Real IELTS practice on the free plan
Cathoven's free tier is its general English toolset. IELTS Studio's free plan is the test itself: all four skills, a full mock and AI band feedback every week, with no card.
Cathoven alternative
The Cathoven alternative with free IELTS practice
Cathoven keeps its scored IELTS practice behind Premium, from USD 21 a week. IELTS Studio gives you unlimited Reading and Listening plus a Writing test, a Speaking interview and a full mock with AI feedback every week for free, and a full month costs USD 9.99, paid once.
Why learners switch from Cathoven to IELTS Studio
A month for less than a Cathoven week
Cathoven Premium is USD 21 a week or USD 67.50 a month. IELTS Studio is USD 9.99 for a month, 24.99 for three and 39.99 for six, paid once and never renewed.
More than a score
Idea Bank when you are stuck, AI chat on real IELTS topics, Explore for real English, AI-checked vocabulary and a Google Calendar planner, all in the same account.
IELTS Studio vs Cathoven: feature comparison
Every IELTS Studio app, side by side with Cathoven. Cathoven's column is taken from its own website on 17 October 2026; "Not listed" means its site does not mention it. Features and prices change, so check both before you decide.
| Feature | IELTS Studio Winner | Cathoven |
|---|---|---|
| Writing feedback | Task 1 and Task 2 marked against the official band descriptors, a band per criterion, notes on your own sentences and sample essays | Task 1 and Task 2 scored on the four criteria (Premium) |
| Speaking practice | Full Parts 1 to 3 interview with a recorded video examiner, feedback against the official band descriptors and sample answers | AI scoring of Parts 1 to 3 (Premium) |
| Ideas when you're stuck | Idea Bank inside Writing and Speaking tests: points, reasons, examples and phrases to save | Text Rewriter to upgrade your sentences |
| Reading tests | Unlimited free; every answer explained with the exact evidence highlighted in the passage | IELTS-format passages with explanations |
| Listening tests | Unlimited free; every answer explained at the exact moment in the audio | IELTS-format audio with explanations |
| Full mock test | All four skills in one sitting under real exam timing, with Speaking first or last as on real test days; one a week free | 50+ mock tests (Premium) |
| Question-type drills | Reading and Listening, one question type at a time (Pro) | Not listed |
| AI conversation practice | AI chat on real IELTS topics at your level, with translation from your language and phrase explanations | Catbot AI tutor (Premium) |
| Learn from real English | Turn articles, videos and podcasts into IELTS-style reading quizzes, dictation, shadowing, writing and speaking practice | Reading and listening resources, English news |
| Vocabulary | Quizzes from your saved words, your own sentences checked by AI, and spaced-repetition flashcards | Text Rewriter and CEFR tools |
| Browser extension | Free Chrome extension turns any article or YouTube video into practice | Not listed |
| Study planner | Calendar on your dashboard to schedule tasks, synced with Google Calendar | Personalised study plan (Premium) |
| Progress tracking | Dashboard analysis of your weak points by question type and criterion; band trends and an error log with Pro | Progress tracking and a personalised study plan (Premium) |
| Free plan | No card. Unlimited Reading and Listening, plus one Writing, one Speaking and one full mock with AI feedback every week | General English tools with daily limits; IELTS preparation is Premium |
| Price | USD 9.99 for 1 month, 24.99 for 3 months, 39.99 for 6 months | USD 21 a week, 67.50 a month, or 172.80 for 3 months |
| Billing | One-time payment, never renews automatically | Weekly and monthly plans renew; the 3-month plan is one-time |
| Your answers | Private to your account and not used to train AI models | Not listed |
Every IELTS skill, real English and AI feedback in one place, from USD 9.99.
Start free today: unlimited Reading and Listening, plus Writing, Speaking and a full mock with AI feedback every week. No card.
Everything in IELTS Studio
The most complete IELTS preparation you can get in one account: every part of the test, and the English behind it. All of it starts free.
Writing
Task 1 and Task 2 in a timed test screen, with detailed AI feedback.
- Marked against the official band descriptors, with a band for each of the four criteria
- Notes on your own sentences, showing what to change and why
- Sample essays to compare with your own answer
- Idea Bank for points, examples and phrases when you are stuck
Speaking
A full interview with a recorded video examiner, in the real test order.
- Identity check, Part 1, a Part 2 cue card with preparation time, then Part 3
- Detailed feedback against the official band descriptors for all four criteria
- Sample answers, and an Idea Bank with example responses you can play
- No speaking partner or tutor needed
Reading
Academic and General Training tests, timed or in practice mode.
- Every answer explained, with the exact evidence highlighted in the passage
- Take any test as a 60-minute mock with no help
- Drill one question type at a time with Pro
- Unlimited tests on the free plan
Listening
All four parts under exam conditions, with answers tied to the audio.
