The Best Of Luck Club: notes on the 2019 album

Reproduced from publicspeakingapp.org

Public speaking app

A public speaking app listens while you talk out loud and scores your pace, filler words, voice and face. Picks by goal: Confidently for one-minute reps, Orai for scored lessons, Speeko for voice drills on iPhone, Speaker Coach for slides.

Public speaking apps at a glance

App	Best for	What it scores	Runs on	Free to start	Real people
Confidently	One-minute reps with feedback on your face	Pace, filler words, facial expressions, trail-offs, confidence score	iPhone, Android	Free download with a free practice mode	No
Orai	Short lessons and scored scripts	Filler words, pace, clarity, energy, confidence, conciseness	iPhone, Android	Free download, in-app purchases	No
Speeko	Voice drills and AI roleplay on Apple devices	Pace, filler words, tone, pauses	iPhone, iPad, Mac	Free download, in-app purchases	Coach-led live group events
PowerPoint Speaker Coach	Rehearsing a talk with your slides	Pacing, pitch, filler words, wordiness, reading the slide text	PowerPoint on the web, Windows, Mac	Free preview, Microsoft account needed	No
PromptSmart	Reading a script without losing your place	No scores; the text scrolls with your voice	iPhone, iPad, Android	Lite version to try; Pro is a paid app	No
Yoodli	Roleplay training inside a company	Roleplays scored on goals the team sets	Web, with Zoom, Google Meet and Teams links	Sign up to try	No, AI personas
Your phone's recorder	A zero-cost first recording	Nothing; you listen back	Every phone	Built in	No
Toastmasters	A real room on a fixed schedule	Spoken feedback from members	In-person, online and hybrid clubs	Guests visit at no charge	Yes
AmberWillo	Speaking in front of people from home	Small online group sessions with up to 14 peers	Web	See its site	Yes

Facts from each App Store or Google Play listing and the makers' own pages, checked October 29, 2026. Names only, no paid placement for other makers. Confidently is the app this site points to.

Public speaking app picks by goal

A public speaking app is a phone, desktop or web tool that listens while you practice and gives feedback on your delivery. They train the delivery side of communication skills. Most use speech recognition to turn your words into a transcript, then count filler words and measure pace; some also read your face through the camera or let you rehearse a conversation with an AI. The nine picks below are sorted by the goal they fit best, with what each one scores, where it runs and what you get without paying.

1. 1

   Confidently: short practice reps that score your face as well as your voice

   Best for: one-minute practice reps Runs on: iPhone, Android

   Confidently is a phone app for speaking practice. It gives you a random prompt and 60 seconds to answer out loud, or you can record a full speech of up to 30 minutes, or upload a video you already have. Then it shows where your pace changed when you got nervous, how many times you said um, how your face looked during certain lines, where you trailed off, and a confidence score it tracks from session to session. Recordings stay private, and there is no public feed. Its release notes say it works in 16 languages.

   The prompts are the point. Most people practice a talk they already wrote, which trains memory. A random prompt trains what actually breaks under pressure: finding words while someone is waiting. Game modes such as improv challenges, a daily challenge and a debate mode keep the reps short.

   Pace

   How fast you talk, and where you sped up.

   Filler words

   Each um, uh and like, counted.

   Face

   How your expression read on certain lines.

   Trail-off

   Where your voice dropped at the end of a thought.

   Confidence score

   One number per session, tracked over time.

   Keep each try short. In Confidently's own data from 8,184 graded sessions, clarity was highest in answers of 20 to 59 seconds, and confidence scores climbed from 5.52 in the lowest pacing band to 6.68 in the highest. Limit: there is no live human audience in the app.

2. 2

   Orai: bite-sized lessons and a scorecard after every session

   Best for: short lessons and scripts Runs on: iPhone, Android

   Orai is an AI speech coach app that scores six things after each session: filler words, pace, clarity, energy, confidence and conciseness. You can practice a prepared script or speak freestyle, and it gives a scorecard with coaching tips, a transcript and playback. It has scenarios for presentations, interviews, meetings, speeches and sales pitches, plus bite-sized lessons and progress tracking over your session history.

