English with Lewis

Overview

Language learning apps have flooded the market with gamified exercises promising fluency through points, streaks, and achievements. However, many learners discover a painful truth after months of daily practice—accumulating XP doesn’t automatically translate to holding real conversations. English with Lewis, launched in December 2025 by British English educator Lewis, addresses this gap by positioning itself as the “anti-Duolingo.” Rather than relying on translation drills and repetitive multiple-choice questions, the app prioritizes immersive spoken English practice with an AI voice clone of Lewis himself. Targeting intermediate and advanced learners who have plateaued with traditional apps, English with Lewis focuses on survival skills for job interviews, social situations, and natural conversation through role-plays, instant feedback, and vocabulary building integrated into authentic dialogue practice.

Key Features

• AI Voice Clone of Lewis: Practice unlimited conversational English with a realistic AI replica of Lewis’s British accent, available around the clock. This enables speaking practice without scheduling human tutors or facing the anxiety of real-time judgment from native speakers.
• Scenario-Based Role Plays: Engage in simulated conversations covering practical real-world situations including job interviews, first dates, hotel bookings, workplace discussions, and casual social interactions, preparing you for high-stakes and everyday communication.
• Real-Time Feedback System: Receive immediate corrections on pronunciation, grammar, and expression as you speak. The AI analyzes your responses and provides actionable guidance to improve accuracy and fluency during the conversation itself.
• Integrated Smart Dictionary: Tap any word or phrase during conversations to access voice-powered definitions read by Lewis, example sentences demonstrating usage context, pronunciation audio, and one-click saving to your personal vocabulary flashcards.
• Spaced Repetition Vocabulary System: Automatically save new words, expressions, and phrasal verbs encountered in conversations to customized flashcard decks. Review and test yourself using spaced repetition algorithms that optimize long-term retention.
• Translation Assistance: Activate translation features when struggling to continue conversations, helping bridge gaps while maintaining fluency practice flow rather than forcing complete abandonment of interactions.
• Additional Engagement Features: Track learning progress through streak counters for motivation, access daily expression lessons, participate in leaderboards comparing progress with other learners, and explore a word swiper for vocabulary discovery.

How It Works

English with Lewis operates as an iOS application currently available through the App Store, with Android compatibility on Google Play planned for near-future release. After downloading, users receive a free three-day trial accessing all premium features to evaluate the platform before committing to subscription.

The core experience centers on open-ended voice conversations with Lewis’s AI clone. Unlike scripted responses in traditional apps, you engage in natural dialogue where the AI responds contextually to what you actually say rather than evaluating predetermined correct answers. As you speak, the system transcribes your speech in real-time using advanced voice recognition technology.

During conversations, the AI provides instant feedback identifying pronunciation errors, grammatical mistakes, and suggesting more natural ways to express ideas. When you encounter unfamiliar vocabulary, tapping words immediately displays definitions, example usage, and Lewis’s pronunciation, seamlessly integrating learning into conversation flow.

New vocabulary you mark gets automatically organized into personal flashcard collections employing spaced repetition scheduling. This ensures you review words at scientifically-optimized intervals maximizing long-term memory retention. The system tracks which expressions you’ve mastered versus those requiring additional practice.

Role-play scenarios place you in specific situations demanding appropriate language register and vocabulary—formal interview language differs from casual date conversation. This contextual learning helps you internalize when and how to use different expressions rather than merely memorizing decontextualized words.

Use Cases

• Job Interview Preparation: Simulate high-pressure interview scenarios including “Tell me about yourself,” behavioral questions, salary negotiations, and industry-specific discussions. Practice until confident responses become natural without sounding rehearsed.
• Advanced Fluency Development: Move beyond textbook English to master natural British expressions, idioms, phrasal verbs, and conversational patterns native speakers actually use in informal settings.
• Social Confidence Building: Practice conversations for dates, parties, casual meetups, and spontaneous social interactions where unpredictable dialogue flow requires genuine communicative ability beyond memorized phrases.
• Contextual Vocabulary Expansion: Learn and retain sophisticated vocabulary, British expressions, and nuanced language in realistic conversation contexts rather than isolated word lists, improving recall during actual usage.
• Pronunciation Refinement: Receive targeted feedback on British English pronunciation including difficult sounds, intonation patterns, stress placement, and rhythm to develop more native-like speech.

