IELTS vs TOEFL at a glance
| Feature | IELTS | TOEFL |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £180-£220 per attempt | $185-$250 per attempt |
| Languages | English only | English only |
| AI adaptive | No | Yes |
| Certificate | Test Report Form accepted by 11,500+ organisations worldwide | Score report accepted by 12,000+ institutions worldwide |
| CEFR levels | A1 to C2 mapping (0-9 band scale) | B1 to C2 mapping (0-120 scale) |
| Test duration | 2 hours 45 minutes | 3 hours |
| Best for | UK/Australia/Canada immigration and study, most widely recognised | US university admission, widely accepted globally |
Price and format
IELTS costs £180-£220 per attempt and takes 2 hours 45 minutes. TOEFL costs $185-$250 per attempt and takes 3 hours. Neither is inherently better on price alone since each serves a somewhat different primary purpose.
Recognition and best use case
IELTS is best known for uk/australia/canada immigration and study, most widely recognised. TOEFL is best known for us university admission, widely accepted globally. IELTS tends to be preferred for UK, Australian, and Canadian immigration, while TOEFL dominates US university applications. The right choice usually comes down to which institution or authority named the exam, not personal preference.
Weaknesses to know about
IELTS's main drawback: very expensive, requires exam centre, wait for results 13 days. TOEFL's main drawback: very expensive, long test, primarily academic.
Is there a cheaper alternative to both IELTS and TOEFL
If neither exam's formal accreditation is a strict requirement for your situation, an independent CEFR-aligned test like Examinizer offers a faster and considerably cheaper option. It costs €8 for a verified certificate with a QR code, compared to £180-£220 per attempt for IELTS or $185-$250 per attempt for TOEFL, and gives an instant result rather than days or weeks of waiting.
This works well for employer screening, CVs, LinkedIn profiles, and personal tracking, though it does not replace either exam where a specific accreditation is legally required, such as most visa applications or university admissions that name IELTS or TOEFL directly.
Compare with Examinizer →See the full IELTS vs Examinizer breakdown
Common questions about IELTS vs TOEFL
Neither is inherently easier, though many test-takers find IELTS's face-to-face speaking interview more natural than TOEFL's computer-recorded speaking section, while others prefer TOEFL's fully digital format.
Pricing is broadly comparable, with IELTS running £180 to £220 and TOEFL running $185 to $250, though exact costs vary by country and test centre.
Most do, though some specifically prefer or require TOEFL. Always check the exact admissions requirements of your target university before choosing.
Some institutions accept either, converting scores using published equivalency tables, but not all do. Confirm directly with the institution before assuming interchangeability.