Comparison

Basic English Course vs Speak850

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side โ€” with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Basic English Course

Features
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English is the most widely used language. In commerce, education, etc. English is the prime language of communication. This Basic English Course App: A Fun app Of Functional Language, Grammar And Vocabulary comes in handy to learn the structure and usage of the language. It teaches the nuances of the language, how to read, and to write with fluency and confidence. This app is comprehensive, contemporary, fun, and highly interactive. This app is specifically suited for the Indian learner, as it deals with the difficulties that might arise due to the stark contrasts between Indian languages and English. This app is designed to make sure the learner will be able to communicate and interact in any situation, especially with someone whose first language is English. It is designed in a manner that is fun to read and not just plain and boring instructions. With the help of this app, the readers can benefitted in the grammar and vocabulary of the language.

About

Speak850

Features
Read full description

Speak English with just 850 words. Speak850 teaches you Basic English โ€” the famous method created by linguist C. K. Ogden in 1930: a small, carefully chosen core of 850 words that can express almost any everyday idea. Master this core and you can communicate right away โ€” then grow naturally toward full English. Learn in your own language. Pick from 22 native languages and every word and example sentence is shown with a translation you understand, plus clear on-device audio. WHAT YOU GET โ€ข A complete 14-week course โ€” all 852 Basic English words, grouped into clear topics (People, Actions, House & Home, The Body, and more). โ€ข Smart flashcards with spaced repetition (SRS) that bring words back exactly when you're about to forget them. โ€ข A daily review queue, study streak, daily goal, and an optional reminder to keep the habit. โ€ข Listen and learn โ€” natural pronunciation for every word and sentence. PRO unlocks the full experience โ€ข The complete course โ€” every topic and all 852 words. โ€ข Unlimited mixed practice: choose the meaning, pick the word, listen, and spell. โ€ข Example Sentences โ€” see every word in real context, with audio and a translation in your language. โ€ข Word Combinations & Grammar guides โ€” the heart of the method: how a few verbs plus direction words (get up, put on, take off, give upโ€ฆ) and a handful of simple rules let you say almost anything. One-time purchase. No subscription. Free updates. The first topics and a daily review are free, so you can feel the method before you decide. Your progress is private โ€” stored on your device and synced through your own iCloud. No accounts, no ads, no tracking. Note: This app is an independent work that teaches the public-domain Basic English method. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by C. K. Ogden's estate or the Orthological Institute. All example sentences and translations are original.

Screenshots

Basic English Course4 screens
Speak8504 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Basic English Course at none against Speak850's 1. Basic English Course also leads on iOS requirement (7.1 vs 17.0). Speak850's advantage is update cadence (every 4 weeks vs every 6 months). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price ยท Rating ยท Positive reviews ยท Number of ratings ยท Update frequency ยท Ads ยท In-app purchases ยท Monetization ยท Best chart rank ยท Devices ยท Requires iOS

CostPrice ยท In-app purchases ยท Ads ยท Monetization

Both are free to download. Speak850 sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Basic English Course asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Basic English Course ships an update every 6 months, Speak850 every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 8, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences ยท 3 level
Basic English Course versus Speak850: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBasic English CourseSpeak850
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 6 monthsEvery 4 weeks โ€” better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo โ€” betterYes
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod โ€” betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS7.1 โ€” better17.0
Further details โ€” not scored
Size20 MB4 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developerrahul bawejaYI LIU

In-app purchases

None

Basic English Course

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Speak850

One-time1
  • Speak850 Pro$4.99

Questions

Is Basic English Course free?
Basic English Course is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Speak850 free?
Speak850 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Basic English Course or Speak850 have ads?
Neither Basic English Course nor Speak850 shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Basic English Course or Speak850?
Basic English Course ships an update every 6 months, and Speak850 every 4 weeks. Most recently, Basic English Course was updated on October 8, 2026 and Speak850 on October 1, 2026.

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