Best Functional Ear Trainer Alternatives in 2026
The top Functional Ear Trainer alternatives are EarMaster, Auralia and The Ear Gym: 15 ear training software our editors would look at instead of Functional Ear Trainer, in our ranking order.
Functional Ear Trainer: A focused ear-training course for hearing tonal function across desktop and mobile. Where it falls short: does not include interval exercises.
Switching from Functional Ear Trainer? For most ear training software buyers the best Functional Ear Trainer alternative is EarMaster, built for comprehensive learners and music educators.
Why People Look for a Functional Ear Trainer Alternative
- Does not include interval exercises
- Does not include chord exercises
- Does not include rhythm exercises
- No interval exercises — 11 of the alternatives below have it
- No chord exercises — 10 of the alternatives below have it
Quick Picks by What You Need
- Best overallEarMaster9.4
Comprehensive learners and music educators
Visit EarMaster - Best free optionEarMaster9.4
Has a free plan
Visit EarMaster - Best for interval exercisesAuralia9.2
Interval exercises (Functional Ear Trainer: no)
Visit Auralia
All 15 Functional Ear Trainer Alternatives, Ranked
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
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Best forComprehensive learners and music educators
- Better than Functional Ear Trainer:
- Editor score 9.4 vs 7.5
A broad, adaptive ear-training suite for learners, teachers, and music programs.
- Offline access
9.4/10★★★★★Visit EarMaster -
Best forSchools needing structured ear training
- Better than Functional Ear Trainer:
- Interval exercises
- Chord exercises
- Rhythm exercises
Auralia gives schools broad, trackable ear training with paid plans starting at $39 per student annually.
- Offline access
- Rhythm exercises
- Adaptive difficulty
9.2/10★★★★★Visit Auralia -
Best forMobile users wanting broad free practice
- Better than Functional Ear Trainer:
- Interval exercises
- Chord exercises
- Rhythm exercises
A broad mobile ear-training app with guided progression, custom drills, and offline practice.
- Offline access
- Rhythm exercises
- Adaptive difficulty
9.0/10★★★★☆Visit The Ear Gym -
Best forAll-round practice on Apple devices
- Better than Functional Ear Trainer:
- Interval exercises
- Chord exercises
- Rhythm exercises
A broad ear-training toolkit for structured practice across Apple devices.
- Rhythm exercises
- Chord exercises
- Mobile apps
8.9/10★★★★☆Visit Perfect Ear -
Best forAdaptive cross-platform daily training
- Better than Functional Ear Trainer:
- Interval exercises
- Chord exercises
- Rhythm exercises
A broad, adaptive ear-training system with free access and paid depth.
- Rhythm exercises
- Adaptive difficulty
- Chord exercises
8.8/10★★★★☆Visit ToneGym -
Best forStructured, high-volume web ear training
- Better than Functional Ear Trainer:
- Interval exercises
- Chord exercises
- Rhythm exercises
A broad, progressive ear-training platform with a relatively high entry price.
- Offline access
- Rhythm exercises
- Adaptive difficulty
8.7/10★★★★☆Visit Meludia -
Best forAffordable learners and music schools
- Better than Functional Ear Trainer:
- Interval exercises
- Chord exercises
- Editor score 8.6 vs 7.5
A low-cost ear-training app with broad recognition exercises and school tools.
- Chord exercises
- Mobile apps
- Interval exercises
8.6/10★★★★☆Visit Auris -
Best forProgressive mobile-focused ear training
- Better than Functional Ear Trainer:
- Interval exercises
- Chord exercises
- Editor score 8.5 vs 7.5
A structured, mobile-focused ear trainer with broad progressive practice options.
- Offline access
- Chord exercises
- Mobile apps
8.5/10★★★★☆Visit site -
Best forFree guided practice with MIDI keyboards
- Better than Functional Ear Trainer:
- Interval exercises
- Chord exercises
- Editor score 8.4 vs 7.5
A broad, guided ear-training app with MIDI support and no subscription cost.
- Chord exercises
- Mobile apps
- Interval exercises
8.4/10★★★★☆Visit Chet -
Best forCustom harmonic and chord-focused practice
- Better than Functional Ear Trainer:
- Interval exercises
- Chord exercises
- Editor score 8.3 vs 7.5
A paid ear-training app with broad chord, interval, melody, and theory practice.
