Speaking Coach vs Orai: Which Public Speaking App Is Better?
Choose Orai if you mainly rehearse speeches and talks on your own and want a scorecard on filler words, pace, clarity and energy after each run; as of October 2026 it is English only. Choose Speaking Coach (our app) if what you need to practice is two-way: interviews, questions after a talk, small talk or a hard conversation, with a partner who replies and follows up, in 20 languages.
Who we are, and how we checked
We make Speaking Coach. We read Orai's home page and its App Store page in October 2026, and compared them with our own App Store page. Everything we say about Orai below comes from those pages.
The core difference is who is talking. In Orai, you speak and the app listens, then scores the recording. In Speaking Coach, you and an AI partner take turns: it plays an interviewer, an audience asking questions, a manager or a stranger, and it reacts to what you said.
Side by side, from both App Store pages (October 2026)
| Orai | Speaking Coach | |
|---|---|---|
| What you do | Record a speech, scripted or freestyle | Hold a spoken conversation with an AI partner |
| Does the app talk back? | No; it scores your delivery after each session | Yes; it plays the other side and follows up |
| Feedback | Filler words, pace, clarity, energy, confidence, conciseness, with a scorecard and coaching tips | Pace in words per minute, filler words, long pauses, how quickly you started, tips that quote your words |
| Lessons | Bite-sized public speaking lessons | No lessons; 23 built-in scenes plus any situation you describe |
| Slides | Not mentioned on its App Store page | Add a PDF and swipe through it while you speak, then take audience questions |
| Interviews | Not a focus of its listing | Interviewer reads your CV and job post |
| Other features | Transcripts, playback, session history, sharing recordings, progress tracking | Retry a moment in 90 seconds, daily 30-second prompt, streak, session history |
| Languages listed | English | English and 19 more |
| Platforms | iPhone app; its site also links to Android and a web app | iPhone and Android |
| Price (US App Store) | $12.99 a month, $49.99 a year, or $99.99 lifetime | Monthly or yearly subscription; see your app store |
Where Orai is the better pick
- Rehearsing a set speech. If you have a wedding toast, a keynote or a class presentation written out, saying it into Orai five times and watching the filler-word count fall is exactly the right drill. Practicing with a script is built in.
- You want a lifetime option. As of October 2026 Orai lists a $99.99 lifetime purchase on the US App Store.
- You like scores and trends. Orai's site shows a scorecard with one "Try this next" suggestion and progress trends over time.
- You want a web version. Orai's site links to app.orai.com.
Where Speaking Coach is the better pick
- The hard part is answering, not delivering. In an interview or a Q&A, you can't prepare every sentence. A recording app has no way to ask "Why did you choose that?" A partner does.
- You need another language. Orai's App Store page lists English only. Speaking Coach works in 20 languages, with the partner and the feedback in that language.
- **You want to rehearse a talk with its questions.** Add your slides as a PDF, present, then answer what your audience would likely ask. Our guide to handling Q&A covers what to say when you don't know the answer.
- Your goal is everyday conversation. Small talk, asking for a raise, saying no or giving tough feedback are among the 23 built-in scenes.
A simple way to decide
Ask yourself what usually goes wrong.
| What goes wrong | Better fit |
|---|---|
| "I say um constantly in my prepared talk" | Orai, or our free filler word counter |
| "I speed up when I present" | Either; both measure pace |
| "I'm fine with the script but freeze on questions" | Speaking Coach |
| "I ramble when an interviewer asks something open" | Speaking Coach |
| "I don't know how to start or structure a speech" | Orai's lessons, or our guide on how to practice a speech |
| "I need to practice in Spanish or Japanese" | Speaking Coach |
If you give talks and face questions afterwards, the two complement each other: polish the talk solo, then rehearse the questions with a partner.
Questions people ask
Is Orai free?
It is free to download. As of October 2026, its US App Store page lists in-app purchases of $12.99 a month, $49.99 a year and $99.99 lifetime.
Does Orai work in languages other than English?
Its App Store page lists English only, as of October 2026. Speaking Coach supports 20 languages.
Can Speaking Coach just analyze a speech I record?
The phone app is built around conversations and presentations with a partner, but you can present your slides and get the same delivery feedback. The free Speaking Coach app in ChatGPT reviews a recording you upload, in English, two a day.
Do either of these rate my accent?
Neither App Store page lists accent scoring. Speaking Coach never rates your accent or your personality.
Which is better for a job interview?
Speaking Coach, because an interview is a conversation: the interviewer reads your CV and job post and follows up on your answers. Orai's listing focuses on speech delivery rather than interviews.