Comparison

Ear Assist vs Smart FM+

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

Head to head
About

Ear Assist

This app amplifies audio in real-time through your device's microphone and headphones, offering customizable sound profiles. It also allows for high-quality audio recording and works seamlessly with various audio devices. Privacy is a key focus, with all audio processing kept on the device.

Highlights
  • Real-time audio amplification
  • 5-band equalizer for customization
  • Save custom audio settings
  • High-quality MP3 recording
  • Works with AirPods and Bluetooth headphones
  • Visual audio level meters
  • Background operation
Features
Read full description

Make voices, TV and lectures louder through your headphones. Ear Assist turns your iPhone or iPad and a pair of headphones into a sound amplifier. It picks up sound through the microphone and plays it louder in your ears, so you can follow the lecture from the back row, keep the TV at a volume that suits you, or catch the conversation at a busy table. LOUDER WHEN YOU NEED IT • Volume control plus Boost: add +6, +12 or +18 dB with headphones • Boost is switched off on the loudspeaker, where it would cause a feedback howl, and limited on the earpiece • The Boost button always shows the gain that is actually applied TWO WAYS TO LISTEN • Natural: the sound as the microphone picks it up. Best for music, birdsong and the atmosphere of a room • Speech: uses Apple's voice processing to reduce background noise and echo. Best for conversation, meetings, lectures and TV SHAPE THE SOUND (EAR ASSIST PRO) • Five-band equalizer from 60 Hz to 14 kHz • Lift the upper bands to bring voices forward, or cut low rumble • Save settings for different places and load them again later YOUR HEADPHONES, YOUR MICROPHONE • Works with wired headphones, AirPods and other Bluetooth headphones • With Bluetooth headphones, Ear Assist uses your iPhone's microphone and keeps full stereo sound, unless you choose the headset microphone • On iOS 26, choose your microphone from the system input menu. Your choice is remembered RECORD LECTURES AND TALKS (EAR ASSIST PRO) • Record what you are listening to, saved on your device as M4A files • Recording starts only when you tap Record, and stops when you tap Stop • Please ask permission before recording other people ABOUT DELAY Listening live through headphones always involves a short delay between the microphone and your ears. It is shortest with wired headphones. Bluetooth headphones add more, and if you can also hear the sound directly you may notice a slight echo. Where delay matters, use wired headphones. GOOD FOR • Lectures, talks and the back of a hall • Meetings and busy restaurants • TV at your own volume without disturbing others • Theater, places of worship and events from far seats • Birdwatching and nature recording PRIVACY Audio is processed on your device. Ear Assist does not upload what it picks up or what you record. The free version shows ads, and the app uses analytics and crash reporting; the App Privacy section on this page lists what those services collect. EAR ASSIST PRO Ear Assist is free with ads. Ear Assist Pro removes the ads and adds recording and the equalizer. Choose a monthly or annual subscription, or a one-off lifetime purchase. Subscriptions renew automatically unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period, and you can manage or cancel them in your App Store account settings. If you bought any feature in an earlier version, Pro is already included. IMPORTANT Ear Assist is an entertainment and convenience utility for listening through headphones. It is not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any condition, and it is no substitute for professional advice or care. If you have any concerns about your ears, speak to a healthcare provider. Headphones recommended; Boost requires them. Microphone access required. Requires iOS 15 or later. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy policy: https://www.overpass.co.uk/ear-assist/privacy/

About

Smart FM+

This app helps you locate your parked car using your phone's location and Bluetooth connectivity. It also monitors your car's battery voltage and provides historical data. Simply plug in the transmitter, connect via Bluetooth, and set your car radio to a matching FM frequency.

Highlights
  • Car-seeking positioning
  • Voltage detection
  • FM frequency settings
  • Bluetooth connectivity
  • Parking location recording
  • Map navigation to car
Read full description

Smart FM + is an application based on Bluetooth and mobile location Usage:Plug smart FM+ transmitter into the vehicle's DC 12V or 24V cigarette lighter socket. After the car is started, the transmitter will be automatically turned on. The indicator light flashes blue to enter the Bluetooth pairing mode.Open the Smart FM+ APP and click “Connect” to connect the device via Bluetooth. Once connected, the icon “Connected” appears. Major function: 1、FM Settings:Turn on the car radio, set the frequency between 88.1-107.9 MHZ, plug in the device, adjust the frequency to the same frequency you set on the radio. 2、Voltage Detection:Voltage Detection:\nThis product will automatically detect the battery voltage of your car and the voltage of USB1 and USB2 outputs. The log icon below can check the voltage history of the car. Click the battery voltage to check the battery voltage status of the car. Green/Yellow/Orange icons are to help you determine battery status. 3、Car-seeking positioning:Find My Car:\nWhen your stop the engine, the product will automatically record the location and time of your current parking. When you don't remember the parking position of your car, open the app and follow the direction of the arrow. You can also open the map navigation to help you find the last recorded parking position. When you are close to the car, you will be prompted “The car is close, please unlock your car.“.

Screenshots

Ear Assist4 screens
Smart FM+4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Ear Assist at 3.9 against Smart FM+'s 2.3. Smart FM+'s advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and ads (none vs shown). On price, ratings volume 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

Both are free to download. Ear Assist sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Smart FM+ asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Ear Assist holds the better App Store score, 3.9 against 2.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 14 and 15 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 32% of Ear Assist's written reviews are positive against 50% of Smart FM+'s, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Ear Assist ships an update every 2 months, Smart FM+ every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Ear Assist versus Smart FM+: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterEar AssistSmart FM+
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.9 (14 ratings) — better2.3 (15 ratings)
Positive reviews32.4% of reviews50.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1415 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS15.012.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size12 MB17 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperOverpass Limited桂标 曾

Customer experience

Ear Assist

All ratings14 ratings
Positive64.3%
Neutral14.3%
Negative21.4%
Written reviews432 reviews
Positive32.4%
Neutral7.9%
Negative59.7%

Smart FM+

All ratings15 ratings
Positive26.7%
Neutral6.7%
Negative66.7%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

Bugs and requests

Ear Assist

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • App crashes
  • Recordings can't be saved
  • Doesn't work on certain devices

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add Bluetooth support
  • Improve sound quality and volume
  • Reduce ads
  • Add camera functionality
  • Provide better instructions/tutorials

Smart FM+

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Ear Assist

One-time3
  • MP3 Recording$0.99
  • Remove Ads$0.99
  • Extended Equalizer$1.99
None

Smart FM+

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Ear Assist free?
Ear Assist is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Smart FM+ free?
Smart FM+ is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Ear Assist or Smart FM+?
Ear Assist is rated higher. Ear Assist averages 3.9 out of 5 from 14 ratings, while Smart FM+ averages 2.3 from 15 ratings.
Do Ear Assist or Smart FM+ have ads?
Ear Assist shows ads; Smart FM+ does not.
Which is updated more often, Ear Assist or Smart FM+?
Ear Assist ships an update every 2 months, and Smart FM+ every 3 weeks. Most recently, Ear Assist was updated on October 24, 2026 and Smart FM+ on October 9, 2026.

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