Comparison

LISTENING DEVICE vs Head Shadow

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

LISTENING DEVICE

This app amplifies sound for clearer everyday hearing, enhances speech clarity, and reduces background noise. It offers live transcription for calls and conversations, personalized audio for videos and music, and a built-in hearing test for tailored sound enhancement.

Highlights
  • Sound amplification up to 30 dB
  • Live transcription for calls
  • Personalized sound for video/music
  • Noise reduction
  • Built-in hearing test
  • Remote microphone support
Features
Read full description

LISTENING DEVICE + SOUND AMPLIFIER 4 Music & Video + CAPTION CALL + Customized for the Hard of HEARING ◆Listening Device delivers powerful sound amplification for clearer everyday hearing ◆Enhance speech clarity ◆Reduce background noise ◆Fine-tune audio for headphones & Bluetooth devices ◆Live transcription for calls & conversations NEW FEATURES: ◆► Personalized Sound for Video & Music Watch videos with enhanced volume directly in-app. Uses your personalized hearing profile for optimized clarity, with additional settings to fine-tune the sound depending on the content. ◆► Live Transcription Transcribe speech in real-time – even with your screen locked. Perfect for continuous note-taking during meetings, lectures, or conversations. ◆► Transcribe from Saved Files Transcribe your recordings or import audio files from Google Drive, Dropbox, iTunes, or local storage. Perfect for capturing meetings, lectures, or personal notes. FEATURES: ► Voice Recorder & Volume Booster Amplify sound up to 30 dB with any headphones or Bluetooth devices. ► Three Sound Amplification Modes Choose from three distinct sound amplification options to tailor your listening experience to different environments and preferences, ensuring optimal audio clarity and volume. ► Health & Wellness Integrated with HealthKit to monitor hearing health. Use our hearing test for tailored sound enhancement. ► Included Hearing Test Offers a built-in hearing test to customize the app's sound amplification settings to your unique hearing profile, enhancing your listening experience. ► Noise Reduction Remove background noise for clearer listening. Includes a microphone for crystal-clear audio capture. ► Hearing Aid Compatibility Works as a hearing amplifier and live listen tool for improved hearing. ► Speaker & Headphone Volume Booster Enhance speaker and headphone volume for louder, clearer sound. ► Dynamic Sound Amplification Adjusts to your hearing needs, amplifying quiet sounds without overwhelming volume. ► Bluetooth & Wired Headset Support Optimal performance with Bluetooth headsets and AirPods*. ► Hearing Correction Personalized for each ear, adapting to various environments for optimal hearing. ADDITIONAL FEATURES: ◆ LIVE BACKGROUND TRANSCRIPTION – Capture speech automatically, even from your pocket or with the screen off. ◆ REMOTE MICROPHONE via smartphone with Bluetooth headset for enhanced TV listening. ◆ SUPER BOOST for powerful sound amplification. ◆ CUSTOM PROFILES for different listening environments. ◆ ADVANCED NOISE SUPPRESSION for speech clarity. ◆ AUDIO RECORDER with personalized sound amplification. Subscription Options: Weekly, monthly, or annual access to all app functions. Subscription Details: Auto-renewal unless canceled 24 hours before the end of the current period. Manage subscriptions in Account Settings after purchase. Compatible with iOS devices, charges to iTunes account. Disclaimer: Not a medical device. Audiometric tests are for app personalization, not for medical diagnosis. Note: Bluetooth use may introduce delay. Echoing possible. Background transcription requires microphone access and may impact battery life. Terms of Service: https://dectone.pro/site/terms Privacy Policy: https://dectone.pro/site/policy

About

Head Shadow

This app acts as a hearing aid for individuals with single-sided deafness or mild bilateral hearing loss. It utilizes your iPhone or AirPods microphone to capture ambient sounds, then amplifies and outputs them through wired headphones or AirPods.

