Choosing among the top-rated TOEFL speaking practice platforms is harder in 2026 because the test has changed.
TOEFL Speaking now emphasizes spontaneous speaking, clarity under time pressure, and fully automated scoring.
Different platforms solve different problems. Some help you learn. Some help you practice. Some help you measure where you actually stand.
This comparison covers:
- ETS TestReady (discontinued)
- My Speaking Score
- TST Prep
- Study.com
- Preply
- ELSA Speak
The point is not “pick one.” The smart move is usually a stack: one tool for practice volume, one for coaching or clarity, and one for accurate score signal.
Comparison table
How These Platforms Differ in Practice
Most TOEFL Speaking tools fall into three functional categories.
1. Official practice and format familiarity
ETS TestReady (discontinued)
Best for:
- Understanding official task timing
- Experiencing TOEFL’s interface and pacing
- Reducing test-day surprise
Limitation:
- Limited diagnostic insight into why your speaking score is high or low
2. Instruction, classes, and guided learning
TST Prep and Study.com
TST Prep
- Excellent for TOEFL-specific explanations
- Clear strategy instruction
- Strong for learners who benefit from classes and instructor guidance
Study.com
- Broad, structured TOEFL curriculum
- Helpful for building foundations
- Works well for learners who want a single platform covering multiple skills
Limitation of both:
- Feedback is instructional, not score-engine aligned
- Less emphasis on automated scoring behavior
3. Score awareness and diagnostics
My Speaking Score
Designed for one job:
- Estimating TOEFL Speaking performance using official scoring engine
Strengths:
- Clear construct-level breakdowns
- Focus on fluency, intelligibility, language use, and organization
- Useful for identifying plateaus and tracking progress objectively
Limitation:
- Not designed as a teaching course or tutoring replacement
Supporting Tools (Non-TOEFL-Specific)
Preply
Strong when:
- You find a tutor who understands TOEFL Speaking timing and constraints
- You want accountability and human interaction
Risk:
- Many tutors optimize conversational English, not test performance
ELSA Speak and BoldVoice
Useful when:
- Intelligibility is your biggest weakness
- People often struggle to understand your pronunciation
Important caveat:
- TOEFL Speaking rewards clarity and control, not accent polish
- Pronunciation tools help only if intelligibility is the scoring constraint
How Most Successful Test-Takers Combine Tools
A common, effective setup looks like this:
- ETS TestReady for official format familiarity
- TST Prep or Study.com for instruction and strategy
- My Speaking Score for official score estimation and diagnostics
- ELSA or BoldVoice only if intelligibility is clearly limiting the score
Each tool plays a different role. Problems arise when learners expect one platform to do everything.
Final Takeaway
There is no single “best” TOEFL Speaking platform.
- ETS TestReady shows you what the real test feels like.
- TST Prep explains how to approach it.
- Study.com builds broad foundations.
- Preply adds human coaching.
- ELSA and BoldVoice improve clarity.
- My Speaking Score tells you where you stand and what is holding your score back.
The most effective preparation stacks practice, instruction, and measurement, rather than relying on one tool to solve every problem.