Disclosure: BandLadder publishes this comparison and includes itself. Every fact about the other platforms was read on that platform's own website or store listing on 27 September 2026; prices and free allowances change, so check before you pay. Treat any list that includes its author with healthy scepticism, and try the free tiers yourself.
Checked 27 September 2026
IELTS platforms side by side
| Platform | Exams | Free | Cheapest paid option | Speaking & writing scoring | App |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BandLadder | IELTS Academic, IELTS General, PTE Academic, PTE Core | 1 full mock plus 2 speaking and 2 writing AI evaluations a day; no card | From 7 days, priced in your local currency | AI, on the four IELTS criteria | iOS and Android |
| British Council IELTS Ready | IELTS Academic, IELTS General | 2 full mocks with reading and listening scores, a short mock with AI feedback, courses and webinars; account needed | Premium is free when you book a test with the British Council (40 full mocks); no standalone price | AI feedback on Premium; free tier scores reading and listening | Not checked |
| IELTS Online Tests | IELTS Academic, IELTS General | Mock tests (sign-up needed) and free live lessons | AI writing evaluation US$4.99 each; human examiner marking US$19.99 each | AI or human examiner, paid per attempt | Not mentioned |
| Magoosh IELTS | IELTS Academic, IELTS General | 7-day free trial | US$109 for 1 month (6 months US$129) | AI, unlimited; email help from experts | Flashcard and prep apps; Play 4.2★ |
| E2Language | IELTS Academic, IELTS General (also PTE, OET, CELPIP) | Score calculator, sample lessons and one sample live class | US$75.90 for 90 days (Express) | Human, by teachers who are former IELTS examiners, within 48 hours | Not mentioned |
| IELTS Free Tests | IELTS Academic, IELTS General | Test 1 of every section and Full Mock Test 1, no sign-up | US$2 for 150 credits on a limited-time offer (a full mock is 100 credits; list price US$5) | Described as expert evaluation by email; AI or human not stated | No (web) |
| IELTS Beacon | IELTS Academic, IELTS General, UKVI | Described as free: mocks, model answers, band calculator; no card | None stated | AI for writing; speaking is self-assessment against model answers | Not mentioned |
| IELTS Practice | IELTS (Academic reading stated; General not stated) | Free to start, no card; sign-up needed | Not published | AI; writing results in seconds, AI examiner for speaking | Not mentioned |
| LeapScholar | IELTS | 1 full-length mock covering all four modules and a free masterclass | Course prices not fully published | AI for speaking; trainer feedback on writing in the paid course | iOS and Android; Play 4.1★ |
Ranked
The platforms
BandLadder
That's usBest for: IELTS Academic and General Training in one pass, with AI band scores and prices in your local currency
- ✓One pass covers IELTS Academic and General Training.
- ✓50+ full-length IELTS mocks (40+ Academic, 10+ General Training) and 2.5k+ question-type drills.
- ✓Writing and speaking scored on task response, coherence, vocabulary, grammar, fluency and pronunciation, with an overall band using the official rounding.
- ✓Free band calculator, 700+ cue cards and 150+ Task 2 essays with Band 8 answers.
!Consider: No human examiner marking or live classes, and no TOEFL, CELPIP or Duolingo. The apps are new and have few store ratings yet.
Try BandLadder free →British Council IELTS Ready
Best for: Official practice, and a free Premium tier if you book your test with the British Council
- ✓Made by an IELTS co-owner.
- ✓Premium adds 40 full mocks and four-skill AI feedback at no extra cost to British Council candidates.
!Consider: The best tools need a British Council test booking, and Premium ends 7 days after your test date.
IELTS Online Tests
Best for: A large free test library with pay-per-use marking
- ✓Big free library for reading and listening repetition.
- ✓Human examiner marking available when you want it.
!Consider: Every writing or speaking evaluation costs extra, which adds up over a preparation period.
Magoosh IELTS
Best for: A video-lesson course with unlimited AI grading
- ✓120+ video lessons, 850 questions and up to 10 full mocks.
- ✓Band score guarantee.
!Consider: The 1-month plan costs almost as much as 6 months, and there is no human grading.
E2Language
Best for: Human marking by ex-IELTS examiners and live classes
- ✓Live classes on every plan and tutorials on higher tiers.
- ✓Score guarantee from the Bronze plan up.
!Consider: The most expensive option here, and human assessments are capped per plan (4 writing and 1 speaking on Bronze).
IELTS Free Tests
Best for: Very cheap pay-per-test with no subscription
- ✓Credits never expire.
- ✓The cheapest paid mocks in this list.
!Consider: It does not say how writing and speaking are marked, and the low prices are a timed promotion.
IELTS Beacon
Best for: Free full mocks with AI writing feedback
- ✓Free mocks and AI writing evaluation.
- ✓Covers IELTS for UKVI.
!Consider: No speaking scoring, and the number of tests is not stated.
IELTS Practice
Best for: Instant AI band feedback on writing
- ✓Very fast AI writing feedback.
- ✓50+ practice tests and a 30-day money-back promise.
!Consider: Prices are not public, and General Training coverage is not stated.
LeapScholar
Best for: A free full mock and masterclass alongside study-abroad guidance
- ✓Paid course lists 100+ video lectures and 50+ mocks.
- ✓Useful if you also want university-application help.
!Consider: Full pricing is not published, and the service is built around study-abroad counselling.
See where BandLadder fits
Practise IELTS free with AI band scores and judge for yourself.
Try BandLadder free →Frequently asked questions
What is the best IELTS preparation platform in 2026?+
It depends on what you need. For official material, British Council IELTS Ready is free and adds 40 mocks when you book with the British Council. For human examiner marking and live classes, E2Language (from US$75.90 for 90 days). For a video course with unlimited AI grading, Magoosh. For IELTS and PTE in one account with AI band scores, BandLadder, with plans from 7 days priced in your local currency.
Where can I take a free full IELTS mock test?+
British Council IELTS Ready gives 2 free full mocks with an account, IELTS Free Tests gives Full Mock Test 1 without sign-up, and LeapScholar offers one full-length mock; BandLadder includes one full mock with a free account. Checked 27 September 2026.
Which IELTS platforms have human examiners mark writing and speaking?+
E2Language uses teachers who are former IELTS examiners, within 48 hours, with a set number of assessments per plan. IELTS Online Tests sells human examiner marking at US$19.99 per task. Gurully has IELTS experts mark writing and speaking. Most other platforms, including BandLadder, use AI.
Is AI IELTS scoring accurate?+
AI scoring is a fast practice guide, not an official band. Good AI tools score against the four public criteria and explain what held the band back; for a high-stakes target, one or two human-marked essays are a useful cross-check.
Head to head
BandLadder compared one by one
© 2026 BandLadder. Written and checked by the BandLadder team. You may quote or cite this page with credit to BandLadder and a link to it; republishing it in full needs our written permission. Content use policy