Source-backed analysis8
Review basis
Research-based review: the AppDuo Editorial Team compiled it from official pages, documentation, app stores, press and user feedback, without hands-on testing. Every claim links to a source with the date it was checked.
8 reference sourcesInformation updated Nov 10, 2026
How we review
ELSA Speak Review
AI-scored English pronunciation and speaking practice
By AppDuo Editorial Team · Updated
- iOS
- Android
- Web
On this page
Decide at a glance
Our verdict
ELSA Speak suits learners who want sound-by-sound pronunciation feedback, and it is rated highly on both the App Store and Google Play. The trade-offs are Premium's high list price, prices that vary by sales channel, and voice-data terms with no retention period.
Best for: Learners who want automated daily feedback on pronunciation and intonation
Skip it if: Learners who need structured grammar and vocabulary from the basics, or live conversation with people
Pros
- AI scores five areas: pronunciation, intonation, fluency, grammar and vocabulary
- Highly rated: 4.7/5 on the App Store (114K+ ratings) and 4.6/5 on Google Play (about 1.02M reviews)
- Pro covers about 40,000 exercises, 7,000 lessons and 190 topics
Cons
- The free tier is very limited: 3 ELSA AI uses and a 30-minute Speech Analyzer trial
- List and promotional prices differ widely, and ELSA's own pages show different figures
All pros and cons · Who is it for?
Pros
- A free tier to try it, plus lifetime options alongside yearly plans
Cons
- No retention period for voice recordings; the privacy notice says some data was 'sold' or 'shared' in the past 12 months
Best for
- People preparing for IELTS, TOEIC or English job interviews (Premium)
Problems it solves
Experience & key features
ELSA Speak is an English-learning app focused on pronunciation and speaking; ELSA stands for English Language Speech Assistant. The company's about page says Vu Van and speech technologist Dr. Xavier Anguera launched it in 2015. It runs on iOS and Android, with a free placement test on the web.
According to Voicebot.ai (2021), the app uses automatic speech recognition to break sentences into individual sounds, pinpoint errors and give near real-time feedback, with a model trained on non-native accents. ELSA's Vietnamese homepage lists five scored areas: pronunciation, intonation, fluency, grammar and vocabulary.
ELSA's comparison page says the free tier has only 3 ELSA AI trial uses and a 30-minute Speech Analyzer trial. Pro covers about 40,000 exercises, 7,000 lessons and 190 topics; Premium adds Speech Analyzer, the bilingual AI coach and IELTS/TOEIC courses. In Vietnam, pricing is currently on promotion: one year of Pro for 495,000 VND and one year of Premium for 999,000 VND (list 2,745,000 VND). On the US App Store, paid options run from $19.99/month to $129.99/year.
ELSA fits people who want clear pronunciation feedback. For broader multi-skill study, compare Duolingo or Speak; for exam prep, compare Prep or STUDY4. Check the price at checkout before paying, since ELSA's own pages list different figures.
Screenshots
Plans & pricing
Prices last verified Nov 10, 2026
Free
PersonalFree
Per ELSA's plan comparison page, the free tier has only 3 trial uses of ELSA AI and a 30-minute Speech Analyzer trial; dictionary and pronunciation scoring are limited.
ELSA Pro
Personal₫41,250/mo
495,000 VND/year on promotion (list 1,595,000 VND), about 41,250 VND/month. Includes the learning path, Pronunciation Coach, AI Tutor and dictionary; excludes Speech Analyzer, the bilingual AI coach and IELTS/TOEIC courses. Lifetime: 1,199,000 VND (list 3,395,000 VND).
ELSA Premium
Personal₫83,250/mo
999,000 VND/year on promotion (list 2,745,000 VND), about 83,250 VND/month. Everything in Pro plus Speech Analyzer, the bilingual AI coach, IELTS/TOEIC courses and limited Interview Coach and Meeting Coach access. 3 months: 668,000 VND (list 1,555,000 VND); lifetime: 3,400,000 VND (list 6,800,000 VND).
- Free plan limits
- The free tier covers basic features only, with limited dictionary and pronunciation scoring; ELSA AI is capped at 3 trial uses.
- Free trial
- No free trial
Cancellation & refunds
The pricing page states no refund terms and only links to a 'conversion and cancellation policy' in the footer. App Store and Google Play purchases follow the store's refund policy.
