Functional Ear Trainer vs Nootka

Functional Ear Trainer is an ear-training app built around hearing tones in the context of a musical key. Its method asks users to recognize each tone’s function within that key, with exercises and audio tools intended to improve musical ear and understanding of music theory. The app listing describes it as suitable for beginners through professional musicians and says playing an instrument is not required. The maker recommends 10 minutes of daily practice. Features listed in the App Store version history include Melodic Dictations, Sound Plugins and Listener Mode. The app is available on Android, iOS, macOS and Windows, and is free to download, though some features may need a recurring subscription or one-time payment. Functional Ear Trainer is listed at free; Functional Ear Trainer Plus is listed at $19.99, paid once, with no detail on what it unlocks. Subscriptions and trials must be cancelled at least 24 hours before the current period or trial ends to avoid a charge. The service is intended for users aged 16 or older; minors require parental permission and supervision. Support is listed at [email protected].

Nootka is a free application for learning classical music notation, reading scores, and practicing melodies. It listens for sung or played sounds and checks in real time whether the notes in a displayed melody are correct. Users can build custom exercise sets and review analyzed results. The notation system includes treble, bass, and other clefs, plus the grand staff. Nootka supports different kinds of guitars and their tunings. Packages or installers are listed for Windows, Mac, Android, and Linux, and mobile apps are available. The project is licensed under the GNU General Public License version 3.0 (GPLv3). Its project page lists Czech, English, French, German, Hungarian, Italian, Polish, Russian, Slovene, and Spanish. Support resources include getting-started documentation, bug tracking, and feature-request trackers. Nootka has a Free plan costing free and no free trial.