Complete Ear Trainer

Overview

Complete Ear Trainer is a structured app for building relative pitch, aural skills, and music theory knowledge through listening exercises. It suits learners who want a progression from beginner drills to broader practice, as well as teachers who want to assign programs and follow student scores. Its strongest case is the breadth of exercises and a one-time full-version purchase; the free tier is a brief introduction rather than an ongoing full course.

It connects ear training to improvising, composing, singing, and playing in a band. Theory cards introduce each chapter, and staff-reading is not required, lowering an entry barrier for new learners. Chapter progression gives practice a clear route, though requiring three stars in each drill before moving on may feel restrictive to learners who prefer a less gated routine.

Key features

• Wide drill coverage: Eleven drill types cover 24 intervals, 36 chord types and inversions, 28 scale types, melodic dictations, and chord progressions. This range supports more than basic interval identification, making the app useful as a general-purpose ear-training course.
• Two learning paths: Classic mode has more than 150 progressive drills across four levels and 28 chapters, while Easy mode offers more than 50 drills across 12 chapters for beginners. The separate beginner track gives newcomers a gentler start without removing a longer progression for developing musicians.
• Custom practice and teaching: Users can save custom drills and create programs for friends or students. Teachers can add drills weekly and review scores on private leaderboards, a practical way to structure group practice; it is less compelling for teachers who need features beyond drill assignment and score tracking.
• Practice aids and motivation: Five octaves of recorded grand piano sound and seven additional recorded sound banks provide variety. Twenty-five achievements and global leaderboards add goals, while chapter unlocks tie progress to three-star performance in every drill.

Pricing

The free access plan costs free and includes the first chapter of each mode. That is enough to sample both the beginner-focused and progressive approaches, but the chapter cap limits its use as a continuing course. There is no free trial.

The full version costs $6.99, paid once, billed as a one-time in-app purchase, and unlocks the full version forever. This is the clearest fit for learners who want the complete drill library without a recurring subscription. The maker notes that price may vary by country, taxes, and store.

Platforms

Complete Ear Trainer is offered for Android, iOS, macOS, web, and Windows, and offline access is supported. Mobile download sources include Google Play, the Apple App Store, Huawei AppGallery, and Amazon App Store. The desktop and browser version is included in Complete Music Trainer, which the maker describes as software for browsers and desktop computers.

The privacy policy says the app may store a username, identifier, and email; error logs may include an IP address, and absolute security is not guaranteed. Users can delete an account and associated data in the app or request deletion by email. Support is available by email at [email protected] and through WhatsApp.

Who it's for

This is a strong fit for musicians who want organized practice across intervals, chords, scales, dictation, and progressions, especially those willing to work through chapter gates. Beginners can start in Easy mode without staff-reading knowledge. Teachers may find the weekly programs and private scoreboards useful for assigning ongoing work. Casual users who want unrestricted free practice, or teachers seeking broader classroom management tools, should look elsewhere.

Pros and cons

• Pro: The exercise range spans intervals, chord inversions, scales, dictation, and progressions, so practice can address several connected listening skills.
• Pro: Easy and Classic modes give beginners a distinct entry point alongside a deeper progressive curriculum.
• Pro: A one-time purchase unlocks the full version indefinitely, avoiding recurring subscription charges.
• Con: Free access is limited to the first chapter in each mode, so it is mainly a sampler.
• Con: Requiring three stars in every drill to unlock the next chapter can slow learners who would rather move on and revisit difficult material later.
• Con: Teacher tools center on weekly drill programs and scoreboards, which may not suit more complex teaching workflows.

Alternatives

Browse Ear Training Software to compare more options. EarMaster is worth considering if you want a freemium option on mobile and desktop platforms and are comfortable with a yearly subscription; its listed yearly plan is $3.65 a year, billed US$43.80 yearly for one user on personal devices with internet required.

Perfect Ear is another freemium choice for Android, iOS, and macOS, with free access and individual one-time exercise packs. Coco may suit learners who prefer game-based daily sessions, though its free tier applies daily session limits. The Ear Gym offers free drills at your own pace and one-time guided-mode access, making it an option for those who want to choose between self-directed and guided practice.

ToneGym is a freemium alternative on mobile and web with limited free training and learning tools, while Functional Ear Trainer, Sight Singing Pro, and Auris are other freemium options across some combination of mobile, desktop, and web platforms.

Verdict

Choose Complete Ear Trainer if you want a broad, chapter-based ear-training curriculum, useful teacher programs, and a full version that costs once rather than recurring. Its main drawback is the narrow free tier, compounded by progression gates; learners who need sustained free practice or more flexible advancement should compare alternatives first.