Privacy
ELSA's privacy notice (last updated March 2025) says it may collect user content, including audio and video recordings. Data may be shared with service providers (transcription, analysis, session recording), approved not-for-profit researchers using pseudonymised data, and parties to a merger or acquisition. The notice also says that in the past 12 months ELSA 'sold' or 'shared' internet activity, geolocation and commercial information; users can opt out by email. No retention period is set for voice recordings. Erasure requests go to [email protected], but ELSA may refuse or keep some data where needed.
ELSA Speak alternatives
7.8/10Duolingo
Bite-sized daily language lessons with streaks and leaderboards
6.8/10Speak
Speaking-first language app with an AI tutor and instant feedback
Frequently asked questions
Is ELSA Speak free?
There is a free tier, but it is very limited: 3 ELSA AI trial uses, a 30-minute Speech Analyzer trial, and limited dictionary and scoring. Full access needs Pro or Premium.
What is the difference between ELSA Pro and ELSA Premium?
According to ELSA's pricing table, both include the learning path, Pronunciation Coach, AI Tutor and dictionary. Premium adds Speech Analyzer, the bilingual AI coach, IELTS/TOEIC courses and limited Interview Coach and Meeting Coach access.
How does ELSA store and share my voice recordings?
The privacy notice says ELSA may collect recordings and share data with service providers and some researchers (pseudonymised), with no retention period stated. Erasure requests go to [email protected].
Which platforms is ELSA Speak on?
iOS and Android, plus a free web placement test linked from the homepage.
Review evidence & sources8
Scores
- Ease of use
- 8.0
- Features
- 7.5
- Value for money
- 6.5
- Performance
- 7.5
- Support
- 6.5
- Privacy & security
- 5.5
Why this score
A learning path and daily tasks, and a 4.7/5 App Store rating; no source reports usability problems. The interface is English-only.
Why this score
Strong on pronunciation, with AI Tutor from Pro up, but narrowly focused on speaking; Speech Analyzer, the bilingual AI coach and IELTS/TOEIC courses are Premium-only.
Why this score
Pro at 495,000 VND/year on promotion is reasonable, but Premium lists at 2,745,000 VND/year and prices vary by channel: the US App Store lists yearly options from $71.00 to $129.99.
Why this score
Updated regularly (latest App Store version on 9 Nov 2026) with consistently high ratings; there is no independent benchmark of its scoring accuracy.
Why this score
The homepage lists hotline 1900 633 413 and [email protected], but no chat or response-time commitment.
Why this score
Erasure can be requested, but there is no retention period for recordings, data may go to providers and researchers, and the notice says activity and geolocation data was 'sold' or 'shared' in the past 12 months.
What users say
- App Store (US)4.7/5 · 114,613
- Google Play4.6/5 · 1,020,000
Sources
- Vendor-providedELSA Speak Việt Nam - trang chủ chính thứcNov 10, 2026
- Vendor-providedELSA - báo giá học phí các gói (cập nhật 2/11/2026)Nov 10, 2026
- Vendor-providedELSA - so sánh Premium, Pro và FreeNov 10, 2026
- Vendor-providedELSA - Privacy NoticeNov 10, 2026
- Vendor-providedELSA - About us (timeline)Nov 10, 2026
- storeApp Store listing (US)Nov 10, 2026
- storeGoogle Play listingNov 10, 2026
- pressVoicebot.ai (2021-02-05) - ELSA closes $15M funding roundNov 10, 2026
Specs & compatibility
- Developer
- ELSA Corp
- Headquarters
- United States
- Launched
- 2015
- Category
- Education
Capabilities
- AI features
- Mobile app
Platforms
- iOS
- Android
- Web
Interface languages
- English
Support
- Phone
- Help center
Change history
- Company.A Japanese subsidiary opens in Tokyo (2023; year only).
- Feature.Speech Analyzer and ELSA for Students launch (2022; year only).
- Company.ELSA raises a $15M Series B led by Vietnam Investments Group and SIG, bringing total funding to $27M; it reports 13M+ users.
Full change history (6)
- Feature.ELSA Pro and ELSA Dashboard launch (the about page gives 2021 only).
- Launch.The iOS app is first released on the App Store.
- Launch.ELSA Speak officially launches (the about page gives the year only).
About the author
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