Starter
£0 / month
- 3 free checks a month (the first needs no sign-up)
- Each writing check uses 1 of your monthly checks; saved full rewrites are Pro
- Four criterion scores and a revision plan
- Saved essay history
Apps and tools · checked 13 October 2026
Best IELTS preparation apps in 2026, by what you need
Start with IELTS by IDP, the free app from one of the organisations that runs IELTS, for booking, results and preparation material; it includes a 14-day taster of a preparation course developed by Macquarie University. Then add one tool for the skill that holds you back, such as the British Council's free grammar and pronunciation apps or an AI app that gives estimated bands for writing and speaking.
Disclosure: English Test Coach is our own product. It is a website that works in your phone's browser, not an app-store app. We do not rank apps or award stars, and we link to each app's own page instead of quoting ratings, which change daily.
Which IELTS preparation app should you use?
| What you need | App or tool | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Booking your test, checking results and official preparation material | IELTS by IDP | Free on iOS and Android. |
| Grammar and pronunciation practice alongside IELTS study | British Council English apps | Free to download; LearnEnglish Grammar sells extra content packs. |
| AI estimates for writing and speaking on a phone | IELTS Practice Band 9 | Free to install; contains ads and in-app purchases. |
| A structured course with live classes, for IELTS or PTE | IELTS & PTE Prep by Leap | Free to install; in-app purchases. |
| Writing practice with feedback, in the browser | English Test Coach | Free: 3 free checks a month (the first needs no sign-up); Pro £12 a month. |
IELTS by IDP
IDP, one of the organisations that runs IELTS · Free on iOS and Android.
Book a test, follow recommended next steps, use articles, videos, webinars, podcasts, quizzes and flashcards, and see your results in the app. It includes a 14-day taster of an IELTS preparation course developed by Macquarie University, with full access when you book your test through IDP, and a 14-day trial of an E2 Test Prep course that offers assessment and expert feedback as an upgrade.
Source: IELTS by IDP app page, checked 13 October 2026.
British Council English apps
The British Council · Free to download; LearnEnglish Grammar sells extra content packs.
LearnEnglish Grammar comes with three free sample packs and paid packs by level. Sounds Right is a pronunciation chart, and LearnEnglish Podcasts and Videos give listening practice. These are general English apps, not IELTS practice tests.
Source: British Council apps page, checked 13 October 2026.
IELTS Practice Band 9
LT EduApp · Free to install; contains ads and in-app purchases.
Lists AI writing evaluation with band estimates, AI speaking feedback, full practice tests for all four skills with timers, and Academic and General Training support.
Source: Google Play listing, checked 13 October 2026.
IELTS & PTE Prep by Leap
Outleap Technologies · Free to install; in-app purchases.
Lists lessons for IELTS Academic, General Training and PTE Academic, over 50 mock tests with instant scores, AI speaking practice and live classes with trainers, aimed at students planning to study abroad.
Source: Google Play listing, checked 13 October 2026.
Browser tools for writing practice
Writing is the skill apps handle least well on a small screen. A browser tool on a laptop, or on a phone when you have to, lets you type a full response under time.
- English Test Coach: original Task 1 and Task 2 questions, annotated sample answers, a timed writing workspace and an AI checker with evidence for each criterion. See how the checker works or take a timed IELTS Writing mock test.
- Write & Improve +Test Zone: workbooks from the Cambridge team behind IELTS, at £4.50 a month per workbook with some free tasks. Write & Improve +Test Zone.
Comparing writing checkers in more detail? Read the best IELTS writing checkers compared, or find free IELTS writing practice websites with sample answers and feedback.
How to choose an IELTS app
- Start official. Use the app or website of the organisation you book with for test dates, rules and results.
- Check ads and purchases. The store listing shows whether an app contains ads or in-app purchases.
- Treat AI scores as estimates. No app can give an official band; look for feedback that explains what to change.
- Match the skill. Add one tool for your weakest skill instead of collecting many apps.
- Read the data safety section. Recording and writing tools collect your work; check what they keep.
Plans for your practice
A clear place to start.
Start with the tools you need and make room for regular practice.
Pro
£12 / month
Or pay once, with no renewal: 1-month pass £12 · 3-month pass £24 · 12-month pass £49
Everything in Starter, plus:
- Unlimited writing checks (fair-use daily limits apply)
- 60 full rewrites each month
- Band progress chart across your saved checks
- Writing mock pack: 5 more timed mocks with printable band reports
- AI essay planner: outline, ideas and topic vocabulary
- AI feedback on your vocabulary practice sentences
- Speaking transcription for your recorded answers
- Cancel any time
Exam passes
Practise until test day.
Pay once for everything in Pro, for as long as you need before your test. A pass never renews and nothing more is charged. Buying another pass adds its days after the current one ends.
Which should I choose? Pro suits regular practice and renews monthly until you cancel. A pass suits a fixed test date: you pay once and it never renews.
A pass starts straight away, so the usual 14-day cancellation right does not apply. It never renews.
Prices in pounds. In some countries checkout shows a fixed local price; elsewhere Stripe converts to your currency, and you can choose to pay in pounds. Show prices in rupees (₹)
Retaking Writing?
If Writing held your band back, practise with a pass until your retake: check every essay against the four criteria, fix one weakness at a time and see each estimate change. The bands are estimates, not official IELTS scores, and no score is guaranteed.
£12 a month, renewing monthly until you cancel. No VAT is added. Cancel any time; Pro stays active until the end of the paid month, with no partial refunds. Outside the UK? You can pay in pounds (GBP) to avoid Stripe's conversion fee.
Pro payments are taken on Stripe's secure checkout page, so English Test Coach never sees your card number.
Questions about IELTS apps
Is there an official IELTS app?
Yes. IDP, one of the organisations that runs IELTS, publishes the free IELTS by IDP app for booking, preparation and results. The British Council publishes free general English apps for grammar, pronunciation and listening.
Are IELTS preparation apps free?
Most are free to install. Many then sell content packs, subscriptions or courses, and some show ads. Check the store listing for ads and in-app purchases before you rely on an app.
Can an app check my IELTS writing?
Some can. AI apps and web tools give band estimates, which are practice estimates, not official scores. English Test Coach works in your phone's browser and gives 3 free checks a month (the first needs no sign-up).
Do I need an app at all?
No. Good preparation needs practice under time, feedback and a plan. An app is useful if it makes that easier on your phone; a website that works in your browser can do the same without a download.
Practise writing without a download
Open the writing workspace in any browser, write a response under time and run a free check.
App features, prices and policies change; check the current store listing before you pay. English Test Coach is not affiliated with IDP, the British Council, LT EduApp, Outleap Technologies, Cambridge or IELTS.