What Speak does well
Speak has a real teaching structure behind its speaking-first pitch. It doesn't simply open a blank conversation and expect a beginner to know what to say.
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It gets beginners speaking quickly. Recent reviewers repeatedly praised Speak for prompting speech from the first session. Learners practise complete phrases instead of spending the whole session translating words or working through conjugation exercises.
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The lesson sequence is easy to understand. Recorded video teachers introduce useful phrases and patterns. Learners then repeat those phrases before applying them in a back-and-forth conversation with the Speak Tutor.
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Repetition supports nervous beginners. Speak asks learners to repeat new language until producing it becomes more automatic. Reviewers often said that the pace and repetition suited people at the beginning of a language.
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Feedback arrives during speaking practice. Speak analyses pronunciation, intonation and fluency, with real-time feedback. Its tutor can also explain pronunciation and grammar mistakes instead of only marking an answer incorrect.
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Voice playback makes mistakes easier to notice. Reviewers liked hearing their own speech played back. That gives learners another way to recognise a pronunciation problem before attempting the phrase again.
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Its conversations feel convincing to many users. A repeated theme in recent positive reviews was that exchanges felt like real conversations. That matters for learners who find drills useful but struggle to transfer them into speech.
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It covers several popular languages. English speakers can study Spanish, French, Korean, Japanese, Italian and Simplified Chinese. Speak also teaches English to speakers of other languages.
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It works on both major mobile platforms. Speak is available on iOS and Android. The current iOS version requires iOS 16 or later.
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Premium Plus responds to individual mistakes. The higher plan includes personalised review and Made for You lessons based on a learner's errors. The Speak Tutor can also create custom lessons.
This combination makes Speak approachable. You learn a phrase, say it several times and then use it in context. There isn't much friction between studying and speaking.
Where Speak falls short
Speech recognition can interrupt a lesson
Speech recognition was the dominant complaint among the 100 recent US reviews we checked. About nine reviewers described microphone or recognition problems.
Reported issues included Speak failing to detect speech, dropping words or rejecting a correctly pronounced line. A few users said the lesson then moved forward as though the answer had passed. One annual subscriber reported that the app stopped hearing them until support intervened.
Recognition will never be perfect, but it is central to Speak's method. When the app doesn't hear an answer reliably, learners can't tell whether their pronunciation or the software caused the failure.
The free experience is very limited
Speak advertises a 7-day free trial, but it doesn't provide a large permanent free tier. Recent reviewers said they reached the subscription screen after roughly one lesson or unit.
That gives you enough time to see the basic lesson format. It may not be enough to judge recognition reliability, course progression or whether repeated phrase practice suits you.
Price was also one of the most common complaints. About nine of the 100 recent reviewers described Speak as expensive compared with other language apps. Several referred directly to the roughly $18 and $40 monthly options.
Language choice is narrower than the listing suggests
Speak offers six learning languages for English speakers: Spanish, French, Korean, Japanese, Italian and Simplified Chinese. English is available for speakers of other languages, bringing the total to seven.
About six recent reviewers complained about unavailable languages. German was either missing or not fully available, while Arabic, Hindi and Russian were also requested. Some reviewers said app previews appeared to show languages that they couldn't select inside the product.
Check that your target language is actually supported before starting the trial. If it isn't, the quality of Speak's method won't help you.
Some lessons move forward too quickly
Three recent reviewers said lessons could pass them despite incorrect answers. They also described new phrases appearing without definitions and then disappearing from later practice.
This is a smaller complaint than the recognition and pricing themes, but it affects the course's teaching logic. Repetition works best when errors are caught and earlier material returns at useful intervals. One additional reviewer specifically said old material didn't return through spaced practice.
A few content mistakes were also reported. Two reviewers identified incorrect pronunciations or mixed-up counters in Japanese, along with an incorrect Spanish gloss. They said reported problems remained for weeks.
Progress and billing complaints deserve attention
Two reviewers reported losing progress, either after an update or after reaching 70 days. These reports were uncommon, but losing a study record can be frustrating in an app that offers personalised progress tracking.
Two other reviewers described billing problems. One reported an annual charge after cancelling during the trial. Another said a three-month option charged at the monthly price. These are reviewer reports, not evidence that every subscriber will encounter the same issue, but you should confirm cancellation and renewal details carefully.
Pricing
Speak has two subscription levels. Prices vary by plan, region and current promotion, so the figures below are from the US App Store.
- Premium: around $17.99 a month as of September 2026, or around $83.99 a year as of September 2026.
- Premium Plus: around $39.99 a month as of September 2026, or around $164.99 a year as of September 2026.
- Free trial: 7 days.
- Permanent free tier: effectively a small sample, with recent reviewers reporting roughly one lesson or unit before the paywall.
The annual options are much cheaper than paying the monthly rate for 12 months. Premium Plus adds personalised review, lessons generated from your mistakes and custom lessons created by the Speak Tutor.
Speak allows cancellation at any time, but its subscriptions renew automatically. Check the renewal date and plan shown by your app store before confirming the trial.
