Verithiathe honest score on any app
Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

Preply vs Speak

Preply 4.8★ · Free + IAP 60
Winner Speak
Speak 4.8★ · Free + IAP 85

Speak is the better choice for those seeking an immersive and conversational language learning experience, especially for Spanish, despite its pricing concerns.

Full reviews: Preply · Speak

Speak offers an immersive and conversational approach to language learning, with many users finding it more effective than competitors like Duolingo for real-life speaking. However, its pricing structure and limited free content are significant drawbacks for some. Preply's reviews were not provided, making a direct comparison on all dimensions challenging.

Head to head

Features and Learning Effectiveness edge: SpeakR1R10R16R20
Preply No reviews were provided for Preply, so its features and learning effectiveness cannot be assessed from the given data.
Speak Speak is praised for its immersive and conversational learning approach, helping users speak more comfortably and naturally R10. Many users find it more effective than Duolingo for real-life conversations and practical vocabulary R35R39R44. It breaks down language into bite-sized, manageable lessons . Some users specifically highlight its effectiveness for Spanish R20. However, some users note issues with the microphone pickup in noisy environments and wish for downloadable lessons for offline use . There are also complaints about the lack of certain languages like Russian and Arabic R1R16.
Ease of Use and User Experience edge: SpeakR3R10R14R18
Preply No reviews were provided for Preply, so its ease of use and user experience cannot be assessed from the given data.
Speak Speak is described as seamless, intuitive, and easy to navigate R10. Users appreciate the ability to repeat lessons to reinforce learning R18. However, some users report difficulty in adjusting their starting level, finding the initial lessons too basic, and receiving no response from customer service regarding this issue R3. One user also mentioned the app 'talks too much' R14.
Price and Value tieR6R9R11R15
Preply Preply is listed as Free + IAP, but no reviews were provided to detail user perceptions of its pricing or value.
Speak Speak is frequently criticized for its pricing and perceived lack of free content. Many users feel that too much content is locked behind a paywall after only one free lesson or a short trial R6R9R15. There are complaints about the high cost of subscriptions, with one user being charged $83.99 after a free trial despite expecting a monthly rate of $6.99 R6R11. Some users feel the pricing is not clearly communicated R11. Despite the cost, some users find the value worth it for the learning they achieve R20.
Customer Support and Reliability tieR3R11R13
Preply No reviews were provided for Preply, so its customer support and reliability cannot be assessed from the given data.
Speak Experiences with Speak's customer support are mixed. One user reported a positive experience with a kind and quick support team that processed a full refund for an unexpected charge R11. However, another user stated they reached out twice to customer service about adjusting their learning level and received no response R3. There are also complaints about difficulty canceling subscriptions and payments being directly charged without appearing in app store subscriptions or receipts R13.
Pick Preply if

You are looking for a platform that offers a different approach to language learning, potentially with more flexibility or tutor options, though specific details are unavailable from the provided reviews.

Pick Speak if

You want an immersive and conversational language learning experience, especially for Spanish, and are willing to pay for a subscription to gain access to its full features R20. You prioritize learning practical, real-life conversation skills over gamified learning R39.

Evidence note: The comparison is heavily one-sided as no reviews were provided for Preply. The assessment of Speak is based solely on its user reviews, while Preply's standing is inferred only from its lifetime rating and app store category.

Frequently asked

Is Speak better than Duolingo?
Many Speak users claim it is better than Duolingo, stating they learned more Spanish faster and found Speak's approach more effective for real-life conversations and practical vocabulary compared to Duolingo's gamified style R35R37R39R44.
How much does Speak cost?
Speak offers a free trial but then requires a subscription, with users reporting costs such as $83.99 after a one-week trial, although some expected a monthly rate of $6.99 R6R11. The premium plus option is more expensive and offers targeted mistake help R6.
What languages does Speak offer?
Speak offers languages like Spanish, Chinese, Portuguese, German, and Japanese, but some users have noted the absence of Russian and Arabic R1R12R16R23.

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 50 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] Speak 1/5 · US No Russian: I saw the ad showing that this app was better than Duolingo, but I was disappointed to find that Russian was not available.
  2. [R10] Speak 5/5 · US Speak app is amazing!!: Just downloaded the app and I’ve got to say honest review it’s very seamless and intuitive. I appreciate the level of tact it has and realistic approach at helping you learn a new language, HIGHLY RECOMMEND for those wanting to learn multi languages and experience an immersive experience.
  3. [R16] Speak 4/5 · US Arabic language: Why there is no Arabic native language? Please add it
  4. [R20] Speak 5/5 · US Tried a lot of Spanish apps. This is one of the best.: My problem has always been sticking to the program. There’s something about this app. It just hits all the right notes and gets me excited to use it. They’ve put a lot of thought into choosing vocabulary and situations that actually match up with real life. This and dreaming Spanish have become a real powerful combo for me and I can feel my Sp
  5. [R3] Speak 3/5 · US No way to start at appropriate level: The instruction method is good, but it should test better so you can start at your appropriate level. It started me at “Hello, my name is. . .” which is way, way too basic for my level. I’ve reached out twice to customer service to see if there is a way to adjust, but I’ve received no response. I’m frustrated at this point and I regret spending money on the s
  6. [R14] Speak 5/5 · US Loveeee itt: I like it I mean, it did help me. It just talks too much but generally, I do love it cause then now I can finally learn how to have real conversation
  7. [R18] Speak 5/5 · US I love it: I love the fact that I can keep repeating the lessons. Really helps before I begin a new lesson. Especially going into the next day.
  8. [R6] Speak 3/5 · US Expensive: I had one lesson that was free and then prompted to upgrade or free trial. I was surprised at the cost. The premium plus is more expensive but offered targeted mistake help… like, that’s the point of learning ? It’s not much cheaper to pay a year in advance .
  9. [R9] Speak 2/5 · US Money: Everything costs money. Down download this if you arnt willing to spend money in order to learn to talk to family.
  10. [R11] Speak 2/5 · US Charged me a crazy amount of money!!: I realized you had to pay to do lessons, and the subscription info said it was 6.99/month. But no, after one week of a free trial, they charged me $83.99. Luckily the support team was very kind and quick with getting me a full refund, but please don’t get this app unless you are really wanting to spend lots to learn a language. Please, for future updates, make
  11. [R15] Speak 1/5 · US Locked behind payment: Was so excited to finally find an app that I can actually learn a language without paying just to get to the second lesson and it asks for money
  12. [R13] Speak 1/5 · US Subscription: The subscription doesn’t show in the App Store during the trial period and there is no way to cancel it. It doesn’t show the payment under receipts either. The company directly charges your card , and requesting a refund is difficult at best.
  13. [R35] Speak 5/5 · US Amazing: This is better than Duolingo by A MILE
  14. [R37] Speak 5/5 · US Spanish so far your app is doing better Dulongo: Thank you for your app
  15. [R39] Speak 5/5 · US This is a great app: it didn't teach me random phrases like duolingo it taught me things i could actually use in rel life experience 5 starts
  16. [R44] Speak 5/5 · US Better than DuoLingo: I feel like I learned more Spanish than ever after like 15 minutes of using this app compared to Duolingo
  17. [R12] Speak 5/5 · US Speak: This is the best app to use to learn Spanish, Chinese, or Portuguese or German or any other language
  18. [R23] Speak 5/5 · US I love it: I didn’t really understand Japanese and now I can talk to others anytime!

Synthesized from 50 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store