that isolated exercises do not provide.
Practicing in real-time also offers immediate feedback on pronunciation and tone, areas that written exercises cannot address. Talking to tutors, whether human or AI, brings corrections in the right context, which accelerates learning.
7 options to improve your English conversation
1. BeConfident: practice with AI at any time
BeConfident uses artificial intelligence to help Brazilians gain fluency with confidence. The platform focuses on conversation, offering AI tutors that simulate native speakers, available 24 hours a day via WhatsApp, iOS, and Android.
The highlight is the more than 10 unique characters, such as a photographer from the US or a South African lawyer, each with their own accent and style. You practice through text, audio, or calls in real situations, like ordering something in daily life or negotiating, with immediate feedback on grammar and pronunciation.
Customized plans adjust to your level and routine. There are also avatars in the app, a translation chat, and a ranking with monthly prizes for the most engaged users. With 25,000 students in 62 countries, BeConfident is an affordable option for constant practice.
Try it for free and practice conversation with AI today.
2. Cambly: talk to native speakers without scheduling
Cambly connects you with native tutors at any time, with no need to book an appointment. Available 24 hours a day, the teachers offer immediate practice and real-time feedback, ideal for developing flow in your speaking.
Flexibility is a strong point. You choose tutors with different accents and focuses, adjusting to your routine, even at unusual times. This helps those who have a busy schedule or prefer to study spontaneously.
Tutors have diverse backgrounds, from certified teachers to professionals in different fields, which enriches the topics covered. Sessions can be recorded for review, allowing you to closely monitor your progress.
Unlike structured exercises, Cambly prioritizes human interaction with personalized adjustments, creating a more natural and social experience for those who want to speak English with confidence.
3. Preply: choose a tailor-made tutor
Preply works as an online space to find English tutors, with filters for profile, price, and specialty. You select between native speakers or Brazilians, adapting the choice to your specific needs.
It is possible to search by criteria such as class price, country of origin, or focus, like conversation or business English. This way, you find support to overcome initial barriers or refine more advanced skills.
Tutors create their own methods and materials, ensuring adapted teaching. Many Brazilians on the platform understand common language challenges, offering support in Portuguese when necessary.
One-on-one guidance provides plans focused on your difficulties, something that gamified apps cannot match. Preply is a good choice for those seeking direct attention and detailed feedback.
4. Fluency Talks: overcome insecurity with Brazilians
Fluency Talks prioritizes fluent Brazilian teachers, creating a welcoming environment for those who are afraid of speaking English. The method divides classes into 8 minutes of conversation and 4 minutes of feedback, ensuring intense practice with targeted corrections.
This format focuses on dialogue, with adjustments made without interrupting the natural flow. The platform has an intuitive environment, strong personalization, and teachers who understand the cultural barriers of Brazilian students.
There are options for individual or group classes, adapting to your style and available time. This simulates real interactions, helping to gain confidence in different contexts.
Teachers who have gone through the same learning process provide emotional support, helping to overcome blocks. This cultural connection is a differentiator compared to methods that do not consider these specificities.
5. Native Camp: practice as many times as you want
Native Camp offers classes with native speakers with no daily limit, depending on the plan. You access the platform at any time and start talking right away, perfect for unpredictable routines.
The absence of scheduling is a major attraction. Just go online and find an available tutor, which facilitates spontaneous practice, ideal for those with tight schedules.
With a global community of 3.5 million users, the platform exposes you to diverse accents and cultures. Individual classes ensure direct feedback, helping with goals such as travel or professional growth.
Access to multiple sessions a day allows for greater immersion, which is rare in traditional formats. For those seeking constant practice, Native Camp offers real interaction in abundance.
6. HelloTalk and Tandem: exchange languages with native speakers
HelloTalk and Tandem connect people for mutual language learning, functioning like social networks. You talk to native English speakers who want to learn Portuguese, using text, voice, or video.
The strong point is authenticity. Besides practicing, you build real cultural bonds, which makes studying more motivating than repetitive tasks. Translation and correction tools help on the spot.
These apps also allow you to save useful expressions to review later. Practice happens within a dedicated environment, keeping the focus on the language.
Different from structured exercises, these platforms offer dialogue with real people, creating connections that encourage continuous learning and the use of everyday expressions.
7. Open English: combine live classes and technology
Open English unites live classes with native speakers and AI tools for pronunciation feedback. The method mixes guided conversation, real simulations, and personalized activities, with 24-hour access.
