# Theory Lessons vs Sonofield Ear Trainer

The clearest difference is price: Sonofield Ear Trainer at Free against Theory Lessons's $2.99. Sonofield Ear Trainer also leads on rating (4.9 vs 4.4) and update cadence (every 9 days vs every 4 months). Theory Lessons's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 5) and chart position (#8 vs unranked). On review sentiment, ratings volume, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Sonofield Ear Trainer is free to download; Theory Lessons costs $2.99 up front. Sonofield Ear Trainer sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Theory Lessons asks for nothing beyond the download.

Sonofield Ear Trainer holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 126 and 376 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 83% of Theory Lessons's written reviews are positive against 89% of Sonofield Ear Trainer's.

Theory Lessons ships an update every 4 months, Sonofield Ear Trainer every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 18, 2026 and October 17, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Theory Lessons | Sonofield Ear Trainer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $2.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.4 (126 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/theory-lessons/id493157418/reviews) | **[4.9 (376 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sonofield-ear-trainer/id6740409139/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 126 | **376** |
| Positive reviews | 83.1% of reviews | **88.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Every 9 days** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#8** | — |
| Size | 4 MB | 105 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.8 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [musictheory.net](https://appshunter.io/developer/459313479) | [Sonofield Ear Trainer Education Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1789801335) |

## What reviewers say

### Theory Lessons

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/theory-lessons/id493157418)

**Currently charting:** #8 Top Paid · Music, #63 Top Paid (US App Store)

Explore 39 animated music theory lessons covering fundamental concepts like scales, chords, and intervals. Deepen your understanding of musical structure and analysis with this comprehensive resource.

**Highlights:** 39 animated music theory lessons, Covers staff, clefs, and ledger lines, Explains note and rest duration, Details major and minor scales, Teaches intervals and chord inversions, Includes Roman numeral analysis, Features musical analysis examples

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Efficient and easy to use
- 👍 Clear and concise explanations
- 💡 Helpful visual aids and animations
- 🤩 Excellent learning tool for beginners
- 🔍 Comprehensive coverage of music theory

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Audio issues on some devices
- 🔍 Limited content compared to website
- 🤔 Keyboard-centric approach may not suit non-pianists
- 💰 Paid app when website is free

**Reported bugs**

- Directional arrows and guidance symbols not working on iPad
- Text panels cut off at the bottom and unable to be resized

**Requested features**

- Add more advanced theory topics
- Incorporate practice exercises and quizzes
- Include support for other instruments beyond piano
- Integrate with the Tenuto app for a more complete experience


### Sonofield Ear Trainer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sonofield-ear-trainer/id6740409139)

This app helps musicians develop their ear by focusing on the feeling of individual notes within a key, rather than traditional interval training. It uses sustained drones and offers various modes like identifying scale degrees, melodies, and singing exercises. The app adapts to your skill level with an intuitive interface and progression path.

**Highlights:** Feeling-based note recognition, Scale degree identification, Melody recognition training, Singing exercises, Hands-free training mode, Interactive exploration instrument

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Lifetime Pro | $14.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime Pro | $17.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime Pro | $19.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime Pro | $24.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Excellent ear training tool
- 👍 Intuitive and user-friendly design
- 🎶 Effective for improving relative pitch
- 💡 Innovative use of drone and scale degrees
- 🎯 Helpful for aural skills development

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🤔 Challenging for true beginners
- 💭 Desire for more customization options

**Reported bugs**

- None reported

**Requested features**

- Option to switch between 12TET and just intonation
- Ability to reduce octave range
- Incorporate more timbre options for drone and notes
- Tracking and visualization of progress and learned skills
- Add interactive tutorial for level 1


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Theory Lessons free?

Theory Lessons costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Sonofield Ear Trainer free?

Sonofield Ear Trainer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Theory Lessons or Sonofield Ear Trainer?

Sonofield Ear Trainer is rated higher. Theory Lessons averages 4.4 out of 5 from 126 ratings, while Sonofield Ear Trainer averages 4.9 from 376 ratings.

### Do Theory Lessons or Sonofield Ear Trainer have ads?

Neither Theory Lessons nor Sonofield Ear Trainer shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Theory Lessons or Sonofield Ear Trainer?

Theory Lessons ships an update every 4 months, and Sonofield Ear Trainer every 9 days. Most recently, Theory Lessons was updated on October 18, 2026 and Sonofield Ear Trainer on October 17, 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.*