Speak Review: Features, Pricing & Alternatives

What is Speak?

Speak is a language learning app focused on speaking out loud. Its lessons teach phrases and patterns native speakers use, let you practise them in different contexts, and then apply them in open conversation with an AI tutor that gives real-time feedback on pronunciation and phrasing. English speakers can learn Spanish, French, Korean, Japanese, Italian and Mandarin Chinese, and learners worldwide use it to study English.

Speak is made by Speakeasy Labs, founded in 2016 by Connor Zwick and Andrew Hsu, who met as Thiel Fellows. It began with English learners and later added other languages. The company is backed by the OpenAI Startup Fund and has a partnership with OpenAI. In December 2024 it raised $78 million at a $1 billion valuation, led by Accel, according to TechCrunch.

Speak’s site reports more than 15 million downloads. What makes it different is how early and how often it makes you talk: speaking starts in the first lesson, and the paid Premium Plus tier adds custom lessons and the Speak Tutor for free-form conversation. It also sells plans for businesses that want to train staff in a language.

Key features of Speak

• Speaking-first lessonsEvery lesson asks you to say phrases aloud, so you practise producing the language rather than only recognising it.
• Real-time feedbackSpeech recognition scores your pronunciation and phrasing and suggests more natural ways to say things.
• Speak TutorAn AI tutor for open conversation on any topic, included in Premium Plus.
• Made for You lessonsPremium Plus creates custom lessons around situations you describe, such as a job interview.
• Personalised reviewThe app brings back phrases you struggled with so they stick.
• Speak for BusinessOrganisations can buy plans to train employees, with team management.

Who is Speak best for?

• Shy speakers who want to practise out loud without the pressure of a human partner.
• English learners who need daily conversation practice for work or study.
• Travellers and expats preparing for real conversations in Spanish, French, Japanese or Korean.
• Companies training staff in a second language at scale.

Popular ways to use Speak

• Job interview practice: Rehearse answers in English with a custom lesson.
• Travel phrases: Practise ordering and asking directions in Spanish before a trip.
• Pronunciation: Get feedback on difficult sounds in Korean or Mandarin.
• Daily conversation: Chat with the AI tutor for ten minutes every day.
• Team training: Give employees structured language practice through a business plan.

Speak pricing (October 2026)

Speak does not publish a public price list; prices are shown in the app and vary by region and promotion. The figures above are US App Store prices reported in August 2026, so check the app for your local price.

Speak pros and cons

How to get started with Speak

1. Download Speak on iOS or Android, or visit speak.com.
2. Choose the language you want to learn and your level.
3. Start the 7-day free trial and complete the first lessons.
4. Try a conversation with the AI tutor to judge the feedback.
5. Pick Premium or Premium Plus, ideally annual, before the trial ends.

Tips to get better results from Speak

• Use headphones with a microphone in a quiet room for better speech recognition.
• Describe real situations from your life for more useful custom lessons.
• Annual billing costs much less per month than monthly billing.
• Cancel in your app store settings before the trial ends if it is not for you.

Speak vs alternatives

Praktika also centres on speaking with AI tutors, using animated avatars and a wider language list, often at a lower price. Duolingo is cheaper and broader with a free tier, but its speaking practice is lighter unless you get Video Call.

General voice assistants such as ChatGPT and Gemini can hold spoken conversations, but they lack Speak’s structured curriculum and pronunciation scoring. For translation rather than practice, DeepL is a better tool. See all best AI education tools.

Our verdict: is Speak worth it?

Speak FAQs

Pricing and features change often. Details on this page were last reviewed in October 2026. Always confirm current plans on the official Speak website.