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Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

ELSA Speak vs EWA

ELSA Speak 4.8★ · Free + IAP 65
Winner EWA
EWA 4.7★ · Free + IAP 70

ELSA Speak is better for pronunciation practice, but EWA offers a more engaging and varied learning experience, particularly with its book and video content, despite significant issues with subscription management.

Full reviews: ELSA Speak · EWA

ELSA Speak excels in pronunciation practice, though recent updates have caused user frustration and bugs. EWA offers a more diverse learning experience with books and videos, but faces severe criticism regarding subscription cancellation and customer support.

Head to head

Features and Content edge: EWAR7R9R13R16
ELSA Speak ELSA Speak is highly praised for its pronunciation and speaking practice, with many users finding it very useful for improving their English skills R17. However, recent updates have introduced an AI-based tutor that some users find distracting and less user-friendly than the previous interface R7R9R13R16. There are also complaints about the lack of British English accent options, with the app primarily focusing on American English R21R27R30R39.
EWA EWA is appreciated for its variety of learning methods, including books with audio, flashcards, and video clips from TV and movies . Users enjoy the interactive nature and repetition . However, some find the video clips muffled and hard to understand . There are also requests for British accent narrators and more advanced content, as the beginner levels can be too basic even for intermediate learners .
Ease of Use and Reliability tieR1R5R6R9
ELSA Speak ELSA Speak has faced significant issues with bugs and reliability, particularly after recent updates. Users report the speaking function not working, the app freezing, losing progress, and general instability R1R6R12R13. Some users also find the new interface distracting and not user-friendly, with excessive clicking steps R5R9R13R16. There are also complaints about sign-up verification loops and login issues R37.
EWA EWA users report issues with the microphone not working for speech recognition . Some experience words repeating in the dictionary even after being studied and a time lag with sound and page turnovers in books . The app also has issues working with VPNs and some find the language test in the intro to be inaccurate . Users mention the app sticking or freezing .
Price and Value tieR4R10R12R17
ELSA Speak ELSA Speak has a free version that users find good for pronunciation R17. However, paid users report issues with subscriptions, including being charged for updates after paying for a year R4, difficulty upgrading R10, and being locked out of paid services R23R37. Some users feel the cost is high for the experience, especially with bugs R12. There are also complaints about automatic charges after trials without reminders and refusal of refunds .
EWA EWA users frequently report significant problems with subscriptions and billing. Many state it is impossible to cancel subscriptions, leading to continued charges even after cancellation attempts R61R73. Some users were charged more than the advertised price . There are also complaints about not receiving paid services or losing progress despite paying . The free version is noted to have frequent ads .
Customer Support edge: ELSA SpeakR12R23R28R37
ELSA Speak ELSA Speak users report difficulty finding options to report issues within the app R12R28. Some users who paid for subscriptions and encountered problems, such as being locked out or charged incorrectly, express frustration with a lack of resolution R23R37. One user mentioned being charged automatically after a trial and refused a refund .
EWA EWA receives widespread criticism for its customer support. Users report that support does not respond to emails, makes it impossible to talk to someone, provides insufficient instructions for cancellation, and is disorganized R61R73R79. Many complaints state that support refuses refunds even for recent charges or within the stated refund period .
Pick ELSA Speak if

You prioritize improving your English pronunciation and speaking skills and are willing to navigate potential bugs or recent interface changes R17.

Pick EWA if

You prefer a varied learning experience that includes reading books with audio, flashcards, and video clips from TV and movies, and are comfortable with the risk of subscription management issues .

Evidence note: Both apps have a significant number of negative reviews regarding billing and subscription cancellation, making it a critical point of comparison. ELSA Speak's recent negative reviews heavily focus on bugs and interface changes, while EWA's negative reviews are overwhelmingly about subscription issues and poor customer support.

Frequently asked

Can I cancel my subscription easily with EWA?
No, many users report extreme difficulty canceling their EWA subscriptions, with claims of continued charges even after cancellation attempts and unresponsive customer support R61R73R79R82.
Does ELSA Speak support British English accents?
ELSA Speak primarily focuses on American English, and many users express disappointment about the lack of options to practice or learn with a British accent R21R27R30R39.
Are there many bugs in ELSA Speak?
Yes, recent updates to ELSA Speak have led to numerous reports of bugs, including the speaking function not working, the app freezing, losing progress, and general instability R1R6R12R13.

