The lesson is a conversation
You say it out loud and the tutor answers. It corrects you in the middle of the sentence, the way a teacher does, not with a red cross at the end.
Speak alternative · A1 → C2
A Speak alternative with a real CEFR course underneath.
Speak and Saylore want the same thing — to get you talking instead of tapping — and Speak got there first. The difference is what sits underneath. Speak organises learning around its own method and a topic curriculum; Saylore hangs the speaking on an explicit CEFR ladder, so you always know which rung you are on and how much is left to climb.
Free to start
Six languages, A1–C2
IELTS & TOEFL
Side by side
Saylore vs Speak, honestly.
Every claim about Speak below comes from Speak’s own pages and is linked. Checked 13 September 2026 — prices and tiers change, so check theirs before you decide.
| Feature | Saylore | Speak |
|---|---|---|
| Structure of the course | An explicit CEFR ladder A1 to C2, with a placement test that puts you on the right rung on day one. | Built around the Speak Method — learn the phrases natives use, drill them, then apply them in conversation — organised by topic rather than a published CEFR ladder.Source: Speak — how it works |
| Which languages | English, Spanish, German, French, Italian, Portuguese — all six complete to C2. | For English speakers: Spanish, French, Korean, Japanese, Italian and Simplified Chinese.Source: Speak — how it works |
| Learning English itself | English is a full A1 to C2 course, with the interface and grammar explanations in your own language. | Primarily built for English speakers learning another language. |
| Pronunciation | Scored word by word, and the weak sounds are then drilled specifically. | Feedback on your speaking as part of the conversation loop. |
| IELTS / TOEFL | Exam paths with full-length mock tests and scored speaking and writing. | Not part of the product. |
| Free tier | Module 1 of your placement level and of every level below it, plus 5 AI tutor chats a day. | A trial, then Premium or Premium Plus.Source: Speak Help Centre — Premium vs Premium Plus |
| Price | $9.99 / month or $59.99 / year, with a 7-day free trial. | Premium and Premium Plus subscriptions.Source: Speak Help Centre — Premium vs Premium Plus |
Sources: Speak — how it works · Speak Help Centre — Premium vs Premium Plus
The other side
Where Speak is the better choice.
We would rather you picked the right app than picked ours. These are real advantages, not throat-clearing.
Speak beats us at:
- Korean, Japanese and Chinese. Three languages we do not teach at all, and for many learners that settles it.
- The conversation loop is polished and well drilled — Speak has been doing only this for years.
- If you want phrases you can use this week rather than a level ladder, their curriculum is arranged the way you think.
- Bigger company, bigger content library, longer track record.
Switch to Saylore if…
You want to know your CEFR level and see a defined path to C2, you are learning one of our six languages, you need IELTS or TOEFL practice, or your own first language is not English.
Stay with Speak if…
You are learning Korean, Japanese or Chinese, or you prefer a topic-based curriculum to a level ladder.
Why Saylore
What you get here instead.
Pronunciation scored word by word
You see which word cost you the point and which sound you keep missing — then the app drills that sound instead of the easy ones.
A1 to C2, all six languages
A placement test puts you on the right rung on day one, and the ladder actually reaches the top: English, Spanish, German, French, Italian, Portuguese.
IELTS & TOEFL inside the app
Exam paths with full-length mock tests and scored speaking and writing — no second subscription.
Questions
Saylore vs Speak — common questions
How does Saylore differ from the Speak app?
Both make you talk out loud to an AI tutor. Saylore builds that on an explicit CEFR course from A1 to C2 with a placement test, adds per-word pronunciation scoring, and includes IELTS and TOEFL preparation. Speak organises its curriculum around its own method and topics rather than a published CEFR ladder.
Which languages does Saylore teach?
Six, each complete from A1 to C2: English, Spanish, German, French, Italian and Portuguese. Speak covers Spanish, French, Korean, Japanese, Italian and Chinese for English speakers — so Korean, Japanese and Chinese are Speak’s territory, not ours.
I am not a native English speaker. Does that matter?
It does. Saylore’s interface and grammar explanations run in seven languages, and English itself is one of the six full A1 to C2 courses. Speak is built primarily for English speakers learning something else.
What does Saylore cost?
Free to download. Module 1 of your placement level and of every level below it is free, plus five AI tutor chats a day. Premium is $9.99 a month or $59.99 a year, after a 7-day free trial.
Say your first sentence today.
Free on iOS and Android. You will be speaking within fifteen minutes.