Pros \& Cons

Advantages

• Immersive Speaking Practice: Prioritizes actual conversation over passive exercises, directly addressing the gap between knowing grammar and speaking fluentlywhich gamified apps rarely bridge effectively.
• Authentic British English Exposure: Features Lewis’s genuine British accent and expressions, valuable for learners specifically targeting UK English pronunciation and vocabulary rather than generic or American-focused alternatives.
• Instant Personalized Feedback: Provides immediate corrections tailored to your specific errors during conversations, enabling rapid iterative improvement impossible with pre-recorded content or delayed tutor responses.
• Zero Gamification Distraction: Eliminates artificial dopamine loops, hearts, lives, and wait timers that create engagement without necessarily improving communication ability, maintaining focus on practical skill development.
• Flexible 24/7 Availability: Practice anytime without coordinating schedules with human tutors or waiting for language exchange partners, removing logistical barriers to consistent practice.

Disadvantages

• Potentially Overwhelming for Beginners: The immersive conversation approach assumes foundational vocabulary and grammar knowledge. Absolute beginners may struggle without structured scaffolding introducing basics systematically before open-ended dialogue.
• Subscription Required for Full Access: While offering three-day free trial, ongoing use requires paid subscription. Pricing details not prominently disclosed on marketing materials, requiring app download to evaluate costs.
• iOS-Only Current Availability: Currently exclusive to Apple App Store, excluding Android users who represent significant global market share. Google Play version announced but not yet released as of January 2026.
• British English Specialization: Focus on British pronunciation and expressions may not suit learners targeting American, Australian, or other English variants, representing niche positioning within broader English learning market.
• AI Limitations: Despite sophisticated voice cloning, AI conversations cannot yet replicate the unpredictability, cultural nuance, and emotional intelligence of human interaction, potentially creating gap between app practice and real-world conversations.

How Does It Compare?

The English learning app landscape in early 2026 spans from gamified vocabulary builders to pronunciation specialists and AI conversation platforms. Here’s how English with Lewis positions itself:

Duolingo and Duolingo Max

Duolingo dominates language learning with over 500 million users through gamified lessons covering 40+ languages. The free tier provides core vocabulary and grammar exercises using translation drills, matching exercises, and fill-in-the-blank questions. Duolingo Max, the \$30 monthly premium tier launched in 2024, introduced Video Call and Roleplay AI features enabling simulated conversations with mascot character Lily and Adventures mode offering Sims-style scenario immersion in select language pairs. Duolingo excels at habit formation through streaks, XP points, leaderboards, and hearts system creating addictive engagement. It provides excellent structured progression for absolute beginners across many languages. However, Duolingo’s speaking practice remains secondary, with basic voice recognition checking if you said correct words rather than analyzing pronunciation quality or providing corrective feedback. The platform prioritizes breadth across languages over depth in conversational fluency. English with Lewis offers no gamification, no translation exercises, and narrow British English focus versus Duolingo’s multilingual breadth. Lewis emphasizes immersive conversation as primary activity versus Duolingo treating speaking as one skill among reading, writing, and listening. Lewis provides detailed pronunciation feedback and natural dialogue practice Duolingo Max’s AI features don’t match in sophistication. Choose Duolingo for absolute beginners, multilingual learners, or those needing gamification for motivation. Choose English with Lewis for intermediate-plus learners prioritizing conversational fluency in British English over gamified progression.

ELSA Speak

ELSA Speak specializes exclusively in English pronunciation improvement using AI-powered speech analysis providing phoneme-level corrections. The platform analyzes pitch, intonation, word stress, and individual sound production, offering visual feedback showing mouth positioning for correct articulation. ELSA’s curriculum follows CEFR levels from A1-C2 with lessons designed for real-world contexts including job interviews, presentations, and daily conversation. Strengths include exceptional pronunciation drilling, accent reduction focus, and professional/academic preparation for IELTS, TOEFL, and workplace English. ELSA costs approximately \$99 yearly for premium access. Both ELSA and English with Lewis target pronunciation and speaking skills for intermediate-advanced English learners. ELSA provides deeper phoneme-level analysis with scientific precision measuring native-like pronunciation percentage scores. English with Lewis offers broader conversational practice through natural role-plays and dialogue versus ELSA’s structured pronunciation drills. ELSA teaches how to produce sounds correctly; Lewis teaches how to conduct conversations naturally. ELSA suits learners needing accent reduction and pronunciation perfection. English with Lewis suits those needing conversation confidence and fluency over technical pronunciation mastery. Ideal learners might use both—ELSA for pronunciation foundation and Lewis for conversation application.

