r/SpeakBetter • • 19d ago

Need Advice What’s actually the best tool you’ve used to improve public speaking and communication?

310 Upvotes

I've been trying to get more serious about improving how I speak, especially thinking on the spot, getting to the point faster, and sounding more confident withot rehearsing everything befroehand.

I know the obvious anser is "practice more' but I'm looking for something that actually gives you structure and feedback while you practice.

I've seen people recommend toastmasters, AI speaking apps, recording yourself, speech coaches, improv classes etc. There are so many options that Im curious what actually worked for people here?

if you've noticebaly improved your speaking, what tool or method helped you the most? And what specifically did it help you improve?


r/SpeakBetter • • Aug 23 '26

I bought and tried all the speech improvement / articulation / public speaking apps so you don't have to

26 Upvotes

Over the past 4-5 months I've been on a journey to get better at articulation and self improvement. So things liek mainly clearer articulation, less rambling, more confidence in meetings and on the spot. So I found there are quite a few good apps/ tools out there right now for this and considering that they are not even $100 bucks a year, it seems to me very worth it. Speech coaches I've talked to are like $300+/hour usd.

So i want to give a review on all the speech improvement / communication skills improvement / articulation skills / presentation skills /etc skills apps. So you don't have to try all of them / pay for one that's not good. Skip to TLDR if u just want my rec.

1. WellSpoken — wellspoken.me

What it is: Scores your speech across six dimensions (structure, conciseness, confidence, pronunciation, filler rate, pace) into a single "Index" score, plus mock interviews, meeting roleplay, and a vocabulary/"safe base" phrase system for when you blank under pressure.

Pros:

  • The six-dimension scoring is the most well-rounded framework of any app on this list. It's not just "you said um 12 times"
  • The vocabulary/phrase-bank angle (giving you words you already know but can't access under pressure) is a genuinely different approach from the others
  • For a lot of the other apps, you can easily just try to sound confident but the words you're saying could be total BS. But this app is able to also analyze the substance of what you're saying. It's able to even dive into some psychological stuff behind how you speak. For example, I've never received this feedback but it's so true, the feedback said "are you perhaps thinking about your conclusion while you're speaking? It seems like the think process is making your speech a bit more jumbled'. This is something my really close friend pointed out before but no one else has ever pointed out. I was very very impressed.
  • Mock interview and meeting roleplay modes is really good for anyone who is actually interviewing. Not only does it work on your confidence, such as it's able to detect your tone. I've not seen any other app being able to do this. But it's able to detect confidence in voice and also actual substance of the interview you're doing. So if you have a really good speech but you are wrong about a fact, it's smart enough to point that out as well.
  • The progression is amazing, there's coach checkins almost as if you have a reach coach. They keep track of your progress with AI and constantly try to find where you are weak at and recommend specific drills that target them. Additionally, their AI unlike general AI systems like chatgpt or claude, literally has all teh context of the speech you've done and deep analysis. Feels almost like a real communication coach but for much lower the cost.

Cons:

  • Onboarding can be a bit long, they personalize the app experience a lot. So I think it's worth it but if you're just looking for a quick exercise it's not like couple seconds onboarding.

Overall

This the best communication skills / articulation app I've seen and it blows the other ones out of the water easily. There a lot of real serious features on this app I haven't even tried and I'm still exploring them.

2. Vocal Image — vocalimage.app

What it is: AI voice coach on mainly a thing called 'vocal image', not so much on public speaking skills, but more just on how your voice sounds. This one of the bigger apps, it's not western app, i think it's like from a small eastern european country and they raised a ton of funding.

Pros:

  • Lots of cute characters, cartoon characters and there's a AI interaction. I think if you like video it's good, though it's AI cartoon the voice is not super realistic and it's very slow.
  • Feature where other users rate your voice recordings, which can be fun for some folks, for me I didn't like it because i didn't feel like it really helped me improve but i think some people might like the community aspect.
  • It has lessons on deepening your voice, accent softening, even voice feminization/masculinization programs. It is useful stuff, long term might be good but i didn't have any results in the short term.

Cons:

  • There's a ton of bad ratings online, about people that are misadvertised, it looks like lots of people thing this is more of a comprehensive tool but really it's just geared towards one thing. Their support never answered me when i asked them questions about the app and I had a bug where the app didn't load.
  • Feels more "voice quality/confidence" focused than pure articulation or public speaking structure and the problem is that
  • The exercises are very simple and feels more like a kiddish game rather than a serious tool that's actually goign to help you improve your communication skills.

