Better Ears
Better Ears: A flexible ear-training app for musicians who want custom practice and detailed progress tracking. Ranked #25 of 41 in Music Learning Apps by our editors (6.6/10); pricing: Paid; best for custom ear training with MIDI and Dropbox.
At a glance
- Editor score6.6 / 10
- PricingPaid
- Best forCustom ear training with MIDI and Dropbox
- Free planNo
- Live feedbackYes
- Facts checked20 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Covers intervals, scales, chords, pitch, rhythm, and music reading
- Supports singing, instruments, virtual keyboards, guitar fretboards, and MIDI
- Adds custom levels, progress statistics, SoundFont support, and Dropbox sync
Where it doesn't
- No free plan is included
- Its mixed curriculum may feel broad rather than tightly specialized
- Advanced customization may require more setup than preset exercises
Our verdict on Better Ears
Better Ears is a paid ear-training and music-theory app for musicians, students, and teachers. It brings together exercises for intervals, scales, chords, pitch, rhythm, and music reading, with several ways to answer: users can sing, play a real instrument, use a virtual piano keyboard or guitar fretboard, or connect MIDI hardware. The combination suits learners who want more than a fixed lesson sequence, especially those building practice around specific theory topics or instruments.
Its strongest differentiator is customization. Better Ears includes preset difficulty levels, custom levels, and an editor for chords, scales, and chord progressions. Progress statistics cover both exercises and individual questions, giving learners a way to review performance over time. Six built-in instruments and custom SoundFont support add flexibility for different practice preferences. This makes the app a particularly good fit for musicians and teachers who want to shape drills rather than follow only a predetermined curriculum.
The ecosystem is practical for people working across supported devices: Better Ears is available on macOS, iOS, and Android, with Dropbox synchronization for levels, statistics, and settings. MIDI support also connects it to external keyboards and other compatible hardware. The trade-off is that the product is paid and does not include a free plan, while its wide subject coverage may be less suitable for someone seeking a narrow, guided course. Choose Better Ears for adaptable practice, hardware input, and progress detail; choose an alternative if you want a free starting tier or a more linear learning path.
Your product? Our editors can test Better Ears in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $149/mo →
Better Ears pricing
Better Ears fact sheet
| Free plan | No |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Not verified |
| Live feedback | Yes |
| Curriculum scope | Mixed |
| Included instruments | 6 |
| Practice tools | Not verified |
| Offline access | Not verified |
| Progress tracking | Yes |
| Platform support | Multi-platform |
| Deployment | Desktop, Mobile |
| Platforms | macOS, iOS, Android |
| Support | Email, Tickets, Docs |
| Built for | Solo, Small business (editorial estimate) |
| Integrations | 2 integrations: Dropbox, MIDI |
| Pricing | Paid |
| Website | better-ears.mamp.info |
| Facts checked | 20 Sep 2026 |
Better Ears integrations
Better Ears lists 2 integrations on its own site.
- Dropbox
- MIDI
Alternatives to Better Ears
- YousicianA broad, feedback-driven app for learning five instruments across major platforms.8.9
- JustinGuitarA free, structured beginner guitar curriculum with practical tools and song practice.8.8
- Fender PlayA guided, song-focused learning app with evaluation and structured practice tools.8.7
See all Better Ears alternatives →
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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