Speak AI

Speak targets intermediate-advanced learners building speaking confidence through AI tutor conversations available in Korean, Japanese, Spanish, and English learning paths. The platform offers topic-based modules covering travel, business, daily life, and professional scenarios with instant pronunciation scoring and fluency feedback. Speak emphasizes flexible on-demand practice, customizable learning paths, and encouragement of spontaneous language production. Pricing ranges from free tier through premium subscriptions. Speak provides multilingual options versus English with Lewis’s English-only British focus. Both prioritize conversation practice over grammar drills and reading comprehension. Speak covers multiple languages for English speakers learning abroad or multilingual professionals. English with Lewis serves non-native English speakers exclusively, providing specialized British English instruction through Lewis’s authentic educator persona versus generic AI tutors. Speak suits polyglots and English speakers learning other languages. English with Lewis suits focused British English fluency development.

Loora AI

Loora delivers 24/7 AI English conversation practice with real-time feedback on grammar, pronunciation, and fluency. Sessions are personalized to user speaking levels with relevant topics, available for as little as five minutes daily or extended sessions. The platform provides speech recognition with immediate translation support, non-judgmental environment encouraging mistakes, progress tracking with daily fluency scores, and weekly goal systems. Loora rated 4.9 on Google Play with strong user satisfaction. Both Loora and English with Lewis offer unlimited AI conversation practice with real-time feedback, flexible scheduling, and focus on speaking confidence. Lewis differentiates through authentic British educator voice clone providing cultural consistency versus generic AI tutor. Lewis emphasizes role-play scenarios and vocabulary integration with flashcard systems. Loora highlights flexibility with short sessions, translation support, and detailed fluency scoring metrics. Choose Loora for flexible session lengths, detailed progress analytics, and platform-agnostic English practice. Choose English with Lewis for British English specificity and integration with educator-created content from Lewis’s YouTube teaching background.

italki

italki connects learners with 4,000+ professional English tutors for personalized one-on-one video lessons priced \$3-30+ per session depending on tutor qualifications. Human tutors adapt teaching to individual goals, provide cultural insights, correct errors with explanations, and offer accountability through scheduled appointments. italki enables practicing specific accents (British, American, Australian, etc.) by selecting appropriate native-speaking tutors. The platform suits learners wanting human interaction, cultural nuance, personalized curriculum, and flexible pay-per-lesson pricing. English with Lewis provides unlimited practice at fixed subscription cost versus per-lesson tutoring fees. AI availability eliminates scheduling coordination and social anxiety some learners experience with human teachers. However, human tutors offer cultural insights, emotional intelligence, complex error explanation, and genuine conversational unpredictability AI cannot replicate. italki serves learners valuing human connection and willing to pay per-session. English with Lewis serves those wanting unlimited practice without scheduling constraints or recurring per-lesson costs.

SmallTalk2Me

SmallTalk2Me offers AI English speaking practice with 2.5+ million global users, featuring speaking level testing providing CEFR scores in minutes, specialized IELTS speaking test simulation covering all three parts with band score estimation, job interview preparation modules, real-time feedback on fluency, pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammar, and daily practice accessibility. The platform targets test preparation and workplace English proficiency. SmallTalk2Me excels at standardized test preparation (IELTS specifically) and formal English proficiency assessment. English with Lewis emphasizes conversational fluency and role-play practice over test-specific drilling. SmallTalk2Me suits learners preparing for IELTS exams, needing CEFR level certification, or requiring workplace business English. English with Lewis suits general conversation confidence, British cultural fluency, and natural expression development outside test contexts.

Babbel

Babbel provides structured English courses delivered in learner’s native language (available in 13+ source languages) through clear explanations, interactive exercises, everyday vocabulary, dialogues with native audio, and systematic progression building on previous lessons. Subscription costs approximately \$13.95 monthly or \$299.99 lifetime access. Babbel offers comprehensive grammar explanations, reading and writing practice alongside speaking, and support for absolute beginners through advanced learners. English with Lewis focuses exclusively on speaking practice with minimal grammar instruction, no writing exercises, and assumes intermediate baseline. Babbel suits methodical learners wanting structured curriculum covering all skill areas. English with Lewis suits speaking-focused learners comfortable self-directing grammar study while concentrating on fluency.

