There are a lot of IELTS apps. Most do one thing well. One scores your essays. Another drills vocabulary. A third has a few mock tests.
The trouble is, you end up with five apps and no clear picture of your progress.
So we looked for the apps that cover the most of what you need. Here is how they compare.
Disclosure: we make IELTS Studio, one of the apps below. Everything we say about the others comes from their own websites, which we read on 20 October 2026. If a site does not say something, we write “not stated”. We do not guess.
The short version
- IELTS Studio puts everything in one place: mock tests, all four skills, AI feedback, vocabulary and a planner.
- IELTS by IDP is the official IDP app. Use it to book your test and check results.
- British Council IELTS Ready has courses and mock tests. Premium is free if you book with the British Council.
- Speechful gives you a daily routine and an AI tutor.
- GoPrep has games and an iPhone app, on a plan that renews.
- Cathoven has a study plan and tutor bot, paid weekly.
How we checked
We read each app’s own website, pricing page and help pages. We did not use app store reviews or other lists. Apps are ranked by how much of your preparation they cover, then by how much you get for free.
What to look for in an IELTS prep app
- All four skills in one place. Moving between apps means your progress is split up and hard to read.
- Full mock tests. Short drills are useful, but only a full test shows your real band.
- Feedback you can act on. Look for a band for each criterion and clear notes on what to fix.
- A way to improve your English, not just test it. Vocabulary, reading real English and speaking practice raise your level. Tests only measure it.
- Something that keeps you going. A plan, a calendar or a dashboard of weak spots. Most people do not fail from lack of skill. They stop studying.
The best IELTS preparation apps
1. IELTS Studio
IELTS Studio is built to do two jobs. It helps you practise the test. And it helps you improve your English along the way. Everything sits in one account, so your progress is all in one place.
Practise the real test
- Full mock tests. All four skills under real timing. You can take Speaking before Listening or after Writing, as you may on the day.
- Listening and Reading. Every answer is explained. It points to the exact moment in the audio, or the exact line in the passage.
- Writing and Speaking. A band for each of the four criteria, based on the official band descriptors, plus a sample answer. Speaking runs with a video examiner.
Get unstuck fast
- Idea Bank. Ideas, reasons and example answers for Writing and Speaking, right inside the test.
- AI chat. Talk through real topics at your level. You can type in your own language and see how to say it in English.
Improve your English
- Explore study panel. Turn real English articles into IELTS-style reading quizzes. Practise dictation, shadowing, writing and speaking.
- Vocabulary. Save new words, then learn them with quizzes. Use them in your own sentences, and AI checks each one.
Stay on track
- Dashboard. See your weak spots by question type and by criterion.
- Planner. Schedule your study on a calendar synced with Google Calendar.
- Error log. Every mistake is saved, so you can come back to it.
Free plan: one full mock and one Writing and Speaking check every week. Unlimited Listening and Reading tests. No card needed. Paid plan: USD 9.99 for a month. You pay once, and it never renews.
Suitable for: anyone who wants one app for the whole journey, from first practice to test day. Start free.
2. IELTS by IDP
This is IDP’s official app, for iPhone and Android. You can book your test, find practice materials and check your results. If you book with IDP, you also get a free 14-day preparation course.
Suitable for: booking and results if you test with IDP. Use it alongside a study app.
3. British Council IELTS Ready
The free plan has short courses and one mock test with AI feedback. Premium adds more mock tests and full courses. It is free if you book with the British Council, until a week after your test.
Suitable for: anyone who has already booked with the British Council.
4. Speechful
Speechful covers Speaking and Writing with feedback on each criterion. It has an AI tutor called Speechy, daily vocabulary exercises and a 28-day Speaking plan. It is free to start.
Suitable for: someone who likes a set daily routine.
5. GoPrep (formerly IELTS.gg)
GoPrep has AI practice, mock tests, games and an iPhone app. After a cheaper first period, the plan renews at USD 39.99 every four weeks.
Suitable for: an iPhone user who likes games and does not mind a subscription.
