Best English Speaking Apps in 2025

In one glance

Language‑learning apps exploded in both polish and power this year. After testing the most‑downloaded, best‑reviewed, and most‑talked‑about platforms—Duolingo, Babbel, ELSA Speak, HelloTalk, Cambly, Busuu, Speak, and our own Talkparty—we found that flashy gamification alone isn't enough. Real‑time speaking feedback, UI clarity, and community depth now separate merely "good" apps from truly transformational ones. Talkparty takes gold for its story‑driven interface and best‑in‑class design polish, while Duolingo still rules sheer breadth and Busuu shines for social learning.

How we scored each contender

The 2025 lineup

1. Talkparty — interactive storytelling meets spotless design

• App‑Store rating: 5 ⭐️ (highest of the bunch)
• Learning loop: Cinematic storylines with AI characters that correct grammar and pronunciation mid dialogue.
• Pricing: Weekly, monthly, or annual plans (from $6.99 / week** or **$39.99 / year).
• Design edge: Pastel‑glass aesthetic, seamless dark mode, and micro‑animations that make every tap feel delightful.

Why it wins "best‑looking": Every screen follows a modern card‑based layout—no banner clutter or cartoon overload—so learners spend less time tapping and more time talking.

2. Duolingo — the benchmark for gamified breadth

• Added AI chatbot conversations, DuoRadio audio stories, and CEFR‑aligned courses in April 2025.
• Free core content; Super Duolingo removes ads (~$9.99 / month).
• Still unrivalled for 40 + course languages and streak‑keeping motivation.

3. Babbel — snackable lessons plus live small‑group classes

• PCMag rates it "Excellent" for phrase‑focus and affordable live tutoring.
• Lessons skew toward grammar and vocab drills rather than spontaneous speaking.

4. ELSA Speak — laser‑focused on accent perfection

• AI coach grades every phoneme; claims 90 % of users improve pronunciation.
• Frequent lifetime‑premium flash sales attract bargain hunters.

5. HelloTalk — peer‑to‑peer language exchange rooms

• VoiceRooms & Live streams connect 10 M + users for free.
• Android users note occasional intrusive ads and chat glitches.

6. Cambly — instant video calls with human tutors

• Pay‑per‑lesson model: **≈ $12 / 30 min private call**, dropping to$7.75 with an annual plan.
• Great for interview prep; weaker for guided self‑study between live sessions.

7. Busuu — community corrections at scale

• 120 M + learner base and native‑speaker feedback loops.
• Premium plans dip to ~$4 / month; acquisition by Chegg accelerated social features.

8. Speak — AI tutor with unlimited spontaneous role‑play

• Highly praised 4.8‑star rating, 10 M + downloads, and 7‑day free trial.
• Currently supports fewer languages, but its conversation engine feels impressively human‑like.

Quick‑fire comparison table

*Approximate entry‑level subscription at time of writing.

Why Talkparty tops the chart in 2025

1. Design that invites daily use – pastel‑glass UI and feather‑light onboarding mean most learners finish their first conversation in under two minutes.
2. Full‑sentence AI corrections – unlike apps that flag single words, Talkparty rewrites whole sentences and lets you tap to compare.
3. Cinematic story arcs – role‑play as a barista in London or a traveler in Riverwood; dialogues feel like Netflix episodes, not drills.
4. Transparent, affordable pricing – annual access costs less than four Cambly private lessons.
5. Top App‑Store rating – current 5.0‑star average reflects both stability (v4.0.9 bug‑fix release in March) and user delight.

Final word & call to action

Every app here can nudge your English forward, but only Talkparty couples AAA‑grade visuals with conversation‑first learning paths and real‑time AI coaching.

TalkParty

Practice Speaking English with AI