The best apps for mastering public speaking
Speaking in front of a large or small crowd can make even the most confident person feel nervous. However, whether you’re delivering a toast at a wedding or presenting a proposal in front of colleagues, effective communication is key to success and helps you build connections with others as well as establish credibility. Thankfully, with practice, preparation, and the assistance of public speaking tools, anyone can become a successful and confident public speaker.
Here are the best apps to help you speak with confidence
It is natural to feel anxious about public speaking since it requires you to be in the spotlight. Fortunately, technology has made it easier than ever to improve all the skills you need, from body language and diction to timing and delivery and so much more, to become a pro at public speaking. So, let’s explore nine apps that can help you confidently speak to others anywhere, any time.
Preply
Preply is an app and online language learning platform that offers courses and personalized tutoring sessions to help improve your speaking skills. Some features of the app, which is available on Android and IOS, include the ability to practice speaking skills with a native speaker, whether one-on-one or in a group class, and the option to receive feedback on your performance. In addition, the platform offers tutors from 200+ nationalities, making it a great app to boost your confidence and increase your effectiveness as a public speaker, whether you’re learning to speak a new language or looking to reduce your anxiety when communicating with others in your native tongue.
Orai
Orai is a mobile app for Android and IOS that uses artificial intelligence to help improve users’ public speaking skills by allowing users to practice their speeches and receive real-time feedback regarding their pace, tone, energy, facial expressions, word choice, and more. The app also offers personalized coaching tips and exercises to help users overcome common public speaking challenges. While individual users can benefit from Orai and track their progress over time, the platform also offers an enterprise package allowing companies to help their whole team become better and more confident communicators.
Ummo
When many people get nervous, they start using more filler words such as “um,” “ah,” and “like,” which unfortunately shows a lack of true confidence. Thankfully, the Ummo app, available through the Google Play and App stores, improves speaking skills by monitoring the use of these filler words and providing feedback on how to improve the clarity and confidence of your speech. In addition, the app offers practice exercises, personalized tips, and speech coaching and allows users to record and analyze their speeches as well as share their recordings with others for additional feedback and critique.
Impromptu Generator
Impromptu Generator generates a wide range of random speech topics and enables you to develop the quick-thinking skills required to articulate your thoughts on various topics clearly and concisely. As you think on your feet and provide responses to the different prompts, the Android and IOS compatible-app provides feedback, helping you refine your speaking skills. With Impromptu Generator, you’ll be prepared to confidently communicate no matter the situation or topic, so it’s perfect for everyone from rehearsing for a pageant or debate to those hoping to keep a good conversation flowing on a first date.
PromptSmart Pro
In many public speaking scenarios, you may have to read a teleprompter or your notes, which can make for an awkward and unnatural speech. Thankfully, PromptSmart is an Android and IOS app that turns your phone into a teleprompter and allows you to practice your teleprompter reading skills so you can confidently deliver any speech. After importing your script, the app uses voice recognition technology to automatically scroll as you speak, which can help you keep your eyes on your audience rather than your notes.
Speeko
The Speeko app allows users to record practice speeches directly in the app or import pre-recorded presentations, including meetings, after which AI will analyze the recordings to provide personalized feedback regarding pace, overall talk time, eloquence, tone, vocabulary, and more. The app also features digital flashcards for easy speech memorization, prompts for various speaking scenarios, and vocal warm-up and breathing exercises. The only downside to Speeko is that it’s currently only available for IOS devices.
Memrise
The Memrise app, available in both the App and Google Play stores, offers AI-powered language tutoring and courses that can help improve your confidence and fluency when speaking. By practicing vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation in a structured and interactive way, you can build the skills to communicate effectively and confidently. Additionally, Memrise offers courses in various topics, such as business or politics, which can help you develop specialized language skills for public speaking in these areas.
Activate Your Voice
Activate Your Voice is an IOS-only app developed by communication experts to help you develop a confident, clearer, more authoritative, and stronger speaking voice. With this app, you can practice your speeches and presentations, get feedback on your delivery, and hone your skills. The app offers a range of features, including warm-up exercises to help you with articulation, pitch, and pronunciation, as well as speech recognition, which allows you to record and rehearse your delivery and receive feedback on your practice performance.
Speechify’s speaking time calculator
Whether you’re tasked with giving a 10-minute speech or an hour-long presentation, Speechify’s speaking time calculator, which works across any device, helps you make the most of your allotted speaking time by providing a simple way to know precisely to the word how long your speech should be to optimize delivery and master public speaking.
Simply input your text into Speechify’s speaking time calculator and press “play” to hear your script spoken aloud in a language or accent of your choosing at the average reading speed and instantly calculate your speaking time. From there, you can easily adjust your content and refine your delivery by tweaking your script or changing the speaking rate to determine how quickly you need to speak to deliver the speech smoothly.
By identifying possible speed issues as you fine-tune your script, this innovative tool can help you avoid rushing through your speech or running out of time before you’ve covered everything. Feel more confident when public speaking and easily share your speech in an audio format with friends by trying Speechify’s speaking time calculator today.