# KeyFinder vs Active Ear

The clearest difference is rating: Active Ear at 4.7 against KeyFinder's 2.7. Active Ear also leads on review sentiment (94% vs 60%) and update cadence (monthly vs every 3 months). KeyFinder's advantage is ratings volume (322 vs 50) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 15.1). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Active Ear holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 2.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: KeyFinder has 322 ratings behind it against 50, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 60% of KeyFinder's written reviews are positive against 94% of Active Ear's.

KeyFinder ships an update every 3 months, Active Ear monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | KeyFinder | Active Ear |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.7 (322 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/keyfinder/id301281917/reviews) | **[4.7 (50 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/active-ear-ear-trainer/id1541508221/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **322** | 50 |
| Positive reviews | 60.0% of reviews | **93.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 5 MB | 23 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 15.1 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Scoreless Music](https://appshunter.io/developer/301281920) | [MCPHERSON'S MUSIC LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1541508223) |

## What reviewers say

### KeyFinder

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/keyfinder/id301281917)

Identify the musical key of any song you're listening to. Use the integrated piano to play along and confirm notes, helping the app pinpoint the correct key. Explore music theory and learn to play songs in different keys.

**Highlights:** Identify song keys, Built-in piano keyboard, Note confirmation, Narrow down possible keys, Learn songs in any key

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 💡 Useful for finding song keys
- 👍 Simple and effective key locking
- 💡 Cool LED display
- 💡 Good for songwriting aid
- 💡 Works well for intended purpose

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🤔 Hard to use and unclear
- 🤔 No sound produced
- 🤔 Limited key support (e.g., no C sharp)
- 🤔 Slow response to touch
- 🤔 Difficulty hearing keys with background music

**Reported bugs**

- No sound
- Slow response to touch
- Cannot play minor scales in Ref mode
- Difficulty controlling volume with background music

**Requested features**

- Bring the app back
- Update to 64bit
- Label notes on piano keys
- Ability to move up and down the keyboard
- More keys supported (hundreds)


### Active Ear

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/active-ear-ear-trainer/id1541508221)

Develop your musical ear with a comprehensive ear training app. It offers various exercises to help musicians identify pitches, intervals, chords, and progressions. Customize your learning with practice modes and test your knowledge with quizzes.

**Highlights:** Pitch Recognition, Interval Training, Chord Quality Identification, Bassline Training, Progression Training, Chord Inversions, Customizable Practice Mode, Quiz Mode

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is KeyFinder free?

KeyFinder is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Active Ear free?

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

### Which has better reviews, KeyFinder or Active Ear?

Active Ear is rated higher. KeyFinder averages 2.7 out of 5 from 322 ratings, while Active Ear averages 4.7 from 50 ratings.

### Do KeyFinder or Active Ear have ads?

Neither KeyFinder nor Active Ear shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, KeyFinder or Active Ear?

KeyFinder ships an update every 3 months, and Active Ear monthly. Most recently, KeyFinder was updated on October 16, 2026 and Active Ear on October 13, 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.*