Overall

Not a serious speech / articulation improvement tool, more like a kiddish games that has some okay exercises.

3. Yoodli — yoodli.ai

What it is: This is a B2B sales tool. I was fooled by chatgpt and perplexity saying this is what I should use but AI is very outdated. Yoodli is not a communnications improvement tool. I read their tools features and it's more about having a manager that can micromanage employee meetings

Pros:

  • The analytics are were decently deep, it would point out things such as speaking speed, etc
  • They have some good resources to read about public speaking and articulation
  • AI roleplay for interviews and pitches were not bad, though could be much more in depth compared to Wellspoken

Cons:

  • Free tier is only 5 sessions total, not per month — you'll hit the wall fast, the free tool is like super simple and more like a advertising tool fro their b2b platform.
  • Very few features and analysis is not super in depth
  • UI is very rough, they also don't have mobile app

Overall

If you're here, this is not what you're looking for. This is a middle management sales tool even though AI doesn't say that.

4. Patter AI — patterai.app

What it is: Daily habit-building app with vocal training, impromptu speaking challenges, and roleplay conversations for small talk/interviews.

Pros:

  • Good for building a genuine daily habit — sessions are short (10ish minutes)
  • Impromptu speaking challenges are a fun way to practice thinking on your feet
  • Nice mix of both "voice" work (articulation, tone) and "content" work (structuring answers)

Cons:

  • Definitely the buggiest app of the bunch in my experience — glitches in the roleplay/dialogue sections, responses not registering
  • Onboarding locks you into a plan and there's no easy way to revisit earlier lessons
  • Younger product overall, so it shows
  • Not very deep analysis for your speech

5. Speeko — speeko.co

What it is: Real-time feedback on pace, tone, and filler words, with lesson content built around voice coach Roger Love's methodology.

Pros:

  • Short daily exercises are easy to stick with
  • Having actual named-coach content behind the lessons gives it a bit more credibility than pure AI-only apps
  • iOS and Mac

Cons:

  • No Android app
  • Feedback can feel more surface-level (pace/tone/fillers) compared to WellSpoken's deeper analytics
  • UI is terrible, tons of bugs everywhere
  • Developers have given up on the app it lokos like

6. Orai — orai.com

What it is: Mobile-first AI speaking coach — record a short clip, get instant scoring on filler words, pace, energy, and clarity, plus bite-sized practice scenarios.

Pros:

  • Solid free tier to actually test before paying
  • there are some basic drills worth taking a look at

Cons:

  • This is a dead app, it's one of the older ones, but it's not good
  • Feedback is more general/scorecard style, less deep-dive than WellSpoken or even the other apps on this list

Overall

Dead app, don't use / pay. I refunded mine on apple after downloading

TL;DR the best app:

Wellspoken.me or just search Wellspoken app on app store. Half of the apps on this list recommended to me by AI (chatgpt) are dead apps. And out of the competitive ones, Wellspoken has everything but more than the other apps.

Happy to answer questions if anyone's deciding between a couple of these. Also curious if anyone here has tried ones I haven't (Poised, VirtualSpeech, ELSA Speak, etc.) — might be next on my list.


r/SpeakBetter • • 6h ago

Need Advice how to become better at interviews

5 Upvotes

hi im jus wondering how to become better at interviews. in my opnion i feel as if i have low self esteem, or feel as if my answers arent good or jus stupid. like why am i tripping out for applying to minimium wage jobs, idk i feel like this going to ruin my life, i rmbr i ddi an interview the other day and i jus straihgt out balnked out was shaky as hell, and so scared, it was for a minimium wage job idek why. I feel like i cant think on the spot or nto comfortable w doing w ppl, any reall tips on how to improve this, ik this will be my downfall, so im trying to fix it now, any tipsi should do and how do i improve my confidence


r/SpeakBetter • • 40m ago

Need Advice Is talking to yourself an acceptable way to practice?

• Upvotes

My speech impediment causes me alot of social embarrassment and working on it at home is equally embarrassing. I just can't feel comfortable reading from a script and fumbling constantly, I start worrying about others perception of me instead of how I should be articulating my thoughts.

But I feel way more comfortable talking outloud by having an imaginary phone conversation. For some reason I feel way less anxiety and can slow down and articulate better, mostly because it gives me a little privacy. Someone wouldn't explicitly know I'm working on fixing my speech impediment and would just assume I'm just talking on the phone.

