# TOEFL vs IELTS 2026: Which Should You Take?

The honest differences — format, cost, and who each test suits better.

## 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](https://toefl-exam-prep.com/blog/toefl-to-ielts-conversion) 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.