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

ELSA Speak vs Praktika

ELSA Speak 4.8★ · Free + IAP 60
Winner Praktika
Praktika 4.8★ · Free + IAP 65

Praktika has a slight edge due to its more consistent AI performance and better user experience, despite both apps facing significant issues with recent updates and subscription management.

Full reviews: ELSA Speak · Praktika

Both ELSA Speak and Praktika offer AI-powered language learning, but recent updates have caused significant user frustration for ELSA Speak, particularly with its new AI interface and numerous bugs. Praktika, while not without its own issues, generally provides a more functional conversational experience and better customer support, though both struggle with subscription transparency and accent diversity.

Head to head

Features & AI Performance edge: PraktikaR1R5R7R9
ELSA Speak ELSA Speak's recent update to an AI-based system has been widely criticized, with users reporting a "terrible" and "horrible" experience, preferring the old interface R7R9R13. Many users find the new AI distracting and not user-friendly, with issues like excessive clicking and difficulty navigating daily lessons R5R9. There are also complaints about the AI not understanding pronunciation, giving inaccurate scores, and having bugs in lessons R1R12R28. The app is primarily focused on American English, disappointing users who want to learn British English or other accents R21R27R30R39.
Praktika Praktika is praised for its AI teacher and conversational practice, with users finding it helpful for improving speaking and diction . The ability to adjust speaking speed and set strictness levels for correction is appreciated . However, the AI is not perfect, with some users reporting it speaks too fast, sounds robotic or unnatural, or even gives incorrect answers . There are also complaints about the AI giving positive feedback even when nothing is said . Users also report issues with accent consistency, with American accents appearing when other accents are selected .
Ease of Use & Reliability tieR6R9R11R12
ELSA Speak ELSA Speak users report numerous bugs, including the app freezing, losing progress, not listening, and issues with buttons R6R12R13R16. Many struggle with login issues, being unable to sign in after paying for subscriptions, or getting stuck in verification loops R23R37. The app is also noted as not being compatible with iPads, as it doesn't rotate R11. Some users find the interface not user-friendly and the app slow R9R16.
Praktika Praktika also has reliability issues, with users reporting audio stopping, progress disappearing after updates, and problems with syncing to new phones . Login and password reset issues are common . Some users find the need to press and hold a button to speak frustrating, wishing for a hands-free option . The app can be slow, and some find the interface tedious . There are also reports of the app trying to charge users again after initial purchase or free trials .
Price & Value tieR4R12R25R31
ELSA Speak ELSA Speak is criticized for its pricing and subscription practices. Users report being charged for updates after paying for a yearly subscription, automatic charges after trials without reminders, and difficulty getting refunds R4R25R40. Some users find the app expensive, especially given the bugs and poor experience R12R25R37R40. There are also complaints about being unable to upgrade from lifetime pro to premium without paying for more content R31.
Praktika Praktika also faces significant criticism regarding its subscription model and charges. Users report being charged for annual subscriptions after free trials without notification, and difficulty obtaining refunds . There are complaints about being charged again after purchasing, or for accounts they no longer have access to . The yearly subscription is noted as not cheap , and some users feel the cost for additional characters is too high .
Customer Support tieR12R23R28R37
ELSA Speak ELSA Speak users report difficulty finding options to report issues within the app R12R28. There are also complaints about customer service refusing refunds after automatic charges R40. Some users who paid for subscriptions report being unable to access the service and finding no clear support or quick fix R23R37.
Praktika Praktika's customer support is described as "abysmal" and "non-existent" . Users report contacting support for issues like audio not working or incorrect language settings, but receiving no response or only chatbot replies . There are also complaints about support directing users to Apple for refunds instead of handling it themselves .
Pick ELSA Speak if

you are primarily focused on American English pronunciation practice and are willing to navigate a potentially buggy and recently updated AI interface .

Pick Praktika if

you prioritize a conversational AI experience for language learning and are looking for an app that allows adjustment of speaking speed and strictness levels, despite some AI and accent inconsistencies .

Evidence note: Both apps have a high lifetime rating, but recent reviews for ELSA Speak are heavily skewed negative due to a significant update, indicating a potential decline in user satisfaction. Praktika also has many negative reviews, particularly concerning subscription issues and AI inconsistencies, but its core conversational feature is still praised by a segment of users.

Frequently asked

Which app is better for British English learners?
Neither ELSA Speak nor Praktika are ideal for British English learners, as both apps primarily focus on American English or have inconsistencies with British accents R21R27R30R39.
Do these apps offer free trials or free tiers?
Both ELSA Speak and Praktika offer free tiers or trials, but users frequently report issues with automatic charges after trials end without notification, leading to unexpected annual subscription fees R4R40R54.
Are there many bugs in ELSA Speak or Praktika?
Both apps have numerous bugs reported by users; ELSA Speak users frequently mention freezing, lost progress, recognition issues, and login problems R6R12R13R16, while Praktika users report audio problems, progress loss, and login failures .

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. [R1] ELSA Speak 1/5 · US Speak not work: This version has failed when i tried speak, not at all
  2. [R5] ELSA Speak 5/5 · US Great practice, but excessive clicking.: Please minimize clicking steps to proceed.
  3. [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 ?
  4. [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.
  5. [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
  6. [R11] ELSA Speak 4/5 · US The app is not compatible with iPads.: The app is not compatible with iPads; for example, the app does not rotate when the iPad is held horizontally.
  7. [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.
  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. [R25] ELSA Speak 1/5 · US This app Is a joke: By mistake I download it and they charged me 126 and I called because was a mistake and never refund it the money also is better Duolingo 100 times
  10. [R31] ELSA Speak 1/5 · US Outdated: Totally outdated, impossible to upgrade from lifetime pro to premium, so many content to pay. So bad I don’t use it
  11. [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
  12. [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
  13. [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.
  14. [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
  15. [R27] ELSA Speak 3/5 · GB Bring British RP accent: Like many regretting not being able to choose between US accent and UK accent
  16. [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
  17. [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
  18. [R17] ELSA Speak 5/5 · US Version gratis: Es muy buena para el speak y pronunciation
  19. [R40] ELSA Speak 1/5 · US 1-Star Review: Very Disappointing Experience: I’m extremely disappointed with ELSA Speak. They care more about money than their customers. They do not send any reminders before the trial period ends, and as soon as it expires, they automatically charge you without warning. When I reached out for a refund, they refused to return my money. It feels like they just keep the money and don’t care about
  20. [R54] ELSA Speak 3/5 · GB A reminder to myself: I’ve removed this app because it wanted my money straight away, and there were no way not to pay.
  21. [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:
  22. [R16] ELSA Speak 1/5 · US The last update is just horrible!: Not user friendly interface, a lot of bugs.

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