   • Free to install from the App Store and Google Play, with monthly, yearly and lifetime plans as in-app purchases.
   • Good for: people who like a lesson plan and a number to beat.
   • Limit: it scores what you say; it doesn't answer back like a real listener.
3. 3

   Speeko: voice warm-ups, AI roleplay and courses from voice coaches

   Best for: voice drills Runs on: iPhone, iPad, Mac

   Speeko is an AI speech coach for Apple devices. It gives feedback on your pace, filler words, tone and pauses, and adds AI roleplays called Convos for job interviews, difficult conversations and small talk. Its lessons and courses were built with speaking experts including voice coach Roger Love, and daily voice warm-ups take a few minutes. Recent versions added notecards, transcripts, streaks and live group events led by coaches.

   • Free to download with in-app subscriptions; we found no Google Play version, so Android users need another pick.
   • Good for: a quiet, low-stakes daily habit focused on how your voice sounds.
   • Limit: Apple devices only.
4. 4

   PowerPoint Speaker Coach: rehearse with your actual slides

   Best for: slide presentations Runs on: web, Windows, Mac

   Speaker Coach is a rehearsal tool built into Microsoft PowerPoint. You start it from the Slide Show tab, give your talk to the screen, and it comments on your pacing, pitch, filler words, informal speech, euphemisms, culturally sensitive terms, wordiness and whether you are just reading the slide text aloud. When you stop, it opens a rehearsal report with recommendations.

   Microsoft says Speaker Coach is a free preview for everyone, even without an Office subscription; you sign in with a Microsoft account. The report disappears when you close it, so take a screenshot.

5. 5

   PromptSmart: a teleprompter that follows your voice

   Best for: scripted talks and videos Runs on: iPhone, iPad, Android

   PromptSmart Pro is a teleprompter app, not a coach. Its VoiceTrack feature listens to you and scrolls, pauses and resumes the script as you speak, so the text waits when you go off script and catches up when you return. The Android listing says VoiceTrack needs no internet connection and no calibration. It is useful for a recorded video, a eulogy or a talk you must read word for word.

   PromptSmart Lite lets you try VoiceTrack before buying Pro, which is a paid app on the App Store.

6. 6

   Yoodli: AI roleplay for teams

   Best for: company training Runs on: web

   Yoodli now describes itself as an AI platform for human skills, aimed at sales teams, learning and development and managers. Its modules cover roleplays, AI personas, coaching and progress measurement, and it lists links with Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams and Slack. Individuals can still sign up to try it, but the product is built around team programs rather than a solo daily habit.

7. 7

   Your phone's voice recorder and camera: the zero-cost baseline

   Best for: a first recording today Runs on: any phone

   The voice memo or camera app on your phone records you for nothing. Prop the phone up, say your opening for 60 seconds, then listen once for ums and once for pace. Nothing is counted for you, so it is slower than an app that scores, but it is far better than practicing silently in your head. A mirror shows posture and hands; a recording shows how you sound, which matters more.

8. 8

   Toastmasters: a real audience, not an app

   Best for: live practice Runs on: in-person, online, hybrid clubs

   Toastmasters International is a speaking club network. Clubs meet in person, online or both, and welcome guests free of charge with no pressure to join. Members practice and receive feedback from peers, and its Pathways program has six paths in six languages. It is the step an app can't give you: faces reacting while you talk. It also asks for a weekly time slot, which not everyone has.

9. 9

   AmberWillo: small online groups for speaking in front of people

   Best for: an audience from home Runs on: web

   AmberWillo runs small group video sessions where you speak in front of other people who want to practice too, with up to 14 peers per session. It sits between a solo app and a club: real faces, but from your own room and at a lower stakes level than a live stage.

Apps change fast. Poised, a desktop coach that gave live tips during calls, says on its own site that it shut down on October 8, 2026; Yoodli moved from a free personal tool to a team platform. Check the current listing before you rely on any app, including ours.

How to choose a public speaking app

Choosing a public speaking app comes down to one question: are you preparing for a specific type of event, or fixing a specific habit? Start with the habit you notice most, then check that the app runs on your phone and gives you enough for free to try it for a week.