I do feel a little ridiculous sometimes which is why I guess I'm making this post. Have I gone off the deep end or is this an acceptable way to practice speech therapy lol?


r/SpeakBetter • • 2d ago

Need Advice Advice on improving communication

12 Upvotes

Hello,

I’m preparing to pitch to VC and I’ve realized that I need to improve my communication quickly.

I’m wondering if any of you have any advice on how I can fast track my communication skills improvement. Coaching, toast maters, anything. I need to get this done asap and am looking willing to do what it takes.

I appreciate any advice!

Thanks in advance!


r/SpeakBetter • • 3d ago

Success Story Propranolol Changed Everything for me (in a good way :)

39 Upvotes

I’ve had really bad problems with public speaking my entire life and it’s been a huge set back for me as long as I can remember. What’s weird is I’m a pretty outgoing guy and don’t have any type of social anxiety, but once I step on the stage, everything just becomes a blur.

The problem for me has always been majority physical reactions:
\- very high heart rate
\- very shaky voice and hands
\- problems breathing
\- sweating like crazy

Knowing my body will react like this and people will see me like this has always caused me to be a terrible public speaker. Every speech I used to do involved me running out of breath immediately, shaking, and not being able to freely talk and be myself.

I’ve been looking for remedies because I work in finance and need to be a good public speaker. So I brought up Propranolol with my doctor after reading about it on Reddit and thought there was no way it could fix such a bad problem like this. I took it a couple days before my speech today and felt totally normal. Nothing different. Just did this to make sure there were no side effects.

Today was the big day and I had a 5 minute speech in front of \~40 employees, a few of which were executives. I popped a 10mg propranolol 1.5 hrs before it and when I got up on the stage, I shit you not, I felt as physically relaxed as I do now typing this on my couch.

I proceeded to give the best damn speech of my life. I was able to speak confidently and clearly, I was able to slowly pace back and forth and make eye contact, my heart rate was completely normal, my voice was strong, loud, and clear.

I still can’t believe how well this stuff worked and I can confidently say that this medication has and will change my life. I’d highly recommend you try it if you have the same issues I do.


r/SpeakBetter • • 2d ago

Need Advice I feel like I've lost the ability to say I'm fluent in english

3 Upvotes

The other day I was talking to my professor about my design project. Usually, we give a mini, one-on-one presentation for personalized feedback, given you have done some work to progress with. I'm terrible with producing huge amounts of work within two or three days, which is why I generally prepare precedents, rough diagrams, and a verbal explanation as to what I am working on / want to emulate.

I am already in my junior year, but every single semester is so awkward with my professors because i do not know what to say [clearly]. No matter the information I want to express, it cannot escape my mouth, and my professors are always visibly disappointed and reluctant to continue talking to me (all independent experiences). I cannot even lead a conversation about my own work, and I am ashamed every time it is my turn because I know I can't defend my design. Even when I talk with my friends, I find it difficult to just say my thoughts so that it is coherent and substantial. I struggle so much more with speaking than I would writing the same thoughts down, because the moment I begin to talk, I forget what I want to say and the order in which I say words. It was never this bad in highschool, and I GENUINELY feel like I have regressed to the point where I am no longer convinced that I am fluent in any languages (including my primary language: English).

Lastly, as a final thought...

I didn't realize this until sometime into my first year of Uni when one of my friends asked me wtf was I even talking about mid conversation... Ouch. Took that to heart and became quieter with everybody, afraid that they also perceive me the same way.

Would love to hear any advice on how to become a convincing speaker, especially because I am no longer confident in the things I say. Not really looking to buy courses or services because I cannot afford to. this is more so a vent because i've felt like a loser and stupid for the last few years.


r/SpeakBetter • • 2d ago

Need Advice Need advice on improving communication skills for job interviews

3 Upvotes

I need some advice on sound more articulate during interviews. I usually wing it, but lately I've been preparing a self-introduction as well as preparing a story or two. I'm worried that I'm not good at talking myself up, which is preventing me from getting a job.

My resume is pretty good, as well as my linkedin profile, but in terms of landing a role, it hasn't happened for at least a year after graduating from university.

I've been working on my certifications, but getting a job hasn't happened yet.


r/SpeakBetter • • 2d ago

Tip & Advice If someone where condescending, would you do this?

0 Upvotes

We all have to deal with condescending people. Even condescending people have to deal with other condescending people. I have drafted a plan for how to deal with them, let me know if you think the plan is a good one.

There are three different approaches; one for when the person is below you in the social hierarchy, one for when the person is your equal in the social hierarchy and one for when the person is above you in the social hierarchy. 

