# Words vs ELSA Speak

The clearest difference is ratings volume: ELSA Speak at 115K against Words's 1.1K. ELSA Speak also leads on update cadence (every 10 days vs every 5 weeks) and rating (4.7 vs 4.5). Words's advantage is review sentiment (50% vs 42%). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Words sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per 7 days and ELSA Speak sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $19.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ELSA Speak holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ELSA Speak has 115K ratings behind it against 1.1K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 50% of Words's written reviews are positive against 42% of ELSA Speak's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Words ships an update every 5 weeks, ELSA Speak every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on November 10, 2026 and November 12, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Words | ELSA Speak |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (1.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/words-learn-languages-fast/id636486459/reviews) | **[4.7 (115K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/elsa-speak-english-learning/id1083804886/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 1.1K | **115K** |
| Positive reviews | **49.6% of reviews** | 41.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | **Every 10 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#92** |
| Size | 103 MB | 270 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.1 | **16.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Andrey Lebedev](https://appshunter.io/developer/636486462) | [Elsa Corp](https://appshunter.io/developer/1083804885) |

## What reviewers say

### Words

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/words-learn-languages-fast/id636486459)

Master English and German with engaging exercises and a smart algorithm. Learn new words in just 20 minutes a day with ready-made or custom lessons, a built-in dictionary, and hands-free mode. Track progress and earn rewards to boost fluency.

**Highlights:** 10 unique exercises, Ready-made & custom lessons, Built-in dictionary & examples, Accurate pronunciations, Smart learning algorithm, Achievements & statistics, Offline mode

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (9)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Plus | $5.99 | per 7 days |
| Premium (English) | $13.99 | per month |
| Premium (English) | $19.99 | per year |
| Premium (English) | $39.99 | per 3 months |
| Premium Plus | $47.99 | per year |
| Premium (English) | $79.99 | per year |
| Premium (English) | $79.99 | per year |
| Premium Plus | $95.99 | per year |
| Premium Plus | $129.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- ⭐️ Highly effective vocabulary learning app
- 👍 Engaging and varied learning techniques
- 💪 Impressive learning progress and results
- 📚 Flexible and customizable learning experience

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Offline mode issues with premium features
- 🗣 Outdated dictionary with many archaic words
- 🖼️ Lack of image support for words
- 🔍 Difficult to navigate and change settings

**Reported bugs**

- Premium features disappear during offline use
- Inability to restore purchases after updates

**Requested features**

- Add image generation for all words
- Improve offline mode functionality
- Expand dictionary with more modern vocabulary
- Enhance customization and personalization options


### ELSA Speak

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/elsa-speak-english-learning/id1083804886)

**Currently charting:** #92 Top Grossing · Education (US App Store)

This AI-powered English tutor helps you practice conversations, improve pronunciation, and build vocabulary for real-life scenarios like job interviews and presentations. It offers personalized learning paths and instant feedback to boost your speaking confidence.

**Highlights:** AI-powered English tutor, Conversation practice, Pronunciation training, Grammar and vocabulary building, Personalized learning paths, Exam preparation (IELTS, TOEFL, TOEIC), Real-time feedback

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly | $19.99 | per month |
| 3 months | $39.99 | per 3 months |
| 3 months Elsa Premium | $47.99 | per 3 months |
| 3 months | $58.00 | per 3 months |
| 1 year | $71.00 | per year |
| One year Premium membership | $99.99 | per year |
| 1 Year Elsa Premium | $99.99 | per year |
| 1 Year ELSA Premium | $99.99 | per year |
| 1 year | $109.99 | per year |
| 1 year | $129.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Excellent for improving pronunciation
- 👍 Helpful feedback on pronunciation issues
- 💡 Covers a wide range of topics
- 🤖 Effective AI-powered speech recognition

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent app crashes and freezes
- 🔌 Slow loading times and connectivity issues
- 🤖 Inconsistent and unreliable scoring system
- 🇺🇸 Only supports American English accent

**Reported bugs**

- Microphone not working after phone calls
- Inability to add words to personal playlists
- Inconsistent behavior when repeating the same phrase
- Subscription issues and lack of clear cancellation process

**Requested features**

- Add support for British English accent
- Improve dictionary with more word meanings
- Provide option to switch between male and female voices
- Implement more structured learning path and progress tracking


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Words free?

Words is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is ELSA Speak free?

ELSA Speak is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Words or ELSA Speak?

ELSA Speak is rated higher. Words averages 4.5 out of 5 from 1.1K ratings, while ELSA Speak averages 4.7 from 115K ratings.

### Do Words or ELSA Speak have ads?

Neither Words nor ELSA Speak shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Words or ELSA Speak?

Words ships an update every 5 weeks, and ELSA Speak every 10 days. Most recently, Words was updated on November 10, 2026 and ELSA Speak on November 12, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*