Comparison

Ear Assist vs AlfredCircle

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

Head to head
About

Ear Assist

Enhance audio clarity through headphones, making voices, TV, and lectures significantly louder. Choose between natural sound or speech-optimized modes with noise reduction. Advanced features include sound shaping and recording capabilities.

Highlights
  • Volume control with +18 dB boost
  • Natural and Speech listening modes
  • Five-band equalizer (Pro feature)
  • Record lectures and talks (Pro feature)
  • Works with wired and Bluetooth headphones
  • On-device audio processing
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

AlfredCircle

This app allows you to stay connected with loved ones by sharing real-time location updates. Set up custom alerts for arrivals and departures from important places, providing peace of mind for family safety and coordination.

Highlights
  • Real-time location sharing
  • Customizable place alerts
  • Family safety monitoring
  • Easy-to-use interface
  • Group location updates
  • Arrival and departure notifications
Read full description

Built with your safety in mind, AlfredCircle lets you stay connected with your friends and family. Just add them to your Circle, and you'll get real-time location updates.
 Get started today and keep your Circles safe! 【Stay in the Loop with Circles】 Invite your loved ones to join your Circle and share live location updates with each other. Enjoy the peace of mind knowing that: • Your kids are safe on their way home from school. • Your friends are back safely from a night out. • Your elderly mom has reached the grocery store. • Your son has boarded his flight without issues. • Your partner is on time for dinner. • Your brother is on his way with your coffee. • And so much more… 【Get Real-Time Location Alerts with Places】 • Routine-Based Selection: Select different Places to add to your Circle based on each member’s daily routine. • Immediate Notifications: Get notified immediately for arrivals and departures from homes, offices, schools, train stations, and other locations. • Peace of Mind: Go about your day knowing your loved ones are safe and sound. • Versatile Use: Whether you’re exploring a new city or meeting up with friends at a local coffee shop, add up to 4 Places to your Circle at any time to ensure a smooth experience. 【Cute and Simple Interface You'll Adore】 AlfredCircle is for everyone. That's why we made sure it's easy to navigate and a breeze to connect, no matter where you are. As they say, sharing is caring. The AlfredCircle family is here to make that happen for you. Download AlfredCircle for free to get started today! Terms of Service: https://www.alfredcircle.com/legal/terms-of-service

Screenshots

Ear Assist4 screens
AlfredCircle4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: AlfredCircle at 4.8 against Ear Assist's 3.9. AlfredCircle also leads on ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (57% vs 32%). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model 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 5 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and AlfredCircle sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

AlfredCircle holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: AlfredCircle has 204 ratings behind it against 29, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 32% of Ear Assist's written reviews are positive against 57% of AlfredCircle's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Ear Assist ships an update every 2 months, AlfredCircle every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Ear Assist versus AlfredCircle: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterEar AssistAlfredCircle
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.9 (29 ratings)4.8 (204 ratings) — better
Positive reviews32.4% of reviews57.1% of reviews — better
Number of ratings29204 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS15.015.0
Further details — not scored
Size17 MB92 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperOverpass LimitedAlfred Systems Inc.

Customer experience

Ear Assist

All ratings29 ratings
Positive65.5%
Neutral10.3%
Negative24.1%
Written reviews432 reviews
Positive32.4%
Neutral7.9%
Negative59.7%

AlfredCircle

All ratings192 ratings
Positive96.9%
Neutral0.5%
Negative2.6%
Written reviews21 reviews
Positive57.1%
Neutral9.5%
Negative33.3%

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

AlfredCircle

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

5 purchases

Ear Assist

Subscriptions2
  • Ear Assist Pro$2.991 Month
  • Ear Assist Pro$14.991 Year
One-time3
  • MP3 Recording$0.99
  • Remove Ads$0.99
  • Ear Assist Pro Lifetime$29.99
6 purchases

AlfredCircle

Subscriptions6
  • AlfredCircle Premium7 Days trial$5.991 Month
  • AlfredCircle Premium$5.991 Month
  • AlfredCircle Premium$7.991 Month
Show 3 more
  • Alfred Premium 12 months$39.991 Year
  • AlfredCircle Premium 12 months$49.991 Year
  • AlfredCircle Premium$64.991 Year

Questions

Is Ear Assist free?
Ear Assist is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is AlfredCircle free?
AlfredCircle is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Ear Assist or AlfredCircle?
AlfredCircle is rated higher. Ear Assist averages 3.9 out of 5 from 29 ratings, while AlfredCircle averages 4.8 from 204 ratings.
Do Ear Assist or AlfredCircle have ads?
Ear Assist shows ads; AlfredCircle does not.
Which is updated more often, Ear Assist or AlfredCircle?
Ear Assist ships an update every 2 months, and AlfredCircle every 2 weeks. Most recently, Ear Assist was updated on November 6, 2026 and AlfredCircle on November 3, 2026.

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