Review Insights · App Store
ELSA Speak - English Learning
Elsa Corp · 109,315 ratings · ★ 4.8
4.8
★★★★★
109,315 ratings
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Top complaints - extracted from 63 negative reviews
Recurring phrases mined from 1-2★ reviews. The bigger the percentage, the more users have the same problem. Fix the top 2-3 in your version and you have product-market fit on day one.
1
"doesn"
9 negative reviews mention this · 14% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Doesn’t work with AirPods 3 pro. Whe I use the app with AirPods 3 pro the voice of the AI mute. I has reinstalled the app an the same happened" - Maquezolo
2
"work"
8 negative reviews mention this · 13% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Doesn’t work with AirPods 3 pro. Whe I use the app with AirPods 3 pro the voice of the AI mute. I has reinstalled the app an the same happened" - Maquezolo
3
"money"
8 negative reviews mention this · 13% of all complaints
★★★★★ "They removed all RachelS videos. What a pity!! All Rachel’s videos were gone. Those videos were really useful for learning pronunciation. I want my money back" - Lan279
4
"update"
8 negative reviews mention this · 13% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Latest Update Ruined the App. I am extremely disappointed with the latest update. I purchased a yearly subscription based on the previous version of the app, which was simple, clear, and actually helpful for learning. Now the entire concept has changed. The app relies…" - 🕊️Julpol
5
"experience"
7 negative reviews mention this · 11% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Elsa speaks app. I found the app experience frustrating almost immediately. The AI avatar’s voice sounded robotic and unpleasant, and there was no option to change it. This is a significant drawback, especially for a product designed for frequent, long-term…" - Drea3465
6
"subscription"
7 negative reviews mention this · 11% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Latest Update Ruined the App. I am extremely disappointed with the latest update. I purchased a yearly subscription based on the previous version of the app, which was simple, clear, and actually helpful for learning. Now the entire concept has changed. The app relies…" - 🕊️Julpol
📋 All 63 negative reviews
Every 1-2★ review we fetched. Use the copy button to grab them all for your own analysis (paste into ChatGPT/Claude with a prompt like "summarize core user problems, group by theme, ignore bugs, focus on missing features").
Doesn’t work with AirPods 3 pro
Whe I use the app with AirPods 3 pro the voice of the AI mute. I has reinstalled the app an the same happened
收费问题
如果要收费一开始就说，才体验几下就必须收费，不就是引流吗？爱收收不想管，搞什么套路
Fraud
This company is a fraud. I tried the app, and they set it up for auto renewal with no email confirmation or any forms of communication. I get charged with no notification or receipt. I tried to contact via email/app and only received AI responses with instructions that did not work. Contacted to phone number in the US, no answer.
They removed all RachelS videos
What a pity!! All Rachel’s videos were gone. Those videos were really useful for learning pronunciation. I want my money back
自动扣费
我从来没有选择订阅但突然自动被扣费了，大家都小心点吧
Elsa speaks app
I found the app experience frustrating almost immediately. The AI avatar’s voice sounded robotic and unpleasant, and there was no option to change it. This is a significant drawback, especially for a product designed for frequent, long-term use.
The lesson structure also felt rigid. I attempted to change the topic from “landmarks,” but the app ignored the request and continued with the preset lesson. This lack of flexibility made the experience feel unnatural and limiting.
More concerning was the accuracy of the speech recognition. When I said “State Capitol of Texas,” the app repeatedly transcribed it as “state capital of Texas” and then incorrectly indicated that it was not a landmark. This kind of error undermines confidence in the app’s ability to provide reliable feedback, especially when distinguishing between commonly confused terms like “capitol” and “capital.”
Overall, I appreciate that there is a free trial, as it allowed me to evaluate the app before committing. However, after only a few minutes of use, I could not see myself using it consistently, let alone over the course of a full year.
The lesson structure also felt rigid. I attempted to change the topic from “landmarks,” but the app ignored the request and continued with the preset lesson. This lack of flexibility made the experience feel unnatural and limiting.
More concerning was the accuracy of the speech recognition. When I said “State Capitol of Texas,” the app repeatedly transcribed it as “state capital of Texas” and then incorrectly indicated that it was not a landmark. This kind of error undermines confidence in the app’s ability to provide reliable feedback, especially when distinguishing between commonly confused terms like “capitol” and “capital.”
Overall, I appreciate that there is a free trial, as it allowed me to evaluate the app before committing. However, after only a few minutes of use, I could not see myself using it consistently, let alone over the course of a full year.
