Nucleus Smart vs Clearly Audiobooks
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Nucleus Smart
This app allows users to control their hearing sound processor directly from a mobile device. Adjust volume, treble, bass, and sensitivity settings, and stream audio wirelessly. It also helps locate lost devices and monitor battery levels and usage statistics.
- Control sound processor settings
- Activate wireless streaming
- Adjust volume, treble, bass, sensitivity
- Locate lost sound processor
- View processor status and battery
- Track usage statistics
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As you move through your day you may be exposed to challenging noise environments. In these everyday moments, actively managing your device settings can help you to hear better. Whether you need to adjust your volume, change program or switch to direct streaming of sound, the Nucleus® Smart App can help you do it quickly, easily and discreetly. We understand you need your sound processor to be working well at all times, so you can hear your best and go about your daily activities. That’s why the Nucleus Smart App offers convenient ways to check the status of your battery, microphones and sound processor, keep track of your hearing and even find a lost processor. With the Nucleus Smart App, you can: - Change programs on your sound processor and activate wireless streaming - Adjust the volume, treble/bass and sensitivity settings (if enabled by your healthcare professional) on your sound processor - Adjust the volume of your Cochlear® True Wireless™ devices - Locate your lost sound processor - View your sound processor status and battery level - Track time spent in speech and the number of coil offs Note: To access the complete functionality of the Nucleus Smart App you will need a Cochlear Account, or you can try the app in Demo Mode. To use the Nucleus Smart App, you first need to pair your Nucleus Sound Processor with a compatible mobile device. See in-app instructions or visit our support page www.nucleussmartapp.com. Compatibility: For information regarding the sound processors, operating systems and devices that are compatible with the Smart Apps and support apps, visit www.cochlear.com/compatibility. Note: Continued use of GPS running in the background can dramatically decrease battery life. The Nucleus Smart App only uses your GPS when it detects your Nucleus Sound Processor has been lost or turned off, and does not constantly track your location. Apple and iPhone are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.
Clearly Audiobooks
Enhance hearing and reading skills with an audiovisual coach. Features include clear speech narration, background noise simulation, and personalized playback controls. Track progress with a detailed dashboard and adapt training to your unique hearing abilities.
- Audiovisual learning with text and face display
- Clear speech narration
- Background noise simulation
- Customizable playback controls
- Performance dashboard with recommendations
- Personalized training plans
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• Gain skills in hearing and reading while enjoying stories with Clearly Audiobooks. • These five features make us unique: ◦ Audiovisual: It displays not only the voice but also the text and the face, especially for lip reading. ◦ "Clear Speech": the narrator speaks at a slightly elevated volume above normal but does not shout, employing clear pronunciation and pausing between each word. ◦ Background noise option: Training for hearing in noisy environments is useful for crowded restaurants, outdoor parks, meetings, fitness classes, and other social settings. ◦ Playback control: The user can choose between word-by-word and continuous playback, as well as speed, volume, and playback mode. ◦ Performance Dashboard: The app provides a detailed overview of a user's performance and offers recommendations based on that information. • Our app was developed by a team of auditory specialists, psychologists, and computer scientists, supported by an NIH-funded grant. In our project, “Audiobooks for hearing loss” (project 1R44DC017403-01A1), we formally tested cochlear implant recipients and those with hearing aids. Hearing can be affected both by the ear system itself (as in hearing loss) and by how the brain processes sound beyond the ear (e.g., aphasia, auditory processing disorder, autism, or multiple sclerosis). SUBSCRIPTION REQUIRED. Benefits: Personalized: Adapts to your hearing abilities and timeline so you can train at your own pace. Easy to Track Progress: Check in for real-time feedback on weekly goals that adapt to your hearing progress. Entertaining: Pick the audiobooks you enjoy listening to! Motivating: Visually appealing interactive dashboard to meet and beat your goals! Simplicity: Built to be easy to use and accessible for all. Seamlessly change your speech modes and support features directly on the book-playing page. Portable: Sufficiently intensive listening program, since it can be accessed any time of day or location at your convenience. Provides 20 hours of audiobooks and unlimited rounds of the training program. How it Works: Answer a few questions to find your customized level of training. Pick the audiobooks you enjoy! Check the dashboard to see your personalized weekly goals. Sit back and listen to your audiobook. One of your goals which is key to our training is listening to the audiobooks for a certain period of time and level with background noise. Use the modes that help you listen comfortably including specialized clear speech, multiple speed options, read-along text support, and even video for lip reading. A check-in of the dashboard is prompted every week to track your achievements and new goals are set adapted to your hearing abilities. Over time, as hearing improves, less support is needed! Subscription to unlock all content is required. Payment will be charged to your iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase. Subscriptions automatically renew unless subscription is cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Your account will be charged for renewal within 24 hours prior to the end of the current period. Subscriptions may be managed and auto renewal may be cancelled by going to your device Settings after purchase. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Clearly Audiobooks at 100% against Nucleus Smart's 26%. Clearly Audiobooks also leads on rating (4.0 vs 2.9) and iOS requirement (14.7 vs 18.0). Nucleus Smart's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and ratings volume (780 vs 4). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Clearly Audiobooks sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. Nucleus Smart asks for nothing beyond the download.
Clearly Audiobooks holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 2.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Nucleus Smart has 780 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 26% of Nucleus Smart's written reviews are positive against 100% of Clearly Audiobooks's.
Nucleus Smart ships an update every 2 months, Clearly Audiobooks every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Nucleus Smart | Clearly Audiobooks |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 2.9 (780 ratings) | 4.0 (4 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 26.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 780 — better | 4 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months — better | Every 4 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases — better | Subscription |
| Devices | iPhone, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | 14.7 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 225 MB | 535 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Cochlear Limited | BioSpeech, Inc. |
Customer experience
Nucleus Smart
Clearly Audiobooks
Bugs and requests
Nucleus Smart
Reported bugs
3 issues- App freezes or fails to detect processors
- Streaming audio issues and unexpected disconnections
- Settings changes not persisting after app restarts
Requested features
4 requests- Apple Watch support
- Ability to save custom settings
- Improved Bluetooth range and stability
- Parental controls for shared devices
Clearly Audiobooks
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Nucleus Smart
No in-app purchases
Clearly Audiobooks
- Full Access7 Days trial$5.991 Month
- Full Access7 Days trial$59.991 Year
Questions
Is Nucleus Smart free?
Is Clearly Audiobooks free?
Which has better reviews, Nucleus Smart or Clearly Audiobooks?
Do Nucleus Smart or Clearly Audiobooks have ads?
Which is updated more often, Nucleus Smart or Clearly Audiobooks?
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