- Chord exercises
- Mobile apps
- Interval exercises
8.3/10★★★★☆Visit Harmonomics -
Best forFree open-source desktop ear training
- Better than Functional Ear Trainer:
- Interval exercises
- Chord exercises
- Rhythm exercises
A configurable desktop trainer covering intervals, chords, scales, rhythm, and singing.
- Rhythm exercises
- Chord exercises
- Interval exercises
8.2/10★★★★☆Visit KDE -
Best forOpen-source melody and notation practice
- Better than Functional Ear Trainer:
- Editor score 8.1 vs 7.5
A free, open-source tool for real-time melody checking and score-reading practice.
- Mobile apps
8.1/10★★★★☆Visit Nootka -
Best forFree relative-pitch practice in tonal contexts
- Better than Functional Ear Trainer:
- Editor score 8.0 vs 7.5
A focused macOS trainer for tonal relative-pitch practice, without interval, chord, or rhythm drills.
- Adaptive difficulty
8.0/10★★★★☆Visit Bemol -
Best forFocused interval training on Apple devices
- Better than Functional Ear Trainer:
- Interval exercises
- Editor score 7.9 vs 7.5
A focused interval trainer with adaptive practice and a clear one-time upgrade.
- Adaptive difficulty
- Mobile apps
- Interval exercises
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit NotePrecision -
Best forSingers preparing with structured feedback
- Better than Functional Ear Trainer:
- Editor score 7.8 vs 7.5
Structured sight-singing and ear training with immediate pitch feedback across four platforms.
- Adaptive difficulty
- Mobile apps
7.8/10★★★★☆Visit site
Functional Ear Trainer Alternatives: Common Questions
What is the best alternative to Functional Ear Trainer?
EarMaster: #1 in our Ear Training Software ranking, with an editor score of 9.4 out of 10. A broad, adaptive ear-training suite for learners, teachers, and music programs.
Is there a free alternative to Functional Ear Trainer?
Yes. EarMaster, The Ear Gym, Perfect Ear, ToneGym and Auris have a free plan or a free tier (12 of the 15 alternatives on this page).
Why do people look for Functional Ear Trainer alternatives?
Does not include interval exercises; Does not include chord exercises; Does not include rhythm exercises.
How do I switch from Functional Ear Trainer?
Export your data from Functional Ear Trainer (most tools have an export in their settings). Sign up for the alternative; start on its free plan or trial if it has one. Import your export and set up the integrations your team relies on. Run both side by side for a short while, then cancel Functional Ear Trainer.
How to Switch from Functional Ear Trainer
- Export your data from Functional Ear Trainer (most tools have an export in their settings).
- Sign up for the alternative; start on its free plan or trial if it has one.
- Import your export and set up the integrations your team relies on.
- Run both side by side for a short while, then cancel Functional Ear Trainer.
Functional Ear Trainer vs Each Alternative
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | Interval exercises | Chord exercises | Rhythm exercises | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 | Functional Ear Trainer | Yes | No | No | No | 7.5 | |
| 1 | EarMaster | Yes | $6/user/yr | 9.4 | |||
| 2 | Auralia | No | $39/user/yr | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9.2 |
| 3 | The Ear Gym | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9.0 | |
| 4 | Perfect Ear | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.9 | |
| 5 | ToneGym | Yes | $74.95/yr | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.8 |
| 6 | Meludia | No | €149/yr | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.7 |
| 7 | Auris | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.6 | ||
| 8 | Complete Ear Trainer | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.5 | ||
| 9 | Chet | Yes | Free | Yes | Yes | 8.4 | |
| 10 | Harmonomics | No | Yes | Yes | 8.3 | ||
| 11 | Minuet | Yes | Free | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.2 |
| 12 | Nootka | Yes | Free | 8.1 | |||
| 13 | Bemol | Yes | Free | No | No | No | 8.0 |
| 14 | Note Precision: Intervals | Yes | €9.99 one-time | Yes | No | No | 7.9 |
| 15 | Sight Singing Pro | Yes | $89.99/yr | 7.8 |
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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