Highlights
  • Single-sided deafness aid
  • Mild hearing loss amplification
  • 10-band audio equalizer
  • Reverb options
  • Works with AirPods and wired headphones
  • 30-day free trial
Features
Read full description

Head Shadow is a hearing aid iPhone app for people with single-sided deafness or mild hearing loss in both ears. The app captures nearby sound with the iPhone or AirPods microphone, enhances it with a 10-band equalizer, and plays it in real time through wired headphones, AirPods, or AirPods Pro. FOR SINGLE-SIDED DEAFNESS When using AirPods, activate the microphone on your deaf side. Place that AirPod in your deaf ear and the other AirPod in your hearing ear. Head Shadow captures sound from your deaf side, enhances it, and plays it in your hearing ear, providing a CROS-like listening experience. FOR MILD HEARING LOSS If you have mild hearing loss in both ears, connect your wired or wireless headphones and play the app. Head Shadow captures sound with the iPhone microphone, enhances it, and plays it through your headphones. SOUND CONTROLS The 10-band equalizer lets you adjust the frequencies used in a standard audiogram. Reverb options let you hear how sound changes in different spaces. TRY FREE, THEN BUY ONCE Try all features free. Continue with a one-time purchase. There are no ads and no subscriptions. FINAL PLANNED FEATURE RELEASE Head Shadow was first published on the App Store in 2019. This is its final planned feature release, and the app will remain available and supported. Head Shadow AI, our next-generation app for people with single-sided deafness, is now available separately on the App Store and will receive future feature development.

Screenshots

LISTENING DEVICE4 screens
Head Shadow4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is monetization model: Head Shadow at paid against LISTENING DEVICE's subscription. Head Shadow also leads on review sentiment (83% vs 74%). LISTENING DEVICE's advantage is ratings volume (1.5K vs 13). On price, rating, update cadence and ads 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. LISTENING DEVICE sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per 7 days and Head Shadow sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.3 for LISTENING DEVICE against 4.3 for Head Shadow. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: LISTENING DEVICE has 1.5K ratings behind it against 13, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 74% of LISTENING DEVICE's written reviews are positive against 83% of Head Shadow's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

LISTENING DEVICE ships an update every 6 weeks, Head Shadow every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 27, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
LISTENING DEVICE versus Head Shadow: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLISTENING DEVICEHead Shadow
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.3 (1.5K ratings)4.3 (13 ratings) — better
Positive reviews74.3% of reviews83.3% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1.5K — better13
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeksEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationSubscriptionPaid — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS16.615 — better
Further details — not scored
Size66 MB20 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperApplication Development 21Isa Asudeh

Customer experience

LISTENING DEVICE

All ratings1,517 ratings
Positive81.9%
Neutral6.4%
Negative11.7%
Written reviews435 reviews
Positive74.3%
Neutral4.8%
Negative20.9%

Head Shadow

All ratings13 ratings
Positive76.9%
Neutral7.7%
Negative15.4%
Written reviews6 reviews
Positive83.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative16.7%

Bugs and requests

LISTENING DEVICE

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Delayed audio with certain headphones
  • Subscription issues/unexpected charges
  • App randomly stops working

Requested features

4 requests
  • Ability to filter/suppress specific sounds
  • Option to save recordings to iCloud
  • More detailed customization and settings
  • Lifetime subscription option

Head Shadow

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

7 purchases

LISTENING DEVICE

Subscriptions7
  • Noise Adaptation Weekly Access3 Days trial$0.997 Days
  • Compression - Weekly Access3 Days trial$0.997 Days
  • Tinnitus - Weekly Access3 Days trial$0.997 Days
Show 4 more
  • Weekly Access$7.997 Days
  • Listening Device, Hearing Aid$14.991 Month
  • Three Months Access$29.993 Months
  • Hearing Amplifier, Hearing App3 Days trial$49.991 Year
2 purchases

Head Shadow

One-time2
  • Free 30-Day TrialFree
  • One time purchase$3.99

Questions

Is LISTENING DEVICE free?
LISTENING DEVICE is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Head Shadow free?
Head Shadow is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, LISTENING DEVICE or Head Shadow?
Head Shadow is rated higher. LISTENING DEVICE averages 4.3 out of 5 from 1.5K ratings, while Head Shadow averages 4.3 from 13 ratings.
Do LISTENING DEVICE or Head Shadow have ads?
Neither LISTENING DEVICE nor Head Shadow shows ads.
Which is updated more often, LISTENING DEVICE or Head Shadow?
LISTENING DEVICE ships an update every 6 weeks, and Head Shadow every 3 weeks. Most recently, LISTENING DEVICE was updated on October 27, 2026 and Head Shadow on October 24, 2026.

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