Mondly

Mondly delivers interactive lessons combining vocabulary, grammar, and speaking through chatbot conversations, speech recognition pronunciation feedback, daily lessons, and AR immersive features in premium tiers. Free version includes basic features with premium at \$9.99 monthly. Mondly emphasizes gamified daily lessons, bite-sized content, and multimodal practice. English with Lewis removes gamification entirely, concentrating on extended conversations versus short exercises. Mondly suits beginners needing engaging introduction to English. English with Lewis serves intermediate-advanced learners outgrowing gamified approaches.

Rosetta Stone

Rosetta Stone teaches English through complete immersion using image-word association, avoiding translation or grammar explanations in learner’s native language. Pricing ranges \$13.99-16 monthly with lifetime subscriptions available. Rosetta Stone pioneered immersion methodology before AI-powered apps emerged, emphasizing intuitive language acquisition through context. English with Lewis uses AI conversation versus Rosetta Stone’s image recognition exercises. Rosetta Stone suits those preferring no native language support and image-based learning. English with Lewis provides explicit feedback and dictionary access for efficient adult learning.

Langua

Langua targets intermediate-advanced learners with AI conversation practice, comprehensible input through listening and reading, and spaced repetition flashcards. Pricing ranges \$13-29 monthly with free plan offering limited features excluding AI conversation. Langua provides multimodal approach combining conversation, input, and vocabulary review. English with Lewis focuses primarily on conversation with integrated vocabulary, offering narrower scope but deeper conversation specialization. Langua suits learners wanting balanced input-output practice. English with Lewis suits conversation-focused learners.

Final Thoughts

English with Lewis addresses a genuine problem plaguing language learning—the disconnect between accumulating knowledge and developing usable speaking ability. By eliminating gamification and centering the entire experience around conversational practice, Lewis has created a tool specifically for the frustrated intermediate learner who can read and understand English but freezes when speaking.

The app’s core value proposition lies in removing barriers to speaking practice. No scheduling coordination with tutors, no social anxiety from making mistakes in front of humans, no waiting for language partners across time zones. The AI clone provides patient, available, immediate conversation practice targeting the exact scenarios learners struggle with—interviews, dates, spontaneous social interactions requiring fluid unscripted responses.

The British English specialization simultaneously represents strength and limitation. For learners targeting UK work, study, or life, having authentic British expressions and pronunciation from a recognized educator provides cultural consistency gamified apps cannot match. Lewis’s established YouTube teaching presence gives the AI voice credibility and familiarity many learners already trust. However, this narrow focus excludes those needing American, Australian, or other English variants.

The anti-gamification philosophy will resonate with adult learners frustrated by childish reward systems but may alienate those genuinely benefiting from streak motivation. Removing hearts, lives, and XP points eliminates distraction but also removes engagement mechanics helping many learners maintain consistency. The app assumes self-motivated learners ready to practice without artificial incentives.

Current iOS exclusivity limits accessibility despite Android version promises. The three-day trial provides reasonable evaluation window, but undisclosed subscription pricing on marketing materials creates uncertainty requiring app download to assess affordability. For comparison, competing AI conversation apps range from \$9-30 monthly.

The competitive landscape shows English with Lewis occupies a specific niche—intermediate-advanced British English conversational practice without gamification. It competes less directly with Duolingo’s beginner multilingual gamification or ELSA’s pronunciation drilling, instead targeting learners outgrowing those approaches. For users wanting British English conversation confidence without scheduling human tutors, Lewis provides valuable middle ground between free but scattered language exchange apps and expensive tutoring.

However, no AI yet replicates genuine human conversation’s unpredictability, emotional nuance, and cultural richness. The app serves as practice tool, not complete replacement for human interaction. Ideal usage likely combines English with Lewis for consistent solo practice with occasional human tutoring or language exchange for authentic social connection and cultural learning.

For intermediate English learners specifically targeting British fluency, frustrated with gamified apps producing knowledge without conversation ability, comfortable self-directing study, and wanting unlimited speaking practice without human interaction pressure, English with Lewis delivers focused value. Those needing beginner scaffolding, preferring structured grammar instruction, wanting multilingual options, targeting American English, or requiring gamification for motivation will find better fits elsewhere.

The app succeeds at what it attempts: providing accessible, immersive, conversation-first British English practice for motivated intermediate learners ready to stop playing language games and start actually speaking. Whether its value justifies subscription cost depends on individual priority placed on conversation fluency versus comprehensive language learning covering reading, writing, grammar, and multiple English variants.