- Every answer explained at the exact moment it is heard in the recording
- Mock mode or practice mode for any test
- Drill one question type at a time with Pro
- Unlimited tests on the free plan
Full mock test
Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking in one sitting, exactly like test day.
- Real exam timing from start to finish
- Choose your order: Speaking before Listening or after Writing, as test centres schedule it
- A band for every skill and an overall band
- One full mock every week on the free plan
Explore
Turn real English you enjoy into IELTS practice.
- Create IELTS-style reading quizzes from articles, videos and podcasts
- Dictation and shadowing to sharpen listening and pronunciation
- Writing and speaking practice on the same topic, with feedback
- A free Chrome extension to bring in anything you find online
Vocabulary
Make saved words part of your active English.
- Quizzes built from the words you have saved
- Use each word in your own sentence and get it checked by AI
- Flashcards with spaced repetition, so words come back before you forget them
AI chat
Talk through real IELTS topics with an AI partner at your level.
- Topics drawn from Speaking Part 3 and Writing Task 2, or your own idea
- Type what you mean in your language and see how to say it in English
- Tap any phrase for its meaning in context and save it to Vocabulary
Planner and progress
Plan your preparation and see exactly where you lose marks.
- Weakness analysis by question type and by criterion, so you know what to practise next
- A calendar on your dashboard to schedule tasks, synced with Google Calendar
- Full history of every test you take
- Band trends and an error log of the mistakes you repeat, with Pro
Why IELTS Studio wins
Other platforms test you. IELTS Studio raises your English and your band together, with help at exactly the moments candidates get stuck.
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01
One place for the test and your English
Mock tests, Writing and Speaking feedback, Reading and Listening practice, vocabulary, real English and a study calendar synced with Google Calendar all live in one account, so every session builds on the last.
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02
Ideas when your mind goes blank
Stuck on a Task 2 question or a Part 3 follow-up? Open the Idea Bank inside the test for ready points with reasons and examples, plus phrases you can save. In Speaking you can play example responses, and sample essays and answers show what a high band looks like.
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03
An AI partner to talk things through
AI chat lets you discuss real IELTS Speaking and Writing topics at your own level. Type what you mean in your own language to see how to say it in English, and tap any phrase for its meaning in context.
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04
Better English, not just more tests
Turn articles, videos and podcasts into IELTS-style reading quizzes, dictation, shadowing, writing and speaking practice. Saved words come back as quizzes and in your own sentences, checked by AI, until you can use them.
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05
Feedback that shows exactly what to fix
Writing and Speaking are marked against the official band descriptors with notes on your own words. Reading and Listening answers point to the exact evidence in the passage or audio, and your dashboard breaks down your weak points by question type and criterion, with an error log of repeated mistakes on Pro.
Switch in a few minutes
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01
Create a free account
No card and nothing to cancel later.
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02
Choose your test
Academic or General Training, so every task matches the paper you will sit.
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03
Sit a free full mock
All four skills under real timing, with a band for each, to see where you stand today.
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04
Practise where it counts
Use your weakness analysis to focus, and go unlimited from USD 9.99 when you are ready.
About IELTS Studio
IELTS Studio is an online IELTS preparation platform for all four skills, in Academic and General Training. Writing is scored on the four official criteria with notes on your own sentences. Speaking is a full interview with a recorded video examiner. Reading and Listening answers are explained against the passage or the audio, and a full mock test gives a band for every skill. Around the test sit vocabulary flashcards, real articles and videos with shadowing and dictation, and a free Chrome extension.
A free account needs no card. Pro is USD 9.99 for a month, 24.99 for three or 39.99 for six, paid once. AI bands are estimates, not official IELTS scores, and IELTS Studio is independent of the British Council, IDP and Cambridge.
FAQ
Cathoven alternative: common questions
Is Cathoven free? +
Only partly. Cathoven's general English tools are free with daily limits, but its IELTS preparation, including scored Writing and Speaking, mock tests and the study plan, is Premium. IELTS Studio's free plan includes all four IELTS skills every week.
How much does Cathoven cost? +
On 17 October 2026 Cathoven listed USD 21 a week, USD 67.50 a month and USD 172.80 for three months. IELTS Studio costs USD 9.99 for a month, paid once.
What is the best free alternative to Cathoven? +
IELTS Studio. Its free plan gives unlimited Reading and Listening tests plus a Writing test, a Speaking interview and a full mock with AI band feedback every week, with no card needed.
Can I switch from Cathoven to IELTS Studio? +
Yes, in a couple of minutes. Create a free account, choose Academic or General Training, and sit a free full mock to see your band in every skill.
Your target band is closer than you think.
Start today with one essay or one Cambridge test. Ten minutes is enough.