Comparison

Keys Trainer vs Cello by Ear

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

Head to head
About

Keys Trainer

Master key signatures and scales with this music learning app. Practice identifying keys, understanding note sharps/flats, and instantly recognizing scale layouts on a keyboard. Features include customizable practice, passive viewing, and a challenging game mode.

Highlights
  • Key signature recognition
  • Scale layout identification
  • Customizable learning range
  • Intelligent training based on performance
  • Practice, View, Game, and Search modes
  • Earn coins, medals, and trophies
Features
Read full description

Do you want to be capable of recognizing the key signatures at first sight? That is, when you see a key signature, you know what key it is and what notes should be sharp or flat immediately. Do you want to have the ability of instantly identifying the scale layout on a piano/keyboard for a given key? If your answer is yes, check out this app. It can help you acquire these skills which can definitely benefit your music learning and piano playing. Main Features: • Practice Mode You learn at your own pace simply by answering the question, and if you are wrong, the correct answer will be shown for the duration of your choice. • View Mode You don’t need to do anything but watching, the questions and answers will be shown automatically after the delay of your choice. Good for lazy people like me. • Game Mode In this exciting countdown mode, you can challenge yourself and earn as many coins, medals, and trophies as you can. • Search Mode This mode allows you to look up the keys by name, key signature or keyboard. • Learning Range Customization You can customize your learning range sot that you can focus on improving your weaknesses. • Intelligent Training Each question is generated intelligently based on the statistical information of your performance so that it can turn your weaknesses into strengths.

About

Cello by Ear

Features
Read full description

Learn to express yourself with this beautiful instrument in DAYS and WEEKS instead if YEARS. With our unique learning method you will accomplish just that! This is a very powerful ear training and learning tool for musicians who want a shortcut to fluency on the cello. With this tool you will be able to play the cello it is meant to be played by ear, any melody or solo, you will gain a very deep understanding of chords and the notes they consist of and are surrounded by, they tell you all about this in lessons, but you never actually get to ingrain it. Yet this is the most important skill there is for mastering the cello and play any music by ear. The app allows you to practice with just the smartphone or with your real cello. This exercise might look a little bit tedious, but trust us, you will see very powerful results in your music within days of using the app. You could call it hacking the cello. Provided you possess the basic notes and scale playing skills (youtube will teach you that very easily), you will learn to play the cello by ear in DAYS with Cello by Ear, something other musicians struggle for YEARS for and still not everyone gets there. You will. During the first month. How much money would you pay to obtain such a skill? Consider this your lucky day, because you are on your way for real musicianship whether it is your hobby or you want to pursue career in music, this app sets you up for the best results. Even if you prefer to play looking at the notes, this app will greatly enhance your ability to see music, hear the written music in your mind, understand music more easily and even remember music much more easily.

Screenshots

Keys Trainer4 screens
Cello by Ear3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Keys Trainer at $2.99 against Cello by Ear's $12.99. On update cadence, ads, in-app purchases 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Keys Trainer costs $2.99 and Cello by Ear $12.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Keys Trainer ships an update every 9 months, Cello by Ear every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on October 22, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
Keys Trainer versus Cello by Ear: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterKeys TrainerCello by Ear
Price$2.99 — better$12.99
Rating5.0 (2 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings2 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 9 monthsEvery 5 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaid—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS12.011.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size30 MB140 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPlearn LLCOleg Sokolov

In-app purchases

None

Keys Trainer

No in-app purchases

None

Cello by Ear

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Keys Trainer free?
Keys Trainer costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Cello by Ear free?
Cello by Ear costs $12.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do Keys Trainer or Cello by Ear have ads?
Neither Keys Trainer nor Cello by Ear shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Keys Trainer or Cello by Ear?
Keys Trainer ships an update every 9 months, and Cello by Ear every 5 months. Most recently, Keys Trainer was updated on October 22, 2026 and Cello by Ear on October 24, 2026.

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