If your problem is this, start here

If your problem is	Look for	Start with
Ums, uhs and likes	A filler word count after each try	Confidently, Orai, Speeko
Talking too fast when nervous	Pace tracking that shows where you sped up	Confidently, Orai
Going blank without notes	Random prompts and impromptu practice	Confidently
A flat or quiet voice	Tone and pitch feedback, voice warm-ups	Speeko, Speaker Coach
A tense face or no eye contact	Camera feedback on facial expressions	Confidently
A slide deck to present	Rehearsal inside the presentation software	PowerPoint Speaker Coach
A script you must read	A teleprompter that follows your voice	PromptSmart
Freezing in front of people	Real listeners, a little more each time	AmberWillo, Toastmasters

Next, check four things on the store listing: the platforms (Speeko is Apple only), what the free version includes, whether you get real-time feedback while you talk or a report after the session, and whether you can practice your own script as well as prompts. Beginners usually do best with the simplest app that scores the one habit they care about, used every day, rather than the app with the longest feature list.

App, coach or club

Option	Feedback from	Audience	How often you can practice
Public speaking app	Software: counts and scores	None, or AI personas	Any time, as often as you like
Speech coach	An expert who watches you	One person	When a session is booked; the most expensive per hour
Club or group	Other speakers	A real room	On the club's or group's schedule

What a public speaking app can and can't do

A public speaking app trains delivery: the speed, the fillers, the pauses, the voice and the face. O*NET defines the skill they train, speaking, as talking to others to convey information effectively. An app closes the feedback loop that solo practice lacks, because you can't count your own ums while you are saying them.

Technology-assisted practice works. A 2019 meta-analysis of 30 randomized trials found that technology-assisted programs reduce fear of public speaking as well as face-to-face ones. A 2022 meta-analysis of 11 studies with 508 participants found that virtual reality exposure and real-life exposure both reduce public speaking anxiety, with real-life exposure marginally ahead. In a 2009 trial with 88 participants, virtual reality CBT matched standard CBT, and twice as many people dropped out of standard CBT. Most people notice a change in their scores within a few weeks of short daily practice; nerves take longer.

The limit is the audience. An app has no real faces watching you, and in that 2022 analysis live exposure stayed marginally ahead. VR headset apps simulate a crowd, which helps some people, but you need the headset. If fear is severe (glossophobia), an app is a start, not a treatment, and a therapist trained in exposure work is the right next step. Paid plans usually cost $5 to $20 a month, according to AmberWillo's app guide, which also notes that AmberWillo works differently, with small group sessions of up to 14 peers. An app is one tool; a full guide on how to improve public speaking covers the rest.

30 randomized trials: technology-assisted practice cut fear as well as face-to-face programs (2019).

508 people in 11 studies: VR and real-life exposure both lowered anxiety (2022).

8,184 graded sessions in Confidently's data: confidence scores climb with better pacing.

Free public speaking app options

A free public speaking app is enough to find out whether scored practice suits you. Every pick on this page can be tried without paying, but what you get for free differs. Give it a week before you pay: if the same habit keeps showing up in your scores, you know what to work on, paid plan or not.

Confidently

Free to download with a free practice mode; extras are in-app purchases.

Orai

Free to download on iPhone and Android, with in-app purchases.

Speeko

Free to download on Apple devices, with in-app subscriptions.

PowerPoint Speaker Coach

Free preview, no Office subscription needed.

PromptSmart Lite

A free way to try voice scrolling before the paid Pro app.

Phone recorder

Built in, nothing to install.

Toastmasters

Guests can visit clubs at no charge.

How to practice with a public speaking app for 7 days

A good routine with a public speaking app is short, out loud and repeated. This plan takes about ten minutes a day and moves from solo reps to a real listener by the end of the week.

1. Day 1. Record one 60-second answer and write down your three numbers: pace, filler words, confidence. That is your baseline.
2. Day 2. Pick one metric for the week, such as filler words or pacing, and ignore the rest.
3. Day 3. Practice standing up, the way you'll actually speak, and replace each um with a short pause.
4. Day 4. Do five short tries on the same prompt instead of one long one. Compare like with like, so a change in the number means a change in you.
5. Day 5. Switch to random prompts to practice impromptu answers, and pair the app with a few public speaking tips on structure, like the 3:2:1 rule.
6. Day 6. Rehearse your real talk or interview answers once, start to finish, without stopping to fix mistakes.
7. Day 7. Speak to people: a friend on a call, a small online group or a club meeting. Then record again and compare with day 1.

The week follows an exposure ladder: alone with an app, then one patient listener, then a small group, then the real room. Each rung should feel a little uncomfortable but doable. On the day itself, breathe out longer than you breathe in, say your first sentence slower than feels natural, and if you stumble, pause and pick up from the last point you are sure of. Most slips that feel huge from the inside are hard to see from the seats.

