Speak
: How to use it, features, and the business problems it solves
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What is Speak?
Speak is a speaking-focused AI English conversation app from San Francisco-based Speakeasy Labs, backed by the OpenAI Startup Fund. You can practice speaking with an AI tutor without limits and get instant feedback on pronunciation and phrasing. 15M downloads worldwide. After a 7-day free trial, Premium starts at 19,800 yen/year (about 1,650 yen/month). Japanese UI and support available.
Business problems it solves
About "Speak"
What is Speak?
Speak is an AI English conversation app focused on speaking practice, developed by Speakeasy Labs, Inc. in San Francisco. Combining OpenAI's technology with proprietary speech recognition, it lets you practice speaking English out loud with an AI tutor, with no limit on the number of conversations. The official Japanese version launched on February 9, 2023.
While most language apps center on vocabulary and grammar input, the majority of a Speak lesson consists of actually moving your mouth and producing output. No tutor bookings are needed — you can start talking 24 hours a day, and the AI returns instant feedback on pronunciation and phrasing. Even learners who freeze up in front of a human tutor can rack up speaking volume without worrying about mistakes. The company is backed by the OpenAI Startup Fund and announced a Series C round at a $1 billion valuation in December 2024.
How to use
- Install the app and create an account Get the app ("AI英会話スピーク") from the App Store or Google Play (a web version is also available) and sign up with your email address.
- Start the 7-day free trial Answer questions about your level and goals; during the trial you get full access to every feature. If you do not cancel at least 24 hours before the trial ends, the paid plan begins.
- Learn through leveled courses Courses run from absolute beginner to intermediate. Right after a short video lesson teaches an expression, you practice saying it into the microphone.
- Practice for real with Roleplay and Speak Tutor Act out scenes such as ordering, interviews, and small talk with the AI in Roleplay, or use the AI tutor "Speak Tutor" for free conversation, grammar questions, and on-the-spot lesson generation.
- Review with Smart Review Review lessons are auto-generated from your mistakes and saved phrases, so you can drill them until they stick.
Key features
- Speak Tutor A 24/7 AI private tutor. Beyond free talk, it creates custom lessons on the spot based on your interests and goals.
- Roleplay Conversation practice with the AI in realistic scenarios, including asking the other party to repeat or rephrase — close to a human conversation.
- Made for You (custom lessons) Auto-generates dedicated speaking lessons from your goals and weak points. Premium allows 3 lessons per day; Premium Plus is unlimited.
- Pronunciation Coach Analyzes your speech and returns pronunciation feedback (English courses only).
- Smart Review Review lessons generated automatically from your learning history, including saved words and expressions.
- Leveled curriculum Courses from absolute beginner to intermediate, with lessons that take just a few minutes each.
Pricing
Pricing for Japan is in yen, with two paid plans. The table below reflects the official listing as of August 19, 2026 (official help center and App Store in-app purchase listing; store prices include tax).
| Plan | Monthly | Yearly (one-time) | Yearly, per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Premium | 3,800 yen | 19,800 yen | approx. 1,650 yen |
| Premium Plus | 5,800 yen | 29,800 yen | approx. 2,483 yen |
- Monthly billing is available only via in-app purchase; subscriptions via the official website (billed through Paddle) are yearly
- Both plans include the full curriculum, Roleplay, Speak Tutor, Smart Review, and Pronunciation Coach
- Premium Plus adds unlimited custom lessons (Made for You), a personalized learning plan, and focus on weak areas
- Promotional campaigns may change the applicable price
Free plan and trial
There is no permanent free plan; the entry point is a 7-day free trial. During the trial you get full access, including Roleplay and Speak Tutor, with no restrictions. Note that billing for your selected plan starts automatically unless you cancel at least 24 hours before the trial ends.
Refunds after billing depend on the purchase route. Purchases via Google Play or the official website (Paddle) are fully refundable within 7 days of payment; App Store purchases must be refunded through Apple (Speak's support team cannot process them).
