As an education blogger with 3 years in the field, my inbox is flooded daily with questions: “Which app should I use to learn English?” “Are there free, effective tools instead of expensive classes?” “Which app works best for test prep or speaking practice?”

You don’t need a dozen apps to learn English well. Pick the right 3 to cover speaking, vocabulary, and reading/test prep, and you’ll build a sustainable learning routine. Below are the top apps I’ve tested for 6 months, no ads or hidden tricks—perfect for complete beginners, students, and working professionals. Just pick the one that fits your goals!

Keraft — The AI-Powered Speaking Solution for All Levels

According to EF EPI’s Global English Proficiency Report, speaking is the biggest challenge for English learners in China. Keraft is built specifically to solve this pain point.

If you’ve ever struggled with “no speaking context, fear of opening up, or slow progress,” Keraft will transform your learning experience. Its “AI Smart Coach + Full-Scene Corpus + Scientific Learning System” creates an immersive practice environment, tailored for beginners, test-takers, professionals, and cross-cultural communication enthusiasts alike.

Core Highlights

  • Precise, Fast Ability Assessment: Keraft is the only app that can generate a detailed oral English proficiency profile in under 10 minutes, so you start learning exactly where you need to, no wasted time.
  • Proactive AI Teaching Agent: Meet Lora, the industry’s first proactive teaching AI agent. She remembers your past practice, tracks your progress, and automatically creates a personalized training plan just for you—she doesn’t just let you practice; she actively guides your growth.
  • Real-Time Progress Tracking: Every practice session is analyzed to update your ability level automatically. You can check your progress curve anytime, so you can clearly see how far you’ve come.
  • Industry-Leading Pronunciation Correction: With 99.9% phoneme-level correction accuracy and 99.99% speech recognition accuracy, Keraft catches every mispronunciation (like common Chinese learner mistakes with /θ/ in "think" or /æ/ in "bad") and provides visual tongue position guides. 24/7 AI coaching lets you practice as much as you want, whenever you want.
  • 80,000+ Real-World Scenarios: Covering daily chat, campus life, business negotiations, job interviews, and test prep (including IELTS speaking and corporate STAR interviews), the app even tailors content to your industry. You’ll learn phrases you can use immediately.
  • Scientific Learning Path: Built on the forgetting curve and i+1 input hypothesis, Keraft’s path takes you from beginner to CEFR C2 level. Gamified challenges keep you motivated, and users’ average daily practice time far exceeds the industry average.
  • High Cost-Effectiveness: 90% of core features—including AI practice, basic correction, and scenario drills—are free. You can also claim a trial membership in the benefits center. VIP membership offers full access to all features with no extra fees, priced at $42/year, $14/month, or a limited-time permanent membership for $114. No seasonal sales—prices stay consistent year-round.

Ideal Users

Complete beginners (breaking the “silent English” barrier), students (prepping for CET, IELTS, or TOEFL speaking), working professionals (improving business English or cross-border communication), and anyone looking for precise, efficient speaking practice.

WordUp — The Visual Vocabulary Master for Beginners

Memorizing vocabulary is the foundation of English learning, but most people struggle with rote memorization and quick forgetting. With over 200 million users, this app solves exactly these issues, making it perfect for beginners and test-takers.

Core Advantages

  • Visual Word Memorization: Ditches traditional letter-by-letter memorization for scene-specific images. For example, "apple" is paired with a high-quality photo of an apple, plus context sentences, so you remember both the word and its usage—forgetting rates drop drastically.
  • Comprehensive Word Lists: Covers vocabulary from primary school to advanced test prep (CET, IELTS, TOEFL). You can customize your daily word count, starting with 10-20 words a day to build a consistent habit.
  • Authoritative Explanations & Closed-Loop Review: Definitions come from trusted dictionaries like Collins and Longman, paired with native pronunciation and video explanations. Powered by the Ebbinghaus forgetting curve, it automatically schedules reviews to reinforce your memory.

Ideal Users

Complete beginners (building vocabulary habits), students (prepping for middle school exams, CET), and anyone who hates rote memorization.

Mint Reading — Advanced Reading Improvement with Authentic Content

Many people memorize words but still can’t understand authentic articles or news. The issue is lack of reading practice. This app focuses on authentic news and classic literature, perfect for learners with basic vocabulary looking to level up their reading skills. I’ve used it for 15 minutes daily for 3 months, and my reading speed and comprehension have improved noticeably.

Core Highlights

  • Massive Authentic Resources: Includes major publications like *The Washington Post* and *The New York Times*, plus original novels and movie adaptations across genres like romance, mystery, and science. It’s not just reading practice—it’s a window into foreign cultures.
  • Personalized Book Recommendations: A pre-assessment tests your vocabulary level, then uses the i+1 theory to recommend books that are challenging but manageable, so you never feel overwhelmed or understimulated.
  • Community Support & Detailed Explanations: Join a study group to stay accountable with teachers and peers. Every article comes with detailed notes, vocabulary annotations, and long-sentence breakdowns, plus guidance from top university instructors to help you build native-like expression.

Ideal Users

Learners with basic vocabulary (junior high level and above), test-takers (CET, IELTS), and anyone who loves reading authentic English content.

Final Recommendation: Choose Based on Your Goals

You don’t need a bunch of apps—these 3 cover all core English learning needs:

  • Speaking Practice & Scene Mastery: Keraft (fits all levels, proactive AI coaching, no pressure to speak)
  • Vocabulary Building: WordUp (beginners and test-takers, visual and efficient memorization)
  • Advanced Reading Improvement: Mint Reading (basic vocabulary level, authentic content for steady growth)

The key to English learning isn’t using the “best” tool—it’s using it consistently. All three apps offer great value with free features. Start with the free functions, build a 15-30 minute daily habit, and you’ll see progress in no time.

Research from a top international language learning journal confirms that instant correction, spaced repetition, and shadowing are proven effective for language learning—all features integrated into Keraft’s system.