The short version
Both are internationally recognized English proficiency tests accepted by most universities. Neither is objectively "easier" — they test similar ability differently, and which one suits you depends on how you work best.
Format differences
- TOEFL iBT (2026): ~2 hours, fully computer-based, all four skills. Speaking is recorded into a microphone (Listen and Repeat, Take an Interview); Writing is typed (Build a Sentence, Email, Academic Discussion). Adaptive Reading/Listening.
- IELTS: ~2 hours 45 minutes. Speaking is a live conversation with a human examiner (in person or video), which some candidates find more natural and others find more nerve-wracking than talking to a computer.
Scoring
TOEFL now reports each section 1–6 (overall = average, nearest 0.5); IELTS reports each section and an overall on a 0–9 band scale. See our TOEFL-to-IELTS conversion chart to compare a specific score across both.
Cost
Both run roughly $200–270 depending on your country, similar in the same range.
Which one tends to suit which test-taker
- Choose TOEFL if: you're more comfortable typing than handwriting or speaking face-to-face, your target schools are primarily US-based (TOEFL is especially dominant there), and you'd rather speak into a microphone alone than converse with an examiner under observation.
- Choose IELTS if: you do better in a live conversational format than a timed recording booth, your target is UK/Australia/Canada-heavy (both are widely accepted, but IELTS has traditionally been the default there), or you prefer a face-to-face Speaking section.
The practical answer
Check your target university's requirements first — most accept either, so the deciding factor is usually your own comfort with the format, not the test's difficulty. If both are accepted and you're still unsure, the microphone-vs-human-examiner Speaking format is usually the tie-breaker that matters most.
If you're going with TOEFL
See where you'd currently land with a free, no-signup-required diagnostic.