You have found two IELTS mock test platforms, both computer-based, both with AI scoring, and both costing less than a textbook. Gurully charges ₹500 plus GST for 30 days. IELTSArena charges ₹699 for 30 days. On paper the choice looks like a ₹199 decision, but it is not.
Since mid-2026, every IELTS test is delivered on computer, so the platform you practise on shapes how ready you are on test day. This Gurully vs IELTSArena comparison looks at what actually changes your band score: how Writing and Speaking are marked, how long you can practise, and what you can try free first.
In one line: Gurully suits students who also prepare for PTE or want the cheapest short pass with instant AI scoring on all four skills, while IELTSArena suits IELTS-only students who want free full Academic mocks to try first, examiner marking for Speaking and longer one-time plans.
Every fact about Gurully on this page comes from its own website, pricing page or app listing, checked on 29 September 2026. Where we could not confirm something, it is marked [VERIFY] rather than guessed.
Gurully vs IELTSArena: what you are really choosing between
Choosing an IELTS practice platform is not about the number of tests on the homepage. It is about four things that move your band score.
The first is the test interface. On the real computer-delivered IELTS you highlight text, take notes, move between questions and watch a timer. If your practice screen behaves differently, you lose minutes on test day.
The second is how Writing is marked. IELTS Writing is assessed on Task Achievement or Task Response, Coherence and Cohesion, Lexical Resource, and Grammatical Range and Accuracy. A score without criterion-level feedback tells you where you are, not what to fix.
The third is how Speaking is marked. Speaking uses Fluency and Coherence, Lexical Resource, Grammatical Range and Accuracy, and Pronunciation. An instant AI estimate and a human examiner's judgement give you different kinds of information.
The fourth is time and price. A 7-day pass and a 6-month plan suit very different students, and the cheapest option per month is not always the cheapest option for your whole preparation.
Why comparing mock test platforms usually goes wrong
Most students compare platforms the wrong way, and it costs them weeks.
They count tests instead of checking feedback. Forty mock tests with a bare score teach you less than ten with a clear breakdown of why your Task 2 essay sat at Band 6.0.
They ignore how Speaking is scored. Some students only discover after buying that Speaking is either AI-estimated or examiner-marked, when that difference matters most for anyone who struggles with fluency or pronunciation.
They buy short passes again and again. A student preparing for three months on 30-day passes often pays more than a student who chose a longer plan at the start.
They never try the free test. Both Gurully and IELTSArena let you take a free mock, and one free attempt shows you more about an interface than any comparison table can.
An example: choosing between Gurully and IELTSArena
This is an illustrative example of a typical decision, not a real user of either platform. [VERIFY: replace with a real student story, with permission, if available]
Amina is in Lagos, Nigeria, applying to a UK master's programme that asks for Band 7.0 overall with no skill below 6.5. Her last attempt gave her 6.5 overall, with Writing at 6.0 and Speaking at 6.5. Her test date is ten weeks away.
She tries the free mock on both platforms. Gurully gives her an instant AI score on all four skills, which she likes for quick daily checks. The other lets her sit a full Cambridge-style Academic mock free, then offers a 90-day plan that covers her whole preparation window in one payment.
"I did not need more tests," Amina says in this example. "I needed to know why my Task 2 essays kept landing at 6.0, and whether my Speaking would hold up with a real examiner. That decided it for me."
Another student in the same position, who also needed PTE or only had two weeks left, could sensibly make the opposite choice.
What the data says about IELTS Writing and Speaking marking
The official IELTS rules explain why marking quality matters more than test volume.
From mid-2026, IELTS is no longer offered as a paper-based test, and all IELTS tests are delivered on computer (IELTS, March 2026). Practising on a computer-based interface is now the only realistic preparation.
In Writing, the four criteria are weighted equally, so each one is worth 25% of your score for a task, and Task 2 carries more weight than Task 1 (IELTS, scoring in detail). A platform that only returns a single band hides which 25% is holding you back.
In Speaking, the four criteria also carry equal weighting (IELTS, scoring in detail). A weak Pronunciation score pulls your Speaking band down as much as weak Grammatical Range and Accuracy does.
Your overall band is the average of the four skills, rounded to the nearest half band, with averages ending in .25 rounded up to the next half band and .75 rounded up to the next whole band (IELTS, scoring in detail). For many students, lifting one weak skill by half a band is the fastest route to their target.