Not useful
It’s not telling me Jo to improve
It’s no good
I don’t recommend this app when u try to speak with the tutor is hard to have a conversation and doesn’t work when u want to speak besides it logged out automatically now I can’t login it looks good but once u go through it it’s not very helpful to improve your English level
Why did you do that?
We humans aren't so used to everything suddenly being drastically AI-powered. This new format confuses me. All my progress has been wasted. Why? What did you guys do? It feels awful interacting with a character that just floats around or moves. No, no, do something and fix this!
Hay un error que no me deja avanzar
En la unidad 2 lección 3 hay un error que no me deja avanzar
Buggy
AI thinks forever to respond
Latest Update Ruined the App
I am extremely disappointed with the latest update.
I purchased a yearly subscription based on the previous version of the app, which was simple, clear, and actually helpful for learning.
Now the entire concept has changed. The app relies heavily on AI, but it does not work properly. Speech recognition is inaccurate, even for very simple words, which makes it frustrating and unusable.
The previous version had clear guidance, translations, and structured practice. Now all of that is gone. There are no helpful hints, and the conversations are far too difficult for the level I selected.
Instead of improving the app, this update has made it significantly worse. Learning has become stressful instead of enjoyable.
This is not the product I paid for. If I had known the app would change like this, I would never have purchased a subscription.
I cannot recommend this app anymore.
I purchased a yearly subscription based on the previous version of the app, which was simple, clear, and actually helpful for learning.
Now the entire concept has changed. The app relies heavily on AI, but it does not work properly. Speech recognition is inaccurate, even for very simple words, which makes it frustrating and unusable.
The previous version had clear guidance, translations, and structured practice. Now all of that is gone. There are no helpful hints, and the conversations are far too difficult for the level I selected.
Instead of improving the app, this update has made it significantly worse. Learning has become stressful instead of enjoyable.
This is not the product I paid for. If I had known the app would change like this, I would never have purchased a subscription.
I cannot recommend this app anymore.
Very Disappointed After the Latest Update - Long-Time User
I have been using Elsa Speak for about 4 years, and until today, I was genuinely satisfied with the app. It helped me improve my pronunciation and build confidence in speaking English.
However, after the latest update, I am extremely disappointed. I spent around two hours trying to use the new version, and it feels completely different - and not in a good way.
The app is now overloaded with AI assistants that appear everywhere. Instead of making the learning experience smoother, they make it confusing and distracting. The interface feels cluttered, and it’s harder to focus on structured learning.
Even worse, some of the courses that were important to me seem to have disappeared. I used those courses regularly, and now I can’t find them. That was one of the main reasons I kept my subscription.
I don’t understand why such drastic changes were made without keeping the core learning structure intact. At this point, I cannot recommend updating the app. If things don’t improve, I may seriously consider stopping my subscription after four years of loyalty.
I hope the developers listen to long-term users and reconsider these changes.
However, after the latest update, I am extremely disappointed. I spent around two hours trying to use the new version, and it feels completely different - and not in a good way.
The app is now overloaded with AI assistants that appear everywhere. Instead of making the learning experience smoother, they make it confusing and distracting. The interface feels cluttered, and it’s harder to focus on structured learning.
Even worse, some of the courses that were important to me seem to have disappeared. I used those courses regularly, and now I can’t find them. That was one of the main reasons I kept my subscription.
I don’t understand why such drastic changes were made without keeping the core learning structure intact. At this point, I cannot recommend updating the app. If things don’t improve, I may seriously consider stopping my subscription after four years of loyalty.
I hope the developers listen to long-term users and reconsider these changes.
Why retry button is so small?
