# StarNest vs Absolute Ear

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: StarNest at none against Absolute Ear's 3. StarNest also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.1). Absolute Ear's advantage is update cadence (every 3 days vs every 3 weeks). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Absolute Ear sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. StarNest asks for nothing beyond the download.

StarNest ships an update every 3 weeks, Absolute Ear every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on September 11, 2026 and July 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | StarNest | Absolute Ear |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[5.0 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/absolute-ear-ear-training/id6758640410/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **7** |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 3 days** |
| Monetization | — | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 65 MB | 117 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.1 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [STAR NEST TECH](https://appshunter.io/developer/1752083511) | [David Ashworth](https://appshunter.io/developer/1787750006) |

## What reviewers say

### StarNest

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/starnest/id6504397378)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Absolute Ear

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/absolute-ear-ear-training/id6758640410)

Master note recognition, melodic dictation, and interval training with a structured course. Progress at your own pace through over 60 units, with intelligent practice focusing on your weakest areas. Supports multiple instrument timbres and detailed statistics.

**Highlights:** Note recognition, Melodic dictation, Interval training, Intelligent practice, Multiple instrument timbres, Detailed statistics, Session history and streak tracking

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| Yearly | $29.99 | per year |
| Lifetime | $49.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is StarNest free?

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

### Is Absolute Ear free?

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

### Do StarNest or Absolute Ear have ads?

Neither StarNest nor Absolute Ear shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, StarNest or Absolute Ear?

StarNest ships an update every 3 weeks, and Absolute Ear every 3 days. Most recently, StarNest was updated on September 11, 2026 and Absolute Ear on July 23, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*