Gurully vs IELTSArena: feature comparison
| Feature | Gurully | IELTSArena |
|---|---|---|
| Exams covered | PTE, IELTS, Duolingo English Test, CELPIP | IELTS only |
| Cheapest paid option | ₹200 for 7 days (+ GST) | ₹99 for 4 days (Trial) [VERIFY GST] |
| About one month | ₹500 for 30 days (+ GST) | ₹699 for 30 days [VERIFY GST] |
| About two months | ₹800 for 60 days (+ GST) | ₹1,299 for 60 days [VERIFY GST] |
| Longer plans | Not offered for IELTS (longest is 60 days) | ₹1,599 for 90 days, ₹2,999 for 180 days |
| Auto-renewal | No | No, one-time payment |
| Free tier | 1 scored mock test | Free full Academic mock tests (Cambridge-style Books 20 to 22) [VERIFY count] |
| Computer-based exam interface | Yes, "fully computer-based" (their FAQ) | Yes, with highlighter, notes, question navigator, contrast and text size options |
| AI Writing scoring | Yes | Yes, automatic on submission [VERIFY] |
| AI Speaking scoring | Yes, on fluency, vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation | No instant AI score; Speaking is marked by examiners, supported by AI |
| Human marking for individual students | Not found [VERIFY] | Speaking examiner marking, and Writing recheck requests on paid plans (up to 5 a month) |
| Academic and General Training | Both (listed for institute software) [VERIFY for individual plans] | Both; Academic has far more full mocks than General Training [VERIFY counts] |
| Number of IELTS full mocks | Not published [VERIFY] | [VERIFY] |
| Mobile app | PTE app only; no IELTS app found | No app; the website can be installed on your phone |
| Tools for teachers and institutes | IELTS institute software: white-label branding, built-in LMS, trainer score review | Teacher Mode for any teacher, plus an institute portal with batches and assignments |
What Gurully does well
- Lower prices for short preparation windows. At ₹500 plus GST for 30 days, Gurully's one-month IELTS pass costs less than the ₹699 Basic plan on our side, and its 7-day and 15-day passes suit students who only need a final week or two of practice.
- Instant AI scores on all four skills, including Speaking. Since September 2026 Gurully scores IELTS Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking with AI, so you get a Speaking estimate straight away.
- Several exams in one place. If you are still deciding between IELTS and PTE, or you also need the Duolingo English Test or CELPIP, Gurully covers them all from one account.
- Full institute software. Gurully's institute product includes white-label branding, a built-in LMS for your own material and trainer correction of AI scores.
What IELTSArena does well
- Free full Academic mock tests to try first. You can sit complete Cambridge-style Academic mocks free before deciding whether to pay.
- Examiner marking for Speaking. Speaking answers are marked by examiners, supported by AI suggestions, rather than by AI alone.
- Rechecks on paid plans. If you disagree with a Writing band, paid students can request a recheck, up to five a month.
- Longer one-time plans. Three-month and six-month plans (₹1,599 and ₹2,999) suit students preparing over a full term, with no auto-renewal.
- Built only for IELTS. The whole platform, from the test interface to the band calculator, is designed around the computer-delivered IELTS exam.
- Teacher Mode. Any teacher can share a Teacher ID that their students link to, without buying institute software.
Which one should you pick?
- You are also preparing for PTE, DET or CELPIP: Gurully, because it covers all of them in one account.
- You only need one or two weeks of practice before your exam: Gurully's 7-day (₹200) or 15-day (₹300) pass is the cheaper choice.
- You want an instant AI Speaking score after every attempt: Gurully.
- You want to try several full Academic mocks free before paying anything: IELTSArena.
- You want your Speaking marked by an examiner, or the option to challenge a Writing band: IELTSArena.
- You are preparing over three to six months: IELTSArena offers 90-day and 180-day plans; Gurully's longest IELTS pass is 60 days, so you would buy it more than once.
- You run a coaching institute: both offer institute tools, so ask each for a demo and compare pricing, which neither publishes.
How IELTSArena fits into your IELTS preparation
If your main problem is not knowing why your Writing or Speaking band is stuck, IELTSArena is built around that question.
The test screen follows the computer-delivered IELTS layout, with a highlighter, notes, a question navigator, and contrast and text size options, so the interface is familiar before test day.
Writing answers are scored automatically, and if a band looks wrong, paid students can ask for a recheck. Speaking answers are marked by examiners, who see AI suggestions but make the final judgement.