On iPad it looks tiny
New version
The old version of the app was AMAZING, super helpful and detailed. The new one is the complete opposite, the individual sounds are not being analyzed the way it used to before
大変使いづらい
UI が大きく変更されました。次の様な点から大きく体験が悪化しています。もともとコンテンツの品質は悪かったですが、コンテンツを磨き込まずに UI だけ変えた結果、さらに悪くなりました。これまで BoldVoice が高いと思って我慢して3年間 ELSA を使ってきましたが、いよいよ乗り換えます。残念です。
・3D モデルで教師が表示されるようになり電池の消耗が激しくなった。ロードも遅くなりましたが。発音と口の動きが連動しているわけでもなく存在意義が不明。この 3D 教師が学習画面の半分を常に占拠しており消せない。学習コンテンツが見づらくなった。
・ボタンの配置に一貫性がなく操作しづらい。例えばスコアが悪い時はやり直すボタンが右だが、スコアが良い時はやり直すボタンが左に小さくでて、右にあるのは先に進むボタン。押し間違えが頻繁に生じる。また、やり直すボタンを押してもすぐにやり直せるのではなく、話すボタンを続けて押す必要がある。
・発音評価モードのベーシックと上級者向けのモード切り替えを覚えなくなったので毎度切り替えなければならない。
・文字のレイアウトが滅茶苦茶で他のパーツに表示が被る
・レッスンの種類を示すアイコンが、完了マークによって上書きされるので、あとからやり直す時にどの種類がわからない
・3D モデルで教師が表示されるようになり電池の消耗が激しくなった。ロードも遅くなりましたが。発音と口の動きが連動しているわけでもなく存在意義が不明。この 3D 教師が学習画面の半分を常に占拠しており消せない。学習コンテンツが見づらくなった。
・ボタンの配置に一貫性がなく操作しづらい。例えばスコアが悪い時はやり直すボタンが右だが、スコアが良い時はやり直すボタンが左に小さくでて、右にあるのは先に進むボタン。押し間違えが頻繁に生じる。また、やり直すボタンを押してもすぐにやり直せるのではなく、話すボタンを続けて押す必要がある。
・発音評価モードのベーシックと上級者向けのモード切り替えを覚えなくなったので毎度切り替えなければならない。
・文字のレイアウトが滅茶苦茶で他のパーツに表示が被る
・レッスンの種類を示すアイコンが、完了マークによって上書きされるので、あとからやり直す時にどの種類がわからない
They waist ur time
App used to be amazing few years ago with great features that they removed and now you have useless AI that will waist lots of your time.
Use to be 5/5 now 1/5
Use to be 5/5 now 1/5
If it’s not broken, DON’T fix it!
It was a decent app for learning English, but they decided to destroy it by redesigning it. Result-Awful, annoying , awkward, infuriating waste of time .
Speak not work
This version has failed when i tried speak, not at all
It is a trash
I got this app paid over 2 hundred per year, after a few months doesn’t le me use if I don’t pay for updates is crazy
Nueva Actualización IA
La app me encantaba, recientemente hicieron que sea por medio de una IA y la experiencia es pésima, quiero regresar a la versión antigua, como hago ?
I can’t upgrade
When I press the upgrade button it doesn’t let me pay
The last update is just horrible!
Not user friendly interface, a lot of bugs.
A new update
How can I learn English with old version? No AI
Stuck in Verification Loop During Email Sign-Up
Frustrating sign-up experience due to a verification loop. I’m trying to create an account using my email address. The app sends a verification email with a ‘Verify’ button. When I tap the button, it redirects me to the App Store with a prompt to open the app. However, after opening the app, nothing happens-the email remains unverified, and I’m still stuck on the verification screen asking me to check my email. This creates an endless loop that prevents me from completing registration. Not sure if this is a glitch, but it’s making it impossible to get started. Would appreciate a fix!
This app Is a joke
By mistake I download it and they charged me 126 and I called because was a mistake and never refund it the money also is better Duolingo 100 times
Lecciones con errores
Hay lecciones que no te entiende y no te deja escribir en ningun lado para reportarlo, se vuelve frustrante te hace perder tiempo te pone baja evaluación y no avanzas! Te quita las ganas de seguir adelante
Outdated
Totally outdated, impossible to upgrade from lifetime pro to premium, so many content to pay. So bad I don’t use it
我觉得这个软件是我见过最垃圾的AI
一个课程设计只有几分钟，而每次联系后都需要等很久去等开始下一个课程开始。相当于等待时间和学校对半开，很浪费时间。另外他各种Bug也不修复，语音识别不到，语音缺失，评分不理解。连读也无法识别，一个练发音的软件，很多连读，都识别不了。
1-Star Review: Very Disappointing Experience
I’m extremely disappointed with ELSA Speak. They care more about money than their customers. They do not send any reminders before the trial period ends, and as soon as it expires, they automatically charge you without warning. When I reached out for a refund, they refused to return my money. It feels like they just keep the money and don’t care about making things right.
Be very careful if you try their “free trial.” It’s not customer-friendly at all, and I would not recommend this app based on my experience.
Be very careful if you try their “free trial.” It’s not customer-friendly at all, and I would not recommend this app based on my experience.
Awful update
After the latest update, I cannot even log in. Please fix it asap.
Worst app ever
The payment and subscription is new type of steeling money, literally fraud. Also it does not help significantly.
Learning App? More Like Loading App!