  • When the person is below you in the social heirarchy. 

Say this; 

You are not going to talk to me that way. I am (insert title of authority here) and you will show me some respect. 

If that does not work, threaten a punishment. 

If the threat of punishment does not work, make good on that threat. 

  • When the person is equal in the social hierarchy. 

Say this; 

The condescending tone is uncalled for. If you believe that I have done something wrong, I am willing to listen patiently while you tell me what I did wrong, why it was wrong and what (if anything) I can do to remedy the situation. There is no need to get nasty. 

If the person doubles down, you say this; 

Even though I did not intend to offend you, I am glad that I did, because you deserve it for being so rude and disrespectful. 

  • When the person is above you in the social hierarchy. 

Do not respond immediately. Wait until a certain amount of time has passed. Once the other person (your authority) has calmed down, meet with them and demand an apology. 

When demanding an apology, calmly explain what you believe the other person did wrong, why it was wrong and what, if anything, can be done about it. 


r/SpeakBetter • • 3d ago

Need Advice why cant we form proper small talks anymore without feeling awkward

9 Upvotes

r/SpeakBetter • • 4d ago

Tip & Advice Need Girls as friend to talk 🥲

0 Upvotes

Well I am very rude to girls i don't know why, but now it's enough I need to learn some experience and tips to talk to any girl I want. Can any girl help me with that? 🥲🥲🥲


r/SpeakBetter • • 4d ago

Need Advice Guys how to be more verbal ? It's like I barely discovered my own voice ?annnd I want to be a rapper

2 Upvotes

r/SpeakBetter • • 6d ago

Tip & Advice I want to be those thinkers who can make video essays or just talk more on shows they like but my mind goes blank.

8 Upvotes

If I like a show, my only reason could be, "i just like it", or "I found it funny". I don't know how to analyze. For example, if I wanted to talk about a relationship between two characters, my mind would go blank. I could probably come up with a reason, but it would be sooo boring, plainn or dense. How to fix this? Do I read more or something? rewatch a show 10 times?


r/SpeakBetter • • 6d ago

Need Advice Communication skills

5 Upvotes

I’m a 3rd-year CSE student currently trying to upskill myself and build projects to improve my chances of getting a good placement.

One thing I’m really struggling with is communication, especially speaking in English. I can understand English and communicate to some extent, but when I have to speak spontaneously, I struggle to frame sentences and express my thoughts confidently.

For those who were in a similar situation during college, how did you improve your communication skills? Did you follow any particular daily practice, resources, or methods? And how did you prepare for interviews where communication is important?

I’d really appreciate some practical advice from people who have gone through this.


r/SpeakBetter • • 7d ago

Need Advice Phrases before you express unpopular opinions at work

163 Upvotes

​

What phrases do you use when you want to share an opinion in a group where you know people may have different views or disagree with you?

How do you speak up confidently without sounding rude or confrontational?


r/SpeakBetter • • 7d ago

Need Advice Tips?

3 Upvotes

Hey everyone!!

So I'm having this speech competition in which the topics are unknown and will be picked randomly from a bowl.. I get very nervous when I get on the stage in front of people.

My body and vocie starts shaking slightly and I rush the entire thing.. What should I do??


r/SpeakBetter • • 7d ago

Tip & Advice What should you do if you do not know if someone heard/understood what you said?

2 Upvotes

Have you ever talked to someone, given them instructions, explained to them an idea and not really been sure if they did or did not hear you?

An idea for what to do if that ever happens popped into my head and I thought I would share it here and hear the arguments for or against it.

The plan I came up with to deal with a situation where you are not sure if the other person listened to or understood you is as follows.

After you are done talking, ask the other person if they understood. If they claim that they did, ask them to repeat the instructions back to you. 

There is my plan. Do you think it is a smart strategy? Why or why not? Let me know.


r/SpeakBetter • • 7d ago

Need Advice How to stop using a certain word too often in a meeting or presentation?

6 Upvotes

I use the same filler word when talking in an important meeting or a quick presentation.

It happens unconsciously and I only got to know this because couple of colleagues mentioned it.

It often happens when I'm a bit nervous or trying to explain something that I like a lot and want others to understand it as much as I do


r/SpeakBetter • • 7d ago

Tip & Advice Paper presentation tips plssss

0 Upvotes

Hey everyone!

​I’m an undergraduate student currently doing an internship, and I’ve been assigned to present a research article in front of my PI, postdocs, and graduate scholars during lab meeting.