Plans are one-time payments with no auto-renewal, from a 4-day trial to a 180-day plan, so you can match the plan to your test date. You can start your free practice without paying anything.
Self-diagnosis: which platform does your preparation need?
Answer these honestly before you choose.
- Do you know which of the four Writing criteria is lowest in your last essay? If not, feedback matters more to you than test volume.
- Is Speaking your weakest skill, and do you freeze with a real examiner? Human marking may tell you more than an instant estimate.
- How many weeks are there until your test date? Under three weeks favours a short pass; over two months favours a longer plan.
- Are you also considering PTE or the Duolingo English Test? If yes, one platform covering several exams saves time.
- Have you taken a full timed mock on a computer in the last two weeks? If not, start there before you pay for anything.
See where you stand today
The quickest way to settle Gurully vs IELTSArena for yourself is to try both free.
Take a free full IELTS mock test and in one sitting you will know where your band score is today, skill by skill. No credit card is needed to start your free practice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Gurully good for IELTS preparation?
Gurully offers computer-based IELTS mock tests with AI scoring on all four skills, and since September 2026 that includes Speaking. You can take one scored mock test free before paying. Its IELTS passes are short and low-priced, from ₹200 plus GST for 7 days to ₹800 plus GST for 60 days, which suits students close to their test date. Gurully is best known for PTE, and its mobile app is for PTE only, so check that its IELTS test range and Academic or General Training coverage match what you need before you buy.
Which is cheaper, Gurully or IELTSArena, for IELTS practice?
For short periods Gurully is cheaper: its 30-day IELTS pass is ₹500 plus GST, against ₹699 for IELTSArena's 30-day plan. For longer preparation the picture changes. IELTSArena offers a 90-day plan at ₹1,599 and a 180-day plan at ₹2,999, while Gurully's longest IELTS pass is 60 days at ₹800 plus GST, so a three-month preparation means buying more than one pass. Neither platform auto-renews, so you only pay again if you choose to. Check both pricing pages before you buy, because prices, GST and offers change.
Does IELTSArena give an AI score for IELTS Speaking?
Not instantly. On IELTSArena, Speaking answers are marked by examiners, who are supported by AI suggestions but make the final judgement, so your Speaking band is not shown the moment you finish. Writing is different: it is scored automatically, and paid IELTSArena students can request a recheck of a Writing band, up to five a month. If you want an instant Speaking estimate after every attempt, an AI-scored platform such as Gurully suits that need better, and many students use an instant estimate for daily practice alongside occasional human marking.
Can I take a free IELTS mock test on Gurully and IELTSArena?
Yes, both offer a free option. Gurully gives you one free scored mock test. IELTSArena lets you sit free full Cambridge-style Academic mock tests. Taking a free mock on each is the most reliable way to compare the two interfaces, because it shows you how the timer, highlighter and question navigation feel under exam conditions. Use the result to find your weakest skill: lifting one skill by half a band, for example Writing from 6.0 to 6.5, can raise your overall band.
Which platform is better for IELTS coaching institutes?
Both platforms sell tools to institutes. Gurully offers white-label IELTS institute software with a built-in LMS, student management and trainer correction of AI scores. IELTSArena offers Teacher Mode, which any teacher can use to link students, plus an institute portal with batches and assignments. Neither publishes institute pricing, so the fairest way to decide is to request a demo from each, try it with a small batch of your own students, and compare the cost against the number of students you teach.
Sources and last update
Last updated: 29 September 2026. Facts were checked on that date from:
- Gurully pricing page: https://www.gurully.com/pricing
- Gurully IELTS page and FAQ: https://www.gurully.com/ielts
- Gurully AI scoring announcement (24 September 2026): https://www.gurully.com/blog/gurully-ielts-ai-scoring-update/
- Gurully IELTS institute software: https://www.gurully.com/ielts-institute-software
- Gurully PTE app on Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.gurullypte
- IELTS, updates to IELTS test delivery (5 March 2026): https://ielts.org/news-and-insights/updates-to-ielts-test-delivery
- IELTS, scoring in detail: https://ielts.org/take-a-test/your-results/ielts-scoring-in-detail
Gurully is a trademark of its owner and is named here only to identify the product. IELTSArena is not affiliated with Gurully. Prices and features change, so check each website before you buy. Spotted something out of date? Email support@ieltsarena.com and we will correct it.