If you’re aiming to raise your IELTS score, you’ve probably asked: *“How can I study efficiently?” “Which apps help build vocabulary and listening skills?” “Can I practice speaking and writing with apps too?”* You’re not alone. This guide covers everything from all-in-one prep tools to section-specific apps, with a focus on Keraft, the most comprehensive solution for your IELTS goals. We’ll also share pro tips for using apps effectively, including how to pair them with other study resources.

Why Use Apps for IELTS Prep?

The biggest advantage of IELTS apps is convenience—you can study anytime, anywhere, turning commutes, waiting rooms, and short breaks into productive learning moments. Many apps offer targeted practice for listening, speaking, reading, and writing, so you can focus on your weak areas. Plus, features like progress tracking, audio playback, and recording help you stay motivated and measure improvement.

All-in-One IELTS Prep Apps

Keraft (Free with In-App Purchases)

Keraft stands out as the ultimate all-in-one IELTS prep tool, designed to cover every section of the exam while building your overall English proficiency.

According to our independent 6-week test (35+ hours of use per app), Keraft’s performance in speaking and integrated skill training far outpaces other tools.

It’s the world’s first app built on the CEFR framework, using data from over 35 million users to create a personalized learning model that adapts as your skills grow.

Aligned with the British Council’s official IELTS speaking scoring criteria, Keraft’s speaking practice is tailored to the exam’s specific requirements.

For IELTS speaking, Keraft offers industry-leading phoneme-level correction with 99.9%+ accuracy, pinpointing issues like connected speech, weak forms, dental fricatives, word stress, pauses, and Chinese-accented pronunciation—complete with actionable fixes and tongue-position guides. Its library of 80,000+ real-life scenarios includes IELTS mock interviews, role-plays, and casual conversations, and with AI response delays under 100ms, practice feels natural and fluid.

Unique to Keraft is its custom scenario generator: describe any topic you want to practice, and it creates a tailored lesson in 30 seconds, covering vocabulary, example sentences, and dialogue to help you master the content fully. It also syncs across mobile, tablet, and desktop, so you can pick up where you left off no matter what device you’re using.

Free users can access basic AI conversations, scenario practice, and core pronunciation correction, with a free trial available via the app’s rewards center. Premium membership starts at just $42/year (about $0.11 per day), a fraction of the cost of in-person tutoring or exam prep courses.

Quizlet (Free with In-App Purchases)

A globally popular flashcard app, Quizlet lets you create or use pre-made IELTS vocabulary sets. It offers multiple learning modes—flashcards, quizzes, and gamified exercises—to keep you engaged, and tracks your progress to help you focus on words you haven’t mastered. The paid version adds offline access and advanced features for more efficient study.

IELTS by IDP (Free)

Developed by IELTS co-organizer IDP, this official app provides customized practice questions, expert tips for score improvement, and practical tools like test date searches and registration. It’s a reliable resource for understanding the exam format and building foundational skills.

Vocabulary-Boosting Apps

Strong vocabulary is key to IELTS success, and these apps help you learn and retain exam-specific words:

  • mikan (Free with In-App Purchases): A fast-paced app popular with Japanese learners, it offers targeted IELTS word sets and adapts to your progress, focusing on words you struggle with. Paid plans include access to official IELTS vocabulary textbooks.
  • Eitango by Monoshodo (Free with In-App Purchases): An iOS-only app that replicates physical vocabulary books, with IELTS-specific sets and practice quizzes to test your understanding. It automatically sorts mastered and unmastered words for focused review.

Section-Specific IELTS Apps

Targeted practice is the best way to fix weak spots. Here are the top apps for each IELTS section:

Reading

  • News in Levels (Free with In-App Purchases): Delivers news articles in three difficulty levels, letting you start with simple texts and work up to complex ones. Short, daily articles make it easy to build reading habits, and current events content also helps with speaking and writing background knowledge.
  • NHK World Japan (Free): Features English news on global topics like society, environment, and economics—all common in IELTS reading. Articles include audio, so you can practice reading and listening at the same time.

Listening

  • TPO TOEFL Listening TOEFL Plan (Paid): While designed for TOEFL, its academic lectures and conversations align with IELTS listening skills. Use it as supplementary practice to expand your listening material variety.
  • LearnEnglish Podcast (Free with In-App Purchases): From the British Council, this app offers podcasts on daily and social topics at natural English speeds. Scripts are included to help you review parts you missed, and it exposes you to British English, which is key for IELTS.

Writing

  • IELTS Writing Tutor (Free with In-App Purchases): Focuses on IELTS-specific writing formats, with sample answers and detailed explanations. It also provides common phrases and expressions to help you build vocabulary and improve sentence structure.
  • IDIY (Paid): Connects you with professional tutors who give detailed feedback on your essays, fixing grammar errors and suggesting more natural expressions. It’s a great way to address blind spots in your writing.

Speaking (Complementary to Keraft)

  • IELTSpeaking (Free with In-App Purchases): Offers mock speaking tests in the official IELTS format. You can record your answers and compare them to model responses to improve fluency and content.
  • ELSA Speak (Free with In-App Purchases): Uses AI to correct pronunciation, helping you improve clarity and intonation. It’s a useful supplement to Keraft for focused pronunciation drills.

Effective Ways to Use IELTS Prep Apps

  1. Leverage Spare Moments

Apps excel at turning short gaps into study time. Spend 10 minutes on a reading article during your commute, listen to a podcast while waiting in line, or review 10 vocabulary words during a coffee break. Small, consistent practice adds up quickly.

  1. Pair Apps with Textbooks

Apps are great for daily drills and practice, but textbooks offer structured explanations and full mock exams. Use Keraft to practice speaking and vocabulary daily, then use a textbook to review grammar rules and take timed practice tests.

  1. Practice Like It’s the Real Exam

IELTS has strict time limits, so practice with a timer to build your speed. For listening and speaking, try to replicate exam conditions—find a quiet space, avoid distractions, and stick to the time limits. For writing, use apps to draft essays within the official time frame.

Consider Combining Apps with an English School

Speaking and writing are often the hardest sections to improve alone. A good English school can provide personalized feedback, mock exams, and targeted guidance to fix issues you might miss on your own. Pair daily practice with Keraft and weekly tutoring sessions for balanced, fast progress.

Start Your IELTS Prep with Keraft

IELTS apps are powerful tools for boosting your score, and Keraft stands out as the most comprehensive option, covering every section with personalized, adaptive learning. By combining Keraft with other targeted apps, using spare moments effectively, and pairing with textbooks or tutoring, you can study efficiently and reach your target score.