Cathoven IELTS Review (2026): Price, Is It Free, and a Cheaper Alternative

Last updated: October 2026. We are the team behind IELTS 9, a Cathoven competitor, so read this with that in mind. Facts about Cathoven come from its own website, checked on 2 October 2026.

Quick answer: Cathoven is two things: a set of free CEFR tools for teachers and learners, and Cathoven IELTS, a paid IELTS prep platform with AI scoring, 50+ mock tests and a study plan. The free part does not give you IELTS band scores, and the paid part costs $67.50 a month. If you want AI band scores on your own essays and speaking, you can get them for a fraction of that price, and try it free first with IELTS 9.

What is Cathoven?

Cathoven started as an AI tool for English teachers: paste a text and it tells you its CEFR level (A1–C2), simplifies it, or generates reading material. Those tools are now called the Language Hub, and they are free with daily limits.

Cathoven has since added Cathoven IELTS (ielts.cathoven.com), aimed at test-takers:

• Writing Task 1 and 2 (Academic and General Training) and Speaking Parts 1–3, scored against the IELTS criteria
• Reading and Listening practice
• 50+ mock tests, diagnostic level tests, a personalised study plan and an "AI tutor"

Cathoven also lists itself as an IELTS registration centre for the British Council (Philippines).

Is Cathoven free?

The CEFR tools are free; the IELTS scoring is not. Cathoven's own FAQ says the IELTS features (scored Writing and Speaking, mock tests, study plan, AI tutor) are Premium. A CEFR level ("B2") is not an IELTS band, so the free tools won't tell you whether your essay is a 6.0 or a 7.0.

How much does Cathoven cost?

From cathoven.com/pricing, checked in October 2026:

Plan	Price	Shown as
Weekly	$21.00 per week
Monthly	$67.50 per month	25% off $90
3 months	$172.80, one-time payment	36% off $270
By the day	pay for the days you need

That makes Cathoven one of the most expensive AI IELTS tools: a month costs more than three months of most alternatives. The 3-month plan is a one-time payment, so it doesn't renew on its own.

Is Cathoven's AI scoring accurate?

Cathoven says its scores agree with examiners within 0.5 bands in 98% of cases. That is Cathoven's own claim; we didn't find an independent study behind it. Every AI scorer, ours included, gives an estimate. The useful test is whether the feedback tells you exactly what to fix to move up a band, not just a number.

What Cathoven does well

• All four skills for Academic and General Training
• Lots of mock tests (50+) and diagnostic tests
• Free CEFR tools that are genuinely useful for teachers and for checking vocabulary level
• No auto-renewal on the 3-month plan

Where it falls short

• Price: $67.50 a month, $172.80 for 3 months
• No free IELTS scoring: the free tools give CEFR levels, not bands
• Accuracy figures are self-reported
• No app found in the App Store when we checked

Cathoven vs IELTS 9

	Cathoven IELTS	IELTS 9
Free IELTS band scoring	No (free tools give CEFR levels)	3 Writing + 3 Speaking a week
1 month	$67.50	$19.99 ($13.99–15.99 first payment)
3 months	$172.80	$34.99 ($24.49–27.99 first payment)
12 months	not offered	$49.99 ($34.99–39.99 first payment)
Free trial	none shown	3 days in most countries
Academic + General Training	Yes	Yes
Writing + Speaking scored on IELTS criteria	Yes	Yes
Score guarantee	+1.0 band advertised (terms apply)	+0.5 band (terms)
iOS app	none found	Yes

For the price of one month of Cathoven, you can get 3 months of IELTS 9 and still have money left. And you can see your own essays and speaking answers scored before you pay anything.

Score an essay for free with IELTS 9 →

Bottom line

Use Cathoven's free CEFR tools if you are a teacher or want to check the level of a text. For IELTS band scores, Cathoven Premium works but is expensive. Before you pay $67.50, score two or three of your own essays for free with IELTS 9 and see whether the feedback tells you what to fix.