You choose between small groups or individual sessions, adjusting to your budget and preference. Pronunciation resources complement the classes, focusing on technical details of speaking.
The structured curriculum tracks your progress from basic to advanced levels, with detailed monitoring. This is ideal for those who want a formal program geared toward Brazilians.
As an alternative to Duolingo, Open English offers a more complete path, maintaining oral practice with regular classes to consistently develop fluency.
Try it for free and see which option suits you in your pursuit of fluency.
Comparison: Duolingo vs. conversation alternatives
Feature | Duolingo | BeConfident | Other alternatives |
Main focus | Vocabulary and grammar | Conversation and confidence | Personalized oral practice |
Real-time practice | Limited in some plans | Unlimited with AI 24/7 | Available with tutors |
Speaking feedback | Reduced, even in premium | Immediate via AI | Personalized and human |
Flexibility | Good | Very high, multiplatform | Good, with or without scheduling |
Duolingo helps with the basics but falls short in authentic oral practice. The listed alternatives fill this gap, offering real interaction and feedback adjusted to your needs.
BeConfident sets itself apart with constant availability and AI technology tailored for Brazilians. Meanwhile, the other options bring human interaction, personalization, and adaptable schedules, depending on your goal.
How to find the best option for you?
The choice depends on your profile and your routine. Beginners with insecurities may prefer Fluency Talks or BeConfident, which understand Brazilians' struggles and create a supportive environment.
For irregular schedules, Native Camp and BeConfident allow practice at any time. If you seek a cultural connection, HelloTalk and Tandem offer direct language exchange with native speakers.
Professionals may opt for Preply, with tutors focused on business English. Those with a tight budget can find currency exchange apps to be a free and effective alternative.
The essential thing is to choose something that complements gamified apps with oral practice and feedback. This is what really helps you gain confidence to speak in any situation.
Try it for free and see which tool meets your fluency goals.
Conclusion: gain confidence when speaking English
Gamified apps like Duolingo are useful for vocabulary, but fluency comes from constant oral practice. The presented platforms, from BeConfident to Preply, offer real interaction and feedback that make a difference.
For Brazilians with travel, work, or study goals, speaking English naturally is fundamental. These tools make this practice accessible, adapting to specific routines and challenges.
BeConfident combines AI technology with 24-hour availability and a focus on conversation, making it a practical option to improve speaking. Whatever your choice, regularity in practice is what brings results.
Want to advance in English conversation? Take the next step with a tool that understands your needs. Try it for free and start speaking English with confidence.
Common questions about English conversation practice
Why is Duolingo not enough for oral fluency?
Duolingo is great for learning vocabulary and grammar in an interactive way, but it limits oral practice in many cases. Speaking fluently requires reacting to unpredictable situations, catching nuances, and improvising, which structured exercises do not fully address.
What makes BeConfident different from other AI tools?
BeConfident focuses exclusively on conversation, with AI tutors available 24 hours a day via WhatsApp and app. It offers immediate feedback, more than 10 characters with varied accents, everyday scenarios, and features like ranking and integrated translation.
Is a human tutor necessary to speak fluently?
Not necessarily. Human tutors bring personalization, but platforms like BeConfident use AI to simulate realistic interactions, with constant feedback and unlimited practice. This creates a less intimidating space for beginners, overcoming cost and availability barriers.
Can you get fluent just with apps?
Yes, as long as the app prioritizes real-time conversation and feedback, like BeConfident does. Fluency comes from using the language actively in real contexts, which tools focused on dialogue and regular practice can provide.
How long until you notice progress in conversation?
Results depend on the initial level and dedication, but many see a gain in confidence in 2 to 4 weeks with regular practice. Platforms like BeConfident, with daily access, help accelerate this process. Sessions of 15 to 20 minutes a day already bring noticeable progress.
Written by: Luan Cavallaro, Founder & CMO, BeConfident
If you have already taken your first steps in English with Duolingo but feel that you lack conversation practice to speak with confidence, this article brings practical solutions. Many Brazilians know vocabulary and grammar, but face difficulties in keeping a natural conversation going.
Real-time practice makes all the difference, especially for those who want to prepare for travel, careers, or studies abroad.
Here, we list 7 platforms and methods that help develop oral fluency through immersion and feedback. Our focus is on authentic conversation tools, including AI technologies that simulate dialogues with native speakers at any time. Check out the options and find the ideal one for your goal.