Public speaking app by situation

The same public speaking app can serve very different moments; what changes is what you practice in it.

What to practice by situation

Situation	What to practice	App feature that helps
Job interview	Two-minute answers to likely questions, out loud	Random prompts, AI roleplay, filler word count
Sales pitch	The opening and the ask, until both are short	Pace and conciseness scores, transcripts
Wedding toast	A tight two-minute story with one clear close	Full speech recording, teleprompter for the last run
Class presentation	The talk with your slides, timed	Rehearsal inside the slide software
Meetings and video calls	Short, clear points without filler	Pace and filler feedback, camera check of your face
English as a second language	Clear words at a steady pace	Transcripts, pronunciation feedback in a language app
Stage fright	Many low-stakes reps, then real listeners	Daily prompts, small online groups

For students, the class presentation row is the one to start with; for professionals, the meeting row is where daily reps pay off fastest.

Tools that help around the talk

Some apps don't coach you at all but make the practice easier. Many app lists mix them in with the coaches; here they are sorted by the job they do.

Teleprompter

Scrolls your script while you read; voice-following ones like PromptSmart wait for you.

Metronome or timer

Sets a steady beat or a time limit so you stop rushing and finish on time.

Outline or notes app

Puts your points in order before you rehearse; use keywords, not full sentences.

Breathing or meditation app

Guides slow breathing to calm nerves in the minutes before you speak.

Slide software

Times your talk per slide and, with Speaker Coach, scores the rehearsal.

A library of great talks

Learning from great speakers shows structure, pauses and body language; then practice it yourself.

Vocabulary and language apps

Help non-native speakers with words and pronunciation, not with delivery.

Privacy and subscriptions: check before you install

• Read the privacy label on the App Store or the data safety section on Google Play: it lists what is collected and whether it is linked to you.
• Check whether recordings stay on your account only, and whether you can delete them.
• Most plans are auto-renewing subscriptions. If you start a free trial, set a reminder to cancel before it ends.
• Prices vary by country and change often, so trust the listing on the day, not a list article.

Reader questions

What are some free apps that can help me improve my speaking skills?

Confidently, Orai and Speeko are all free to download with paid extras, PowerPoint's Speaker Coach is a free preview, and your phone's recorder costs nothing. Start with whichever scores the habit you want to fix.

Do public speaking apps actually work?

For delivery, yes. Counting fillers and timing pace gives you feedback you can't get alone, and studies show technology-assisted practice cuts fear about as well as face-to-face programs. For nerves, add real listeners too.

Is there a public speaking app for iPhone and Android?

Yes. Confidently and Orai are on both the App Store and Google Play. Speeko is Apple only, and Speaker Coach runs inside PowerPoint.

What is the 3:2:1 rule for speaking?

It's a simple shape for a talk: three things you want people to remember, two concrete examples for the points that need them, and one message to leave them with. It stops rambling, and it's easy to practice in a one-minute app answer.

Is Elsa speak free?

ELSA Speak is free to download on iPhone and iPad, with Premium subscriptions and a 7-day free trial of Premium. It trains English pronunciation, not speeches, so it pairs with a public speaking app rather than replacing one.

How to earn from public speaking?

Paid talks usually come after many unpaid ones: speak at local groups, schools and events, record the good ones, and build a short talk you can give well every time. Daily practice in an app keeps your delivery sharp between gigs.

How long does it take to get better with an app?

Scores usually move within a few weeks of short daily practice. Keep the same prompt length each time so the numbers are comparable.

Sources

1. Psychological Interventions for the Fear of Public Speaking: A Meta-Analysis, Ebrahimi et al., Frontiers in Psychology (2019). PMC6428748.
2. A Meta-Analysis of the Efficacy of Virtual Reality and In Vivo Exposure Therapy for Public Speaking Anxiety, Reeves et al., Behavior Modification (2022).
3. Virtual reality cognitive behavior therapy for public speaking anxiety: a randomized clinical trial, Wallach et al., Behavior Modification (2009). PMID 19321811.
4. Essential Skills: Speaking, O*NET OnLine.
5. Rehearse your slide show with Speaker Coach, Microsoft Support.
6. App Store and Google Play listings for Confidently, Orai, Speeko, PromptSmart Pro and ELSA Speak, checked October 29, 2026.
7. Public speaking app guide, AmberWillo.
8. Practice data from 8,184 graded sessions, Confidently.