2026 Comparison
Best Cathoven Alternative for IELTS Prep
Cathoven or IELTS 9: the same AI band scores for a third of the price
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Why Students Switch from Cathoven to IELTS 9
A third of the price
Cathoven IELTS Premium is $67.50 a month and $172.80 for 3 months. IELTS 9 is $19.99 a month and $34.99 for 3 months, and new members get 20–30% off the first payment.
Free IELTS band scores, not just CEFR levels
Cathoven's free tools return a CEFR level (A1–C2). IELTS 9's free tier scores 3 Writing and 3 Speaking answers a week on the four official IELTS criteria.
An iOS app
We could not find a Cathoven app in the App Store. IELTS 9 runs on the web and as a native iOS app.
A 3-day free trial
IELTS 9 starts every plan with a 3-day free trial, so you can try unlimited practice before the first payment.
The Verdict: Cathoven vs IELTS 9
Cathoven
- Free CEFR tools that are useful for teachers and for checking th...
- Cathoven IELTS covers all four skills for Academic and General T...
IELTS 9
- Band scores in about 60 seconds — all 4 skills, graded against the official descriptors
- Line-by-line inline corrections + an improved model version of every essay
- Per-criterion breakdown for Writing & Speaking — strengths, fixes & pronunciation notes
- 11 free tools, no sign-up — band calculator + IELTS/TOEFL/PTE/Duolingo score converters
- 45+ study guides + score pages for 19 countries & 10 professions
- Native iOS app · Academic & General Training · full timed mock test
Cathoven is two products: free CEFR tools (the Language Hub) used by teachers to grade text difficulty, and Cathoven IELTS, a Premium prep platform with AI scoring, 50+ mock tests and a study plan. The free tools tell you a CEFR level such as B2, not an IELTS band, and Cathoven IELTS Premium costs $67.50 a month or $172.80 for 3 months. IELTS 9 scores your Writing and Speaking against the IELTS criteria, lets you do 3 Writing and 3 Speaking checks a week for free, and costs $19.99 a month or $34.99 for 3 months, with 20–30% off the first payment.
Cathoven vs IELTS 9: Feature Comparison
| Feature | Cathoven | IELTS 9 |
|---|---|---|
| 12 months | Not offered | $49.99 ($34.99–39.99 first payment) |
| Free IELTS band scoring | No (free tools give CEFR) | 3 Writing + 3 Speaking a week |
| Free trial | None shown | 3 days |
| iOS app | None found | Yes |
| 1 month | $67.50 | $19.99 ($13.99–15.99 first payment) |
| 3 months | $172.80 | $34.99 ($24.49–27.99 first payment) |
| Writing + Speaking on IELTS criteria | Premium | Yes |
| Academic + General Training | Yes | Yes |
| Free tools (no sign-up) | CEFR tools | 11 IELTS tools |
What you only get with IELTS 9
- Band scores in about 60 seconds — on all four skills, graded against the official descriptors
- Line-by-line inline corrections plus an improved model version of your essay
- Per-criterion feedback for Writing and Speaking, with strengths, fixes, and pronunciation notes
- 11 free tools with no sign-up, including IELTS ↔ TOEFL ↔ PTE ↔ Duolingo score converters
- A full timed mock test and a native iOS app
- Academic and General Training, with score targets for 19 countries and 10 professions
Reach your target band with IELTS 9
Personalized daily plan, examiner-grade feedback in 60 seconds. 7-day money-back guarantee.
Build my study planWhat Cathoven Does Well
- Free CEFR tools that are useful for teachers and for checking the level of a text.
- Cathoven IELTS covers all four skills for Academic and General Training, with 50+ mock tests.
Where Cathoven Falls Short
- IELTS scoring is Premium only: $67.50 a month or $172.80 for 3 months.
- Free tools give CEFR levels, not IELTS bands.
- No free trial shown for Premium.
- Accuracy figures (98% within 0.5 bands) are self-reported.
- No app found in the App Store.
Who Should Use Cathoven vs IELTS 9?
Choose Cathoven if...
- →You are a teacher who needs CEFR analysis of texts.
- →You want 50+ mock tests and the price doesn't matter to you.
Choose IELTS 9 if...
- →You want IELTS band scores, not CEFR levels, at about a third of the price.
- →You want to score your own essays and speaking for free before paying.
- →You want a 3-day trial and an iOS app.
- →You want IELTS study guides and country/profession score pages alongside AI feedback.
How to Switch from Cathoven to IELTS 9
Try the free tools
Use the band calculator, score converters, and other tools at ielts9.io/tools, no sign-up needed.
Get AI feedback on your Writing
Submit a Writing Task 2 essay at ielts9.io/writing and get instant band score estimates with corrections.
Explore the study guides
Read 28+ expert guides covering all four IELTS sections, scoring criteria, and 2026 test changes.
Download the iOS app
Get the IELTS 9 app for Writing and Speaking practice on the go with the same AI-powered feedback.
IELTS Score Requirements by Goal
- IELTS score for Canada (CLB)
- IELTS score for the UK
- IELTS score for Australia
- IELTS score for the USA
- IELTS score for New Zealand
- IELTS for UKVI (UK visas)
- IELTS for nurses (NMC, AHPRA)
- IELTS for doctors (GMC, AMC)
- IELTS for permanent residency
- Canada CRS language points calculator
- Australia PR points calculator
Frequently Asked Questions
Thinking about switching from Cathoven?
Try IELTS 9 free, no signup needed for your first evaluation. Get detailed AI feedback scored against official IELTS band descriptors.
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