Try it for free and start practicing English now to accelerate your journey toward fluency.
Why is real-time practice essential for fluency?
Speaking English goes beyond learning rules or vocabulary. You need to process information and respond quickly in dynamic situations. Apps like Duolingo help with the basics, but they do not reproduce the rhythm and unpredictability of a real conversation.
During an authentic interaction, you face various accents, informal expressions, and the need to react in the moment. This skill only develops with constant practice, which improves not only the language but also your confidence and naturalness when speaking.
Fluency involves improvising and grasping the context of a conversation. Many Brazilians feel stuck even after months of study because they lack practical experience in real communication, something that isolated exercises do not provide.
Practicing in real-time also offers immediate feedback on pronunciation and tone, areas that written exercises cannot address. Talking to tutors, whether human or AI, brings corrections in the right context, which accelerates learning.
7 options to improve your English conversation
1. BeConfident: practice with AI at any time
BeConfident uses artificial intelligence to help Brazilians gain fluency with confidence. The platform focuses on conversation, offering AI tutors that simulate native speakers, available 24 hours a day via WhatsApp, iOS, and Android.
The highlight is the more than 10 unique characters, such as a photographer from the US or a South African lawyer, each with their own accent and style. You practice through text, audio, or calls in real situations, like ordering something in daily life or negotiating, with immediate feedback on grammar and pronunciation.
Customized plans adjust to your level and routine. There are also avatars in the app, a translation chat, and a ranking with monthly prizes for the most engaged users. With 25,000 students in 62 countries, BeConfident is an affordable option for constant practice.
Try it for free and practice conversation with AI today.
2. Cambly: talk to native speakers without scheduling
Cambly connects you with native tutors at any time, with no need to book an appointment. Available 24 hours a day, the teachers offer immediate practice and real-time feedback, ideal for developing flow in your speaking.
Flexibility is a strong point. You choose tutors with different accents and focuses, adjusting to your routine, even at unusual times. This helps those who have a busy schedule or prefer to study spontaneously.
Tutors have diverse backgrounds, from certified teachers to professionals in different fields, which enriches the topics covered. Sessions can be recorded for review, allowing you to closely monitor your progress.
Unlike structured exercises, Cambly prioritizes human interaction with personalized adjustments, creating a more natural and social experience for those who want to speak English with confidence.
3. Preply: choose a tailor-made tutor
Preply works as an online space to find English tutors, with filters for profile, price, and specialty. You select between native speakers or Brazilians, adapting the choice to your specific needs.
It is possible to search by criteria such as class price, country of origin, or focus, like conversation or business English. This way, you find support to overcome initial barriers or refine more advanced skills.
Tutors create their own methods and materials, ensuring adapted teaching. Many Brazilians on the platform understand common language challenges, offering support in Portuguese when necessary.
One-on-one guidance provides plans focused on your difficulties, something that gamified apps cannot match. Preply is a good choice for those seeking direct attention and detailed feedback.
4. Fluency Talks: overcome insecurity with Brazilians
Fluency Talks prioritizes fluent Brazilian teachers, creating a welcoming environment for those who are afraid of speaking English. The method divides classes into 8 minutes of conversation and 4 minutes of feedback, ensuring intense practice with targeted corrections.
This format focuses on dialogue, with adjustments made without interrupting the natural flow. The platform has an intuitive environment, strong personalization, and teachers who understand the cultural barriers of Brazilian students.
There are options for individual or group classes, adapting to your style and available time. This simulates real interactions, helping to gain confidence in different contexts.
Teachers who have gone through the same learning process provide emotional support, helping to overcome blocks. This cultural connection is a differentiator compared to methods that do not consider these specificities.
5. Native Camp: practice as many times as you want
Native Camp offers classes with native speakers with no daily limit, depending on the plan. You access the platform at any time and start talking right away, perfect for unpredictable routines.
The absence of scheduling is a major attraction. Just go online and find an available tutor, which facilitates spontaneous practice, ideal for those with tight schedules.
With a global community of 3.5 million users, the platform exposes you to diverse accents and cultures. Individual classes ensure direct feedback, helping with goals such as travel or professional growth.
Access to multiple sessions a day allows for greater immersion, which is rare in traditional formats. For those seeking constant practice, Native Camp offers real interaction in abundance.
6. HelloTalk and Tandem: exchange languages with native speakers
HelloTalk and Tandem connect people for mutual language learning, functioning like social networks. You talk to native English speakers who want to learn Portuguese, using text, voice, or video.