6. Cathoven
Cathoven has a study plan, an AI tutor and Writing and Speaking scores on its Premium plan. Premium starts at USD 21 a week. Its free tools are for general English, not IELTS.
Suitable for: someone happy to pay weekly for a guided plan.
How they compare
| App | Full mock tests | AI feedback, Writing and Speaking | Vocabulary practice | Study planner | Free plan | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS Studio | Yes, all four skills | Yes, by band descriptors | Yes, AI-checked sentences | Yes, synced with Google Calendar | Weekly mock and checks, unlimited Listening and Reading | USD 9.99, paid once |
| IELTS by IDP | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Course after booking | Free | Free |
| British Council IELTS Ready | One free, more on Premium | Yes | Not stated | Courses | 1 mock with AI feedback | Free if you book with them |
| Speechful | Not stated in detail | Yes | Daily exercises | 28-day Speaking plan | Free to start | Not stated |
| GoPrep | Yes | Yes | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Renews at USD 39.99 every 4 weeks |
| Cathoven | Yes, on Premium | Yes | Not stated | Yes | IELTS practice is paid | From USD 21 a week |
“Not stated” means the site does not say. It does not mean the feature is missing.
Try IELTS Studio right here
These are live demos, not screenshots. Click one to use it. Every test ends with a review, not just a score. Here is a Reading review.
This learner got 31 out of 40, band 7.0. The review sorts every answer by question type. Matching information was the weak spot, at 3 out of 6. Click a question and you see the exact line in the passage with the answer.
Speaking feels like the real interview, with a recorded video examiner.
And the review afterwards is just as detailed.
This Speaking test scored 7.0, with vocabulary lowest at 6.5. The feedback picks out a real slip, “haze” used to describe hills, and says what to work on next.
Now picture that across every test you take. Your dashboard collects it all. Then the Explore panel, the vocabulary tool and the planner help you fix it.
Which one is right for you?
| Your situation | Start with | Why |
|---|---|---|
| You want one app for everything | IELTS Studio | Tests, feedback, vocabulary and a planner in one account |
| You want to improve your English, not just test it | IELTS Studio | The Explore panel turns real articles into practice |
| You find it hard to study every day | IELTS Studio | The planner syncs with Google Calendar |
| You need to book your test or see results | IELTS by IDP | It is IDP’s official app |
| You have booked with the British Council | IELTS Ready | Premium is free for you |
| You want a fixed daily routine | Speechful | It has a 28-day Speaking plan |
How to get the most from any IELTS app
- Start with a full mock. It shows you where to spend your time. Read what band score you need first.
- Pick one main app. Your progress only makes sense when it is all in one place.
- Study a little every day. Twenty minutes daily beats three hours on Sunday. Our guide to going from 6 to 7.5 shows a realistic plan.
- Use new words, do not just save them. A word you have written in a sentence is a word you will remember. See our IELTS vocabulary guide.
More comparisons: best Speaking practice websites, best Writing checkers and best free mock tests. See also the best Listening practice websites and best Reading practice websites.
Ready to start? Try IELTS Studio free and take your first full mock today.
Want a full study pack? Our free IELTS reviewer adds guides and a 4-week plan.
Sources
- IELTS test format The four skills every app on this page says it helps you prepare for.
- Preparing for IELTS Official free preparation materials from the test owners.
Last reviewed October 20, 2026. See our editorial policy for how guides are checked and corrected.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the best app for IELTS preparation?
- For most people, IELTS Studio. It puts full mock tests, AI feedback, vocabulary, a study planner and practice in all four skills in one account. You can start for free.
- Is there a free IELTS preparation app?
- Yes. IELTS Studio has a free plan with one full mock and one Writing and Speaking check each week, plus unlimited Listening and Reading tests. The IELTS by IDP app is free too, mainly for booking and results.
- Can an app help me learn English for IELTS, not just practise tests?
- The best ones can. IELTS Studio lets you build IELTS-style quizzes from real English articles, practise dictation and shadowing, and use your saved words in sentences that AI checks.
- Should I use more than one IELTS app?
- You can, but one main app keeps your progress in one place. Many people use IELTS Studio to study and the official app of their test provider to book and get results.