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 120 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

  1. [R7] ELSA Speak 1/5 · US Nueva Actualización IA: La app me encantaba, recientemente hicieron que sea por medio de una IA y la experiencia es pésima, quiero regresar a la versión antigua, como hago ?
  2. [R9] ELSA Speak 3/5 · US Horrible update: I’ve been using the app since 2021 and I honestly preferred the earlier user interface that had. the planets. This new 2025 update is distracting and not user friendly. I liked just logging in and seeing my daily lessons rather than this AI tutor asking me what I would like to do for the day . I probably won’t renew my pro subscription.
  3. [R13] ELSA Speak 2/5 · US Terrible update: congrats, you managed to ruin it finally. It needed improvements with recognition and transcription fixing, but you decided to trash it instead, preserving all old glitches and massacaruing interface. Who was qa who tested simple buttons of choosing between saying again and continue?! It would be nice to get a refund for this year, I didn't subscribe for this! Update from today:
  4. [R16] ELSA Speak 1/5 · US The last update is just horrible!: Not user friendly interface, a lot of bugs.
  5. [R1] ELSA Speak 1/5 · US Speak not work: This version has failed when i tried speak, not at all
  6. [R5] ELSA Speak 5/5 · US Great practice, but excessive clicking.: Please minimize clicking steps to proceed.
  7. [R6] ELSA Speak 3/5 · US Se bloquea: He tenido que eliminar la aplicación y volverla a instalar debido a que en ocasiones no escucha o se traba, además de que pierde el progreso de lo que ya se inició y es difícil volver a llegar a él
  8. [R4] ELSA Speak 1/5 · US It is a trash: I got this app paid over 2 hundred per year, after a few months doesn’t le me use if I don’t pay for updates is crazy
  9. [R10] ELSA Speak 1/5 · US I can’t upgrade: When I press the upgrade button it doesn’t let me pay
  10. [R12] ELSA Speak 3/5 · US Great idea, but needs development: This app is really interesting, but it needs quite a bit of work. Almost all the lessons have bugs, and it’s hard to make progress through them. I couldn’t find an option to report this issue within the app, so I’m leaving my feedback here. It’s a bit frustrating because, for the cost, you’d expect a smoother experience.
  11. [R17] ELSA Speak 5/5 · US Version gratis: Es muy buena para el speak y pronunciation
  12. [R23] ELSA Speak 4/5 · US Me suscribí por una año y ahora no puedo entrar: Quería informarles que me suscribí por Apple y me fue descontada la suscripción y hoy dice que se me terminaron las lecciones gratis, pero yo pagué por un año, me pueden ayudar ? No es justo que jueguen con las personas y le quite. Su dinero
  13. [R28] ELSA Speak 1/5 · US Lecciones con errores: Hay lecciones que no te entiende y no te deja escribir en ningun lado para reportarlo, se vuelve frustrante te hace perder tiempo te pone baja evaluación y no avanzas! Te quita las ganas de seguir adelante
  14. [R37] ELSA Speak 2/5 · US I can’t sign in: I paid for a one-year subscription, but I cannot sign in to the app. Every time I try to log in, it doesn’t work, and I’m completely locked out of a service I already paid for. I’ve tried reinstalling the app and checking my login details, but nothing helps. There is no clear support or quick fix, which is very frustrating for a paid subscription.
  15. [R61] EWA 1/5 · US DO NOT RISK SUBSCRIBING: DO NOT subscribe. This subscription CANNOT BE CANCELED and they DO NOT RESPOND TO EMAILS. They will keep taking your money indefinitely. NOT WORTH THE RISK.
  16. [R73] EWA 1/5 · US Deceitful Subscription Program: This app will continue to steal money from you even after you cancel your subscription. They use a third party payment company called paddle.net and make it impossible to talk to someone or get this matter cancelled. Do not recommend this app.
  17. [R79] EWA 1/5 · US Cannot cancel: Don’t subscribe!! They use a third party reseller for the subscription. Once you subscribe, you don’t have access to to your own account to cancel like a normal app. I have messaged both EWA and the third party reseller multiple times, and am still not cancelled.
  18. [R82] EWA 1/5 · US impossible to unsubscribe: An app that’s impossible to unsubscribe from, I’ve been writing to them for years, yet they keep charging me. There is absolutely no way to cancel through the app! I wouldn't recommend it to anyone! It’s a total scam!
  19. [R21] ELSA Speak 3/5 · GB Cannot change the accent: The concept is great but however while there is the option to select different accent, the conversations and pronunciations seems to always be in American English which is really annoying if trying to improve British pronunciation
  20. [R27] ELSA Speak 3/5 · GB Bring British RP accent: Like many regretting not being able to choose between US accent and UK accent
  21. [R30] ELSA Speak 3/5 · GB Dear Elsa: ‏ been using Elsa Speak and find it very useful for improving my pronunciation. However, I have noticed that the app primarily focuses on American English. As a learner who prefers British pronunciation, I would like to suggest adding a British accent option to the app. ‏This would be extremely helpful for users who want to learn and practice British English. I hope you will consider
  22. [R39] ELSA Speak 3/5 · GB Not for people who want to learn British English: It is all about American English but as I live in the UK, it is useless

Synthesized from 120 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store