ELSA Speak Review: Honest Look at Its Features, Pricing, and Limitations

AI-powered language learning apps are everywhere today, each claiming to speed up your progress and make learning more natural. ELSA Speak is one of the most recognizable names in pronunciation training for English learners. But does it actually deliver real improvement, or is it more style than substance?

What Is ELSA Speak?

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ELSA Speak is an AI-driven app designed to help English learners improve their pronunciation and speak more clearly. Unlike many apps that cover reading, writing, listening, and speaking equally, ELSA focuses almost entirely on pronunciation.

When you first open the app, you take a speech assessment where you read aloud a set of sentences. The AI then scores your performance and pinpoints problem areas. From there, ELSA builds a series of lessons targeting those weaknesses.

While this specialization can be helpful for learners who struggle with accent clarity, it also means ELSA doesn’t offer a full, balanced path for all aspects of language learning.

Features of ELSA Speak

ELSA Speak’s features revolve around AI-powered pronunciation correction and short, focused practice sessions.

AI Speech Assessment

The first step is a quick speaking test. ELSA’s AI analyzes your pronunciation, intonation, and rhythm, giving you an overall score and highlighting sounds that need improvement.

Sound-by-Sound Lessons

Lessons target individual sounds (like “th” or “v”), words, and sentences. You listen to a model, repeat it, and receive instant feedback showing how close your pronunciation is to native speech.

Contextual Practice

ELSA includes short dialogues, idioms, and topic-based sentences so you can practice in more natural contexts. However, these are scripted and don’t allow for free-flowing conversation.

Progress Tracking

The app tracks your pronunciation scores over time, showing which sounds have improved. While motivating, it only measures speaking clarity, not vocabulary growth, grammar, or listening comprehension.

Multi-Accent Support

Some exercises allow you to practice with different English accents, such as American or British. This can be useful for learners aiming for a specific accent style.

While ELSA’s tools are precise, they are also limited. The app doesn’t adapt to conversational changes, offers no true dialogue practice, and focuses narrowly on pronunciation without integrating other key skills.

Pricing

ELSA Speak offers a free version with limited daily exercises, but most advanced features require a paid plan. Prices may vary by region, but generally:

  • Monthly Plan:$18.20
  • Annual Plan: $218.40

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While this is cheaper than some full-skill AI learning platforms, the narrow focus means you may need other resources to cover all aspects of language learning.

Pros & Cons of ELSA Speak

Pros:

  • Highly focused on pronunciation improvement
  • Detailed sound-by-sound feedback
  • Short lessons fit easily into a daily routine
  • Multi-accent exposure for varied listening practice

Cons:

  • No real conversation or adaptive speaking practice
  • Content is repetitive and heavily scripted
  • Does not cover grammar, vocabulary, or listening skills in depth
  • Feedback is limited to pronunciation, missing broader fluency improvement
  • May feel too narrow for intermediate and advanced learners seeking all-round growth

Midoo AI vs ELSA Speak: Which Is the Best AI Language Learning App?

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If ELSA Speak is like a pronunciation coach that only drills specific sounds, Midoo AI is like a full-language mentor that adapts to your every move.

Midoo AI offers dynamic, adaptive conversations, detailed feedback across all skills, and personalized learning paths that go beyond pronunciation. You can practice speaking, listening, reading, and writing in realistic situations — from casual chats to business negotiations.

Unlike ELSA’s scripted exercises, Midoo AI responds naturally to your speech, adjusts difficulty on the fly, and explains your mistakes clearly so you can fix them fast. For learners aiming for overall fluency, Midoo AI delivers a far more complete and immersive experience.

FAQs

Is ELSA Speak free?

It has a free version with limited exercises, but most features are behind a paid plan.

Can ELSA Speak make me fluent in English?

Not on its own — it’s best for pronunciation training, but you’ll need other tools for grammar, vocabulary, and conversation skills.

Which accents can I learn with ELSA Speak?

Primarily American and British, though some exercises include other variations.

What’s the best alternative to ELSA Speak?

Midoo AI is a stronger choice if you want a full-skill, adaptive language learning experience that includes pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and realistic conversation.