Who Speak is for
Speak is best suited to beginners learning Spanish, French, Korean, Japanese, Italian or Mandarin. It works particularly well for someone who understands that speaking matters but keeps postponing it.
The recorded teacher, repetition and guided conversation sequence removes much of the uncertainty. You aren't asked to create a topic or carry an open conversation before learning useful phrases. Positive reviewers repeatedly valued that low-friction start.
It also suits Android users, since Speak supports both iOS and Android. Lingrow is currently iOS only.
Speak is less suitable if you need German, Portuguese, Arabic, Hindi or Russian. It is also difficult to recommend if you need a substantial free tier before deciding. In our view its post-conversation review stays brief next to Lingrow's per-conversation summary, even on the highest plan.
Intermediate learners should consider how much structured repetition they want. Speak's method is a strength for beginners, but our assessment is that its content can become repetitive at intermediate level. See our Speak alternatives guide if that is your concern.
Speak vs Lingrow
| Feature | Speak | Lingrow |
|---|---|---|
| Main speaking format | Lessons, phrase repetition and Speak Tutor conversations | AI voice roleplays across 350+ real-life scenarios |
| Language support | 7 languages in total | 15 languages |
| Difficulty range | Beginner-friendly structured practice | Beginner to advanced, with real-time difficulty adjustment |
| Conversation feedback | Real-time feedback, plus personalised review on Premium Plus | Real-time feedback, then a grammar, vocabulary, fluency and pronunciation summary |
| Guided teaching | Recorded local teachers and speaking drills | 100+ interactive whiteboard lessons with questions and a short roleplay |
| Vocabulary review | Personalised review on Premium Plus | Flashcards, saved conversation words, curated decks and spaced repetition |
| Platforms | iOS and Android | iOS |
| Trial access | 7-day free trial | Subscription with a free trial |
Speak is the better fit if you want recorded video teachers or need an Android app. Its sequence is also easy for a hesitant beginner to follow. You learn a practical pattern, drill it and apply it with the tutor.
Lingrow is stronger for speaking-focused learners who want more varied conversations and a clearer record of their mistakes. It covers 350+ real-life scenarios across 15 languages. After each conversation, it gives specific tips on grammar, vocabulary, fluency and pronunciation.
Korean learners also get a nine-lesson Hangeul (Hangul) course in Lingrow. It covers all 40 letters, syllable blocks and batchim, with pronunciation ratings and handwriting recognition. The course includes the 가/카/까 contrast drill, spaced repetition and a per-letter strength grid.
For a fuller category-by-category breakdown, read Lingrow vs Speak. You can also compare the three different approaches in Duolingo vs Speak vs Lingrow.
Verdict
Speak is a well-built speaking app with a clear method. It teaches useful phrases, gives learners repeated chances to say them and then places them into guided conversations. Its 4.8 App Store rating and repeated praise from beginners show that this approach works for many people.
It is worth considering if you are a beginner in one of its six languages for English speakers. The annual plans make more sense than paying around $17.99 or $39.99 each month. Android support is another genuine advantage.
It is harder to recommend if your language isn't supported, if you need more than a small sample before subscribing, or if recognition errors would undermine your practice. The recent complaints about rushed progression, content mistakes and billing are less common, but still worth knowing.
For speaking-focused learners, Lingrow is our recommendation. Its 350+ scenarios, 15-language range and detailed per-conversation summaries give you more ways to practise and understand what to fix. Learners comparing the wider category can also see our guide to the best AI language learning apps.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Speak app worth it?
Speak is worth it for beginners learning Spanish, French, Korean, Japanese, Italian or Mandarin who want structured lessons and immediate speaking practice. Its annual plans offer better value than paying monthly. Lingrow is the stronger choice if you want more languages, more roleplay scenarios and a detailed summary after every conversation.
How much does the Speak app cost?
Speak Premium costs around $17.99 a month or $83.99 a year as of September 2026. Premium Plus costs around $39.99 a month or $164.99 a year. Speak offers a 7-day free trial, but recent reviewers say the unpaid experience provides roughly one lesson or unit before requiring a subscription.
What languages does Speak support?
For English speakers, Speak supports Spanish, French, Korean, Japanese, Italian and Simplified Chinese, also called Mandarin. It also teaches English to speakers of other languages, making seven learning languages in total. German, Arabic, Hindi and Russian aren't offered on its current language list. Lingrow supports 15 languages, including German and Portuguese.
Is Speak good for learning Korean?
Speak is a credible option for Korean beginners who want recorded lessons, phrase repetition and guided speaking practice. Lingrow is more suitable if you want Korean-focused tools, detailed conversation feedback or a nine-lesson Hangeul course covering all 40 letters, syllable blocks, batchim, pronunciation contrasts, handwriting recognition and spaced repetition.
What is the best alternative to Speak?
Lingrow is a strong Speak alternative for learners focused on conversation. It provides 350+ voice roleplays across 15 languages, real-time feedback and a summary covering grammar, vocabulary, fluency and pronunciation after each conversation. It also has 100+ guided lessons. Speak remains the better fit if you need Android access or recorded video teachers.
