Functional Ear Trainer vs Trill

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].

Trill offers ear-training practice for musicians who want to recognize musical sounds by listening. Exercises include chord recognition, interval identification, melodic dictation, pitch memory, and chord progressions, with practice covering pitch, melodies, scales, and theory. A structured path adapts to a learner’s goal and level; the maker recommends focused sessions of about 10 minutes a day. Daily challenges, streaks, levels, XP, and collectible badges encourage regular practice. Focus Lock can block TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube until the daily training is complete, with correct answers earning break time. The free plan includes a tuner, metronome, chord, interval, and scale visualizers, plus limited ear-training access. Trill Pro costs $59.99 per year after a 7-day free trial and adds unlimited training, advanced exercises, progress tracking, achievements, and Focus Lock. Trill is available on Android, iOS, and the web. The iOS listing requires iOS 14.0 or later; it also lists iPad, Apple Vision, and Apple silicon Mac compatibility, with macOS 11.0 or later for Mac.