Comparison

Dorico vs Ear Training Pro

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

Head to head
About

Dorico

Create professional music notation and compositions with this powerful app. Easily input notes, edit performances, and share your work in various formats. It's suitable for beginners and professionals alike.

Highlights
  • Compose music notation
  • On-screen keyboard, drum pads, fretboard
  • MIDI editing tools
  • PDF, audio, MusicXML export
  • Print to AirPrint
  • Read mode with annotation
  • Automatic engraving
Features
Read full description

Compose your own music for free with Dorico. Create beautiful music notation for up to eight instruments quickly and easily with the on-screen keyboard, drum pads and fretboard. Play back instantly with the included sounds and shape the performance with powerful MIDI editing tools. When your piece is finished, share it as PDF, audio or MusicXML, or print directly to your AirPrint-enabled printer. Perform using the built-in read mode, and annotate with your Apple Pencil. Dorico is the award-winning music notation and composition software from Steinberg for macOS, Windows, and iPadOS. It’s easy enough to learn and use that it is used by students in schools, and deep enough that it satisfies the needs of the most demanding professionals in the worlds of concert music, music for film and TV, and music publishing. Dorico for iPad is fully compatible with Dorico for macOS and Windows, so you can work on your projects on the move on your iPad and in your studio on your desktop or laptop computer, or share projects with musicians using Dorico on any platform. Dorico’s interface is split into four modes. In Setup mode, you can add and change instruments, create and reorder sections of music (called “flows”), and choose how your music will be formatted for your musicians into layouts. In Write mode, you can input and edit music and other notations using simple, well-organized toolboxes and panels. In Engrave mode (included if you buy a paid subscription to Dorico’s advanced features), you can make graphical tweaks to every item in your project. Finally, in Play mode, you have access to powerful sequencer-style MIDI editing tools, including piano roll and velocity editors. Dorico includes built-in virtual instruments and effects to allow you to play back your compositions, and you can also easily use any compatible Audio Unit plug-in or external MIDI device (with optional subscription or Lifetime Unlock in-app purchase), and tweak playback using the on-screen Mixer. Input music using an on-screen piano keyboard, or by connecting a MIDI keyboard to your iPad directly via USB or using a compatible USB-to-Lightning adaptor. If you have a Magic Keyboard or other external keyboard, you can make use of extensive keyboard shortcuts to work quickly and efficiently. Dorico is free to use, allowing you to write for ensembles of up to four players. Register with your free Steinberg ID to increase the player limit to eight, allowing you to write for ensembles like string or wind quartet, or SATB choir. If you want to take your composition and arranging to the next level, you can buy an optional subscription or Lifetime Unlock in-app purchase to access more features and power: write for ensembles of any number of players, and gain access to Engrave mode, allowing you to make graphical tweaks to individual items anywhere in your project. HIGHLIGHTS • Best automatic engraving of any software • Easy note input using on-screen keyboard, MIDI keyboard, or external keyboard • Intelligently adjusts notation as you write • Any number of movements or pieces in a single project • Automatic layout of instrumental parts • Expressive playback using included sounds and effects • Supports Audio Unit virtual instruments and effects processors • Sequencer-style piano roll MIDI editor • Sophisticated chord symbols, unpitched percussion and drum set notation • Unbarred music, tuplets across barlines, etc. all handled correctly — no workarounds • Transfer to and from other apps via MusicXML, MIDI, PDF, etc. For support, please visit www.dorico.com/forum If you like Dorico, please support us by rating this app in the App Store. Thank you!

About

Ear Training Pro

Features
Read full description

Ear Training Pro is a musician‑first training tool designed to sharpen your ears with clarity, precision, and focus. Whether you’re learning intervals, exploring chord qualities, or mastering scale degrees, Ear Training Pro provides a warm, expressive environment that helps you build real musicianship. Powered by a modern audio engine, every question is generated with musical accuracy and smooth playback. From beginner fundamentals to advanced listening skills, each mode is crafted to feel natural, intuitive, and musically authentic. Designed with a practice‑first philosophy, Ear Training Pro keeps the interface clear, inviting, and focused so you can stay immersed in improving your ear. Free Features (Beginner Level) Start with the essentials: Beginner level for Intervals, Chords, and Degrees Simple melodic and harmonic patterns Clear visual layout and instant audio playback Clean, focused interface for daily practice Perfect for new musicians building foundational listening skills Pro Features (Intermediate + Advanced Levels) Unlock the full ear‑training toolkit via subscription or lifetime access: Interval Training Medium and Hard difficulty Ascending and descending intervals Melodic and harmonic patterns Mixed interval drills Chord Training Medium and Hard difficulty Major, minor, diminished, augmented, and extended qualities Richer chord colors and advanced voicings Degree Training Medium and Hard difficulty Scale degree identification in full musical context Functional hearing and tonal recognition Progress Tracking Accuracy tracking across all levels View improvement over time Build consistency with daily practice Why Musicians Choose Ear Training Pro Simple, intuitive controls Beautiful, distraction‑free design Warm, expressive interface Powerful tools for both beginners and advanced musicians Suitable for instrumentalists, vocalists, educators, and composers Lifetime Access Pay once and unlock all levels, intervals, chords, and degrees forever. Privacy‑First No ads No tracking No data collection All audio processing happens locally on your device Ear Training Pro collects no personal data. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://www.bamuda.com.au/eartrainingproprivacy.html

Screenshots

Ear Training Pro4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Ear Training Pro at weekly against Dorico's every 3 weeks. Ear Training Pro also leads on device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (15.6 vs 17). On price, ads and in-app purchases 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. Dorico sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month and Ear Training Pro sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Dorico ships an update every 3 weeks, Ear Training Pro weekly. The most recent releases landed on November 8, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Dorico versus Ear Training Pro: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDoricoEar Training Pro
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (2.3K ratings) — better—
Positive reviews55.4% of reviews—
Number of ratings2.3K — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS1715.6 — better
Further details — not scored
Size975 MB21 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSteinberg Media Technologies GmbHBamuda Corporation Pty Ltd

Bugs and requests

Dorico

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Crashes when opening or editing projects
  • Corrupted/lost files after app crashes
  • Unresponsive keyboard and note input issues
  • Scrolling and UI glitches, especially in Engrave mode
  • Incompatibility with certain iPad models and iOS versions

Requested features

5 requests
  • Support for Apple Pencil and handwriting input
  • Improved file management and organization
  • Expanded audio unit/plugin integration
  • More customization options for layout and engraving
  • Ability to export/import flows and projects between iPad and desktop

Ear Training Pro

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Dorico

Subscriptions2
  • Dorico Monthly Subscription7 Days trial$5.991 Month
  • Dorico Annual Subscription14 Days trial$49.991 Year
One-time1
  • Dorico Lifetime Unlock$119.99
4 purchases

Ear Training Pro

Subscriptions3
  • Ear Training Pro one month$1.991 Month
  • Ear Training Pro six months$8.996 Months
  • Ear Training Pro twelve months$14.991 Year
One-time1
  • Ear Training Pro Lifetime Access$29.99

Questions

Is Dorico free?
Dorico is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Ear Training Pro free?
Ear Training Pro is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Dorico or Ear Training Pro have ads?
Neither Dorico nor Ear Training Pro shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Dorico or Ear Training Pro?
Dorico ships an update every 3 weeks, and Ear Training Pro weekly. Most recently, Dorico was updated on November 8, 2026 and Ear Training Pro on November 5, 2026.

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