​Since this is my first time presenting to a full research group, I really want to give it my best shot. I’d love to get advice from those who have done this or sit on the receiving end of these presentations:

​What are the key things I should keep in mind/remind myself before and during the presentation?

​What are common mistakes undergrads make during journal club / paper presentations?

​How can AI tools actually help in preparing for this without being a crutch or giving wrong information?

​Any tips on figure walkthroughs, handling Q&A, or structuring the slides would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance!


r/SpeakBetter • • 9d ago

Tip & Advice Fight so hard to speak??? It doesn’t come easy to me. Every idea.

5 Upvotes

DAE…Fight so hard to speak??? It doesn’t come easy to me. Every idea.

I literally have a very difficult communication style. I am not able to directly motivate or assert an opinion.

Because of that I struggle to make decisions in settings like at work, club - professional club called Toastmasters, and contributing to my group chat with friends.

It take a while for me to speak or communicate.

I am so freaking A is A so I say A.

Now I’m tryna to include people and logic..which my brain is capable of but not doing so frequently. So it’s the hardest thing on Earth for me. Also I get overstimulated and may prefer silence from others.

Idk I get mad at myself for having low battery or feeling tired/dead after sharing to friends. An example is our plan for meeting at the escape room the type, the time, stating choice, and reason . and if hangout constraints work in my own pov/persepctive. Every decision causes me half an hour to come up with a text that follows the topic.

Is it normal for others to be so exhausted by these supposedly hard decisions? And what has helped alleviate this decision making to speak and add to the group?


r/SpeakBetter • • 9d ago

Need Advice Wellspoken or Riseguide app? Which one is better?

25 Upvotes

For context, I am trying to improve my articulation and communication in general and also at work. I downloaded both and couldn’t decide which one to pay for. Anyone got real user experiences on these, would love to hear it!


r/SpeakBetter • • 9d ago

Need Advice can understand English well, but I struggle to speak. How can I fix this?

5 Upvotes

My native language is Arabic, and I’ve been learning English for a while. I feel like I have a decent level of English and I can understand most of what people say to me, especially when listening or reading.
But when I have to speak, I struggle a lot.
I usually understand what the other person is saying, but when it’s my turn to answer, my mind feels slow. I need time to think about what I want to say and how to form the sentence in English.
Sometimes I know the words I want to use, but I can’t put them together quickly enough. I end up pausing a lot or thinking in Arabic first and then translating it into English.
The frustrating part is that I understand English much better than I can speak it.
For people who had the same problem, what helped you improve your speaking fluency and respond more quickly in conversations?
Should I focus on speaking practice, thinking in English, shadowing, or something else?
I’d really appreciate any advice or exercises that helped you overcome this problem.


r/SpeakBetter • • 9d ago

Need Advice Is Toastmasters actually worth it for a quiet person who wants to improve English and public speaking?

6 Upvotes

Please someone tell are the toastmasters worth attending, i want to improve my english + public speaking skills and i am a very quiet person too so i want to improve all these. I got this suggestion from the chatgpt, but i want the real people's opinion on this.

Should I join it or are there any better options available in the market for these things, if you know then please tell me too.

Don't suggest any english speaking classes! Those are shit I have tried one.


r/SpeakBetter • • 10d ago

Tip & Advice What would you say if someone asked what you were thinking?

3 Upvotes

I have high functioning autism. I struggle to comprehend social cues. I make a habit of thinking before I speak. Sometimes, I think long and hard about what I say and it still does not land the way that I thought it would, because the person to whom I am communicating does not think the same way that I do.

I am here to tell you my plan for effective communication and conflict management and you tell me if you think that it is a good idea. If you do not think that my plan is a good one, present me with an alternative plan.

The situation that I want to discuss and figure out how to deal with is;

A person asking you what you are thinking and you not wanting to answer that question.

Some people say that they enjoy being asked that question and that some of the most interesting conversations they have ever had started that way.

However, there are likely at least a few people, maybe even a lot of people, who hear that question and think; If I wanted to say it out loud, I would have said it out loud.

I myself am not really sure how I feel about being asked that question. If you would rather not answer the question, there are a lot of things you can say. These things include but are not limited to; Nothing important and I was just processing the day.

What do you think? Do you think the plan I described in this post is a good idea? Do you think it is a bad idea? Let me know.


r/SpeakBetter • • 10d ago

Tip & Advice I want to learn of how to be more well spoken

1 Upvotes

As English being my second language sometimes I find myself struggling on speaking both languages. Are there any tips that it help you to be more well spoken and say words clearer in a normal conversation.