Complete Ear Trainer

Overview

Complete Ear Trainer builds relative pitch, aural skills, and music theory through listening drills for musicians who want structured practice. It is particularly well suited to learners who want broad exercise coverage and teachers who assign practice to students. Its main trade-off is a free tier limited to one introductory chapter in each mode.

Key features

The exercise range goes beyond interval recognition: 11 drill types cover 24 intervals, 36 chord types and inversions, 28 scale types, melodic dictation, and chord progressions. That makes it a useful choice for learners who want to work across several aspects of aural training rather than focus on a single skill.

Classic mode provides more than 150 progressive drills across four levels and 28 chapters. Easy mode offers more than 50 drills across 12 chapters for beginners. Each chapter has a theory card, and staff-reading is not required, so new learners can approach the material without first mastering notation. Chapter progression requires three stars in every drill to unlock the next chapter: a clear incentive to master each section, but a constraint for anyone who would rather move ahead selectively.

Users can create and save custom drills, then build training programs and invite friends or students. Teachers can add drills weekly and track student scores on private leaderboards, giving the app a practical assignment and progress-monitoring role. Global leaderboards and 25 achievements add competition and milestones for independent learners.

Exercises use recorded grand piano sounds across five octaves, with seven additional recorded sound banks. Offline access is supported. The mobile app is offered through Google Play, the Apple App Store, Huawei AppGallery, and Amazon App Store; desktop and browser access comes through Complete Music Trainer.

Pricing

The free plan costs nothing and gives access to the first chapter of each mode. It is a way to sample both learning paths, but not a sustained course for anyone who wants to continue through the full progression. There is no free trial.

The full version costs $6.99, paid once as a one-time in-app purchase and unlocks the full version forever. That suits learners who prefer a single payment over a recurring subscription. The price may vary by country, taxes, and store.

Platforms

Complete Ear Trainer is available on Android, iOS, macOS, web, and Windows. Mobile downloads are offered through Google Play, Apple App Store, Huawei AppGallery, and Amazon App Store. Desktop and browser versions are included in Complete Music Trainer.

Who it's for

Choose it if you want a progressive ear-training course with substantial coverage of intervals, chords, scales, dictation, and progressions, or if you teach and want to assign weekly practice and review scores. Beginners benefit from the dedicated Easy mode and chapter theory cards. It is less suitable if you want unrestricted free access to a full course or prefer to choose your own sequence without chapter gates.

Pros and cons

• Pro: A wide range of drill types covers several core areas of ear training, not just interval work.
• Pro: Custom drills and teacher programs support practice tailored to individual students or groups.
• Pro: The full version is a one-time purchase, rather than a recurring subscription.
• Con: Free access stops after the first chapter of each mode, limiting its value for ongoing practice without upgrading.
• Con: Requiring three stars in each drill to unlock the next chapter can interrupt learners who want a more flexible path.

Alternatives

For a wider comparison, browse Ear Training Software. Perfect Ear is another freemium option on Android, iOS, and macOS, with a free download and one-time paid packs such as Classical Piano and Interval Exercises; consider it if you prefer buying specific add-ons. Coco offers a freemium route on Android, iOS, and web, with early game levels and daily workouts in its free plan, subject to daily limits; it may suit learners drawn to game-based practice.

ToneGym has a limited free membership on Android, iOS, and web, plus a $13.95 a month Pro plan. Choose it if you prefer a subscription option. The Ear Gym offers free drills at your own pace on Android and iOS, with one-time purchases for guided or free mode; it is an alternative for learners who want to select a mode separately.

Trill combines a musician toolkit with limited free ear-training access on Android, iOS, and web, and offers a 7-day free trial before its $59.99 a year Pro subscription. It is worth considering if you want a trial before an annual plan. EarMaster has a free plan and Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows support, with yearly and monthly subscription options; consider it if you want subscription pricing across those platforms.

Auralia is a paid option with a free trial across Android, iOS, macOS, web, and Windows, including six- and twelve-month cloud licences; it may fit users seeking a time-limited licence. Meludia has a 14-day free trial with all levels and no credit card requirement, followed by a €14.99 a month plan; choose it if you want to evaluate a full-level trial before subscribing.

Verdict

Complete Ear Trainer is a strong fit for learners seeking varied, progressive practice and for teachers who need custom assignments with score tracking. The breadth of drills and permanent unlock for $6.99, paid once are its clearest reasons to choose it. Look elsewhere if the first chapter of each mode is not enough to judge a course, or if you need a more flexible route through the material.