I paid for a full year of membership but only used it for a few weeks. I got so frustrated and angry using it. First of all, the user experience is not friendly at all. Everything takes forever to load - and no, my internet is fine; all my other apps work perfectly.
Second, it’s super annoying that when you tap the button to speak, you have to wait a long time and can only start talking after a beep.
Third, the learning units are fixed. They make you pick a topic, but you still have to go through their default units with objects you don’t care about. And because each unit is quite short, it keeps loading the next one so often that the time you spend waiting for it to load feels equal to the time you actually spend learning.
What a waste of money and time.
Second, it’s super annoying that when you tap the button to speak, you have to wait a long time and can only start talking after a beep.
Third, the learning units are fixed. They make you pick a topic, but you still have to go through their default units with objects you don’t care about. And because each unit is quite short, it keeps loading the next one so often that the time you spend waiting for it to load feels equal to the time you actually spend learning.
What a waste of money and time.
Me suscribí por una año y ahora no puedo entrar
Quería informarles que me suscribí por Apple y me fue descontada la suscripción y hoy dice que se me terminaron las lecciones gratis, pero yo pagué por un año, me pueden ayudar ? No es justo que jueguen con las personas y le quite. Su dinero
Can't sign up
I use iphone 16pro and always failed to sign up with Apple account and google account which is really annoying
The speed is so embarrassing
Don’t download this app. It is totally a fraud. It is so hard to use it and the speed is so low. You have to wait 5 min to get into next practice. I’ve lost my patience.
This app is a trash
This is pure trash and not the money. I got a premium membership just to discover that it doesn’t have the features that I need. Tried to cancel my membership the same day and they refused to refund me. It logged me out somehow and I can’t even log in back to delete my account.
Difficult to cancel subscription
Such a headache!!
垃圾app,非常弱智，完全不能正确识别
任何一个市面上的AI都比这个聪明，老是在重连，明明说是七天使用，用了一天不到就强制收费才能用，拍不能退！真是后悔！
It’s a fantasy, not a real APP
Don't waste your money like I did. I own an iPhone 14 and a professional microphone, but it still struggles to understand speech in at least 20% of situations. I live in New York and have tested it with three other native speakers. It seems to have more problems with male voices compared to female ones.
Rip off - stay away
Absolutely worthless app and even worse customer service. You’re better off anywhere else. Stay away.
Lenta y trabada
Antes me gustada mucho, la dejé por un tiempo, y ahora que quise regresar es un asco, se traba mucho y algunas veces la grabación dura muy poco, no te da tiempo de hablar para enseguida decirte que no has terminado la frase o no la dicho bien.
update got worse
It was excellent until they decided to update and ruin the app
No dark icon-really ugly
It’s the only app in 2025 that doesn’t have a dark icon. It looked really ugly, so I removed Elsa from my home screen. After that, I started using it less and less, and now I’ve canceled my subscription.
Фігня
За лупа, не додаток. Копійки не вартий. Тут немає можливості редагування тексту під час діалогу і часто програма друкує зовсім інше слова ніж ти хотів сказати і діалог іде зовсім іншу сторону
Laggy App
The app is very laggy. The AI helper’s voice is delayed by about three seconds, and during practice, tapping to speak often does nothing. Just endless dots with no response. For an interaction-based app, it’s full of bugs and feels unusable.
Connection is bad
It always show “connecting” while I am learning. The experience is very bad. I am in Canada now, and my internet connection is stable. I connect to the internet directly, no VPN or LAN. I can use other apps smoothly.
Que sistema tan malo
Quiero compartir mi experiencia porque este es el mayor problema que encuentro: la app se bloquea en medio del entrenamiento y no responde más. Además, si tienes que salir un momento a otra aplicación, cuando regresas no continúa donde estabas sino que te obliga a reiniciar todo el entrenamiento.
Esto genera pérdida de tiempo y mucha frustración, porque no se puede avanzar de manera fluida. Mientras no corrijan este problema, la experiencia no es la mejor.
Esto genera pérdida de tiempo y mucha frustración, porque no se puede avanzar de manera fluida. Mientras no corrijan este problema, la experiencia no es la mejor.
Rigid
So rigid.
You are stuck into their training path. You cannot practice speeches
You are stuck into their training path. You cannot practice speeches
🥲🥲
I just want to improve my English like why should I pay money I’m broke 😭
+ 13 more in the clipboard copy
Sentiment summary
94%
Positive (4-5★)
3%
Neutral (3★)
3%
Negative (1-2★)