Japanese language support
- UI and lesson explanations: the app supports 16 UI languages including Japanese, and lesson explanations for Japan are shown in Japanese
- Languages you can learn: users in Japan learn English (courses such as Spanish are offered for English speakers)
- Support: the help center, in-app live chat, and email support are all available in Japanese. Speak Japan G.K. (Shibuya, Tokyo) is the local entity
Reputation and track record
Officially published figures are as follows.
- 15 million downloads worldwide with an average rating of 4.8 (as stated on the official Japanese site)
- On the Japanese App Store: 4.6 rating with about 75,000 reviews, ranked near the top of the Education category (as of August 19, 2026). Shortly after the Japan launch, in March 2023, it reached No. 1 in free Education apps
- In 2024, users spoke more than 1 billion English sentences and over 25 million personalized lessons were generated (figures published with the Series C announcement)
- More than 200 companies use "Speak for Business" (as of December 2024)
- In December 2024, Speak raised a $78M Series C led by Accel at a $1 billion valuation; total funding is $162M
How it differs from other tools
| Product | Focus | Price entry point | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speak | English speaking | 19,800 yen/year (approx. 1,650 yen/month) | Speaking volume, OpenAI technology, custom lessons |
| SpeakBuddy | English speaking (character dialogue) | In-app subscription (monthly) | 1,000+ scenario roleplays |
| Duolingo | Multi-language, gamified | Free to start | 40+ languages; AI conversation in the higher Max plan |
| LingoChamp | Pronunciation scoring | In-app subscription | Phoneme-level pronunciation assessment (updates have slowed) |
SpeakBuddy, another speaking-focused app, is a Japanese product centered on scenario roleplay with AI characters, whereas Speak puts more weight on curriculum learning and free conversation. Duolingo is a multi-language app you can start for free, with game-like stickiness, but Speak offers denser speaking practice. If pronunciation correction is your priority, LingoChamp, which scores at the phoneme level, is also worth comparing — though its international version has stagnated, so Speak has the edge in ongoing improvement.
FAQ
Q. Can I keep using it for free? A. There is no permanent free plan. After the 7-day free trial, you need a Premium (19,800 yen/year or 3,800 yen/month) or Premium Plus (29,800 yen/year or 5,800 yen/month) subscription.
Q. Will I be charged if I cancel during the free trial? A. No. However, you must complete cancellation through your purchase route (App Store / Google Play / in-app) at least 24 hours before the trial ends. You can keep using the app until the trial period expires.
Q. Can I get a refund? A. Purchases via Google Play or the official website (Paddle) are fully refundable within 7 days of payment. App Store refunds must be requested from Apple and cannot be handled by Speak's support team.
Q. What level of learner is it for? A. The leveled courses run from absolute beginner to intermediate, making it a good fit for beginner-to-intermediate learners who want to increase speaking volume. Premium Plus generates unlimited custom lessons for goals such as business English.
Q. Can I learn languages other than English? A. Users in Japan can learn English. Courses such as Spanish are offered for English speakers.
Q. Is there a business plan? A. Yes — "Speak for Business", used by more than 200 companies as of December 2024. Pricing requires an inquiry.
Company
Speakeasy Labs, Inc. (San Francisco, USA; founded 2016). The CEO is co-founder Connor Zwick. The company has offices in Seoul, Tokyo, Taipei, and Ljubljana with about 130 employees. Investors include the OpenAI Startup Fund, Accel, Founders Fund, Khosla Ventures, and Y Combinator; total funding is $162 million, and the December 2024 Series C valued the company at $1 billion. The official Japanese version launched in February 2023 and is operated locally by Speak Japan G.K. (Shibuya, Tokyo).
The information on this page is based on what is published on the official website as of August 2026. Features and pricing may change, so please check the official site for the latest information.