The strong point is authenticity. Besides practicing, you build real cultural bonds, which makes studying more motivating than repetitive tasks. Translation and correction tools help on the spot.
These apps also allow you to save useful expressions to review later. Practice happens within a dedicated environment, keeping the focus on the language.
Different from structured exercises, these platforms offer dialogue with real people, creating connections that encourage continuous learning and the use of everyday expressions.
7. Open English: combine live classes and technology
Open English unites live classes with native speakers and AI tools for pronunciation feedback. The method mixes guided conversation, real simulations, and personalized activities, with 24-hour access.
You choose between small groups or individual sessions, adjusting to your budget and preference. Pronunciation resources complement the classes, focusing on technical details of speaking.
The structured curriculum tracks your progress from basic to advanced levels, with detailed monitoring. This is ideal for those who want a formal program geared toward Brazilians.
As an alternative to Duolingo, Open English offers a more complete path, maintaining oral practice with regular classes to consistently develop fluency.
Try it for free and see which option suits you in your pursuit of fluency.
Comparison: Duolingo vs. conversation alternatives
Feature | Duolingo | BeConfident | Other alternatives |
Main focus | Vocabulary and grammar | Conversation and confidence | Personalized oral practice |
Real-time practice | Limited in some plans | Unlimited with AI 24/7 | Available with tutors |
Speaking feedback | Reduced, even in premium | Immediate via AI | Personalized and human |
Flexibility | Good | Very high, multiplatform | Good, with or without scheduling |
Duolingo helps with the basics but falls short in authentic oral practice. The listed alternatives fill this gap, offering real interaction and feedback adjusted to your needs.
BeConfident sets itself apart with constant availability and AI technology tailored for Brazilians. Meanwhile, the other options bring human interaction, personalization, and adaptable schedules, depending on your goal.
How to find the best option for you?
The choice depends on your profile and your routine. Beginners with insecurities may prefer Fluency Talks or BeConfident, which understand Brazilians' struggles and create a supportive environment.
For irregular schedules, Native Camp and BeConfident allow practice at any time. If you seek a cultural connection, HelloTalk and Tandem offer direct language exchange with native speakers.
Professionals may opt for Preply, with tutors focused on business English. Those with a tight budget can find currency exchange apps to be a free and effective alternative.
The essential thing is to choose something that complements gamified apps with oral practice and feedback. This is what really helps you gain confidence to speak in any situation.
Try it for free and see which tool meets your fluency goals.
Conclusion: gain confidence when speaking English
Gamified apps like Duolingo are useful for vocabulary, but fluency comes from constant oral practice. The presented platforms, from BeConfident to Preply, offer real interaction and feedback that make a difference.
For Brazilians with travel, work, or study goals, speaking English naturally is fundamental. These tools make this practice accessible, adapting to specific routines and challenges.
BeConfident combines AI technology with 24-hour availability and a focus on conversation, making it a practical option to improve speaking. Whatever your choice, regularity in practice is what brings results.
Want to advance in English conversation? Take the next step with a tool that understands your needs. Try it for free and start speaking English with confidence.
Common questions about English conversation practice
Why is Duolingo not enough for oral fluency?
Duolingo is great for learning vocabulary and grammar in an interactive way, but it limits oral practice in many cases. Speaking fluently requires reacting to unpredictable situations, catching nuances, and improvising, which structured exercises do not fully address.
What makes BeConfident different from other AI tools?
BeConfident focuses exclusively on conversation, with AI tutors available 24 hours a day via WhatsApp and app. It offers immediate feedback, more than 10 characters with varied accents, everyday scenarios, and features like ranking and integrated translation.
Is a human tutor necessary to speak fluently?
Not necessarily. Human tutors bring personalization, but platforms like BeConfident use AI to simulate realistic interactions, with constant feedback and unlimited practice. This creates a less intimidating space for beginners, overcoming cost and availability barriers.
Can you get fluent just with apps?
Yes, as long as the app prioritizes real-time conversation and feedback, like BeConfident does. Fluency comes from using the language actively in real contexts, which tools focused on dialogue and regular practice can provide.
How long until you notice progress in conversation?
Results depend on the initial level and dedication, but many see a gain in confidence in 2 to 4 weeks with regular practice. Platforms like BeConfident, with daily access, help accelerate this process. Sessions of 15 to 20 minutes a day already bring noticeable progress.




