# Ear Cat Lite vs Fretboard Learning

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Ear Cat Lite at none against Fretboard Learning's 2. Fretboard Learning's advantage is update cadence (every 3 days vs every 7 months) and rating (4.7 vs 4.4). On price, review sentiment, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Fretboard Learning sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.49 per month. Ear Cat Lite asks for nothing beyond the download.

Fretboard Learning holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Fretboard Learning has 487 ratings behind it against 13, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 71% of Ear Cat Lite's written reviews are positive against 70% of Fretboard Learning's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Ear Cat Lite ships an update every 7 months, Fretboard Learning every 3 days. Both last shipped on November 7, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Ear Cat Lite | Fretboard Learning |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (13 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ear-cat-lite-ear-training/id1377248394/reviews) | **[4.7 (487 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fretboard-learning/id1554316449/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 13 | **487** |
| Positive reviews | **71.4% of reviews** | 69.8% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 7 months | **Every 3 days** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#171** |
| Size | 65 MB | 38 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.1** | 13.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [James Uhart](https://appshunter.io/developer/1578550806) | [Mustapha AOUAS](https://appshunter.io/developer/1553171747) |

## What reviewers say

### Ear Cat Lite

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ear-cat-lite-ear-training/id1377248394)

Develop your musical ear with this game featuring 20 progressively challenging levels. It offers an intuitive approach to recognizing intervals and improving solfege skills. Created with professional musicians and educators, it's designed to be both helpful and entertaining.

**Highlights:** 20 progressive levels, Interval recognition, Solfege improvement, Pitch identification, Intuitive gameplay

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Fretboard Learning

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fretboard-learning/id1554316449)

**Currently charting:** #171 Top Grossing · Music (US App Store)

Master the guitar fretboard with interactive games and comprehensive learning tools. Practice your ear, learn hundreds of chords and scales, and customize your learning experience with various tunings and modes. Track your progress with detailed statistics and explore music harmony.

**Highlights:** Educational games for fretboard notes, Learn over 500 chords, Master all scales in different boxes, Customizable tunings, Left-handed mode, Interactive Circle of Fifths, Metronome

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| All Access Package | $1.49 | per month |
| All Access Package | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use and intuitive interface
- 🎮 Fun and engaging game mechanics
- 💰 Affordable one-time purchase ($10 lifetime)
- 🔒 Strong privacy policy and ethical practices
- ⚡ Effective fretboard learning tool

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Sound feature produces generic beep instead of guitar notes
- 🐛 Audio identify-by-sound feature frequently non-functional
- 💳 Confusing pricing model and subscription confusion
- 🔐 Left-handed mode locked behind paywall
- 📱 Vertical-only orientation doesn't match guitar playing position

**Reported bugs**

- Identify by sound produces no audio or disturbing beep sound
- Notes on lower half of fretboard not selectable
- Missing button for sharps/flats (D# not available when shown)
- Low E string gets stuck on D in custom tuning setup
- Broken links to Twitter and website in about section

**Requested features**

- Octave differentiation (C1, C2, C3, etc.)
- Support for different number of strings and instruments (bass)
- Actual guitar note sounds instead of generic beep
- Horizontal/landscape orientation support
- Ability to select specific frets and notes in all game modes


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Ear Cat Lite free?

Ear Cat Lite is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Fretboard Learning free?

Fretboard Learning is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Ear Cat Lite or Fretboard Learning?

Fretboard Learning is rated higher. Ear Cat Lite averages 4.4 out of 5 from 13 ratings, while Fretboard Learning averages 4.7 from 487 ratings.

### Do Ear Cat Lite or Fretboard Learning have ads?

Neither Ear Cat Lite nor Fretboard Learning shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Ear Cat Lite or Fretboard Learning?

Ear Cat Lite ships an update every 7 months, and Fretboard Learning every 3 days. Most recently, Ear Cat Lite was updated on November 7, 2026 and Fretboard Learning on November 7, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*