Comparison

Scales Academy vs Heddle

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

Head to head
About

Scales Academy

Features
Read full description

Discover a simpler, more enjoyable way to practise piano scales. Created by a professional pianist and teacher, in association with The Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM), Scales Academy™ is the interactive practice companion for students preparing for ABRSM piano exams (Grades 1–5). Scales are essential for exam success, but practising them consistently isn't always easy. Scales Academy transforms repetitive practice into a simple, fun, and engaging experience that builds confidence, accuracy, and speed. Whether you're a piano teacher looking to save time, a parent wanting to make practice easier at home, or a student who wants to learn scales more easily with clear, structured practice, Scales Academy makes every practice session more enjoyable and effective. Why it works: • Exact syllabus match: Fully aligned with the ABRSM Piano Syllabus for Grades 1–5, covering the technical work students need to prepare for their exams. • Makes scales easier to learn: Interactive practice helps students understand, remember, and perform their scales with greater confidence. • Built with students in mind: Created by a professional pianist and teacher, with student feedback shaping the app at every stage of development to ensure it is intuitive, effective, and enjoyable to use. • Independent practice made simple: Students can practise confidently on their own with clear guidance, while parents can easily see what is required. Teachers save valuable time with a structured resource that keeps scale practice organised and consistent. • Instant feedback as you play: Real-time pitch recognition listens as students play and shows them exactly where they go wrong, making it easy to correct mistakes. • Learn scales with confidence: A visual keyboard and clear finger numbers make patterns easy to understand, helping students learn scales accurately from the start. • Play, listen, and learn: Play along with each scale as you hear it, practise with backing tracks, and keep time with the built-in metronome. • Prepare for the real exam experience: Once students know their scales, the Spin Wheel randomly selects scales to practise, creating a more authentic exam experience and building confidence for the big day. • Record and listen back: Built-in recording lets students hear their own playing and recognise areas for improvement. A smarter way to practise scales! Give your students extra confidence between lessons. Scales Academy helps make technical work practice focused, effective, and really enjoyable. Scales Academy is brought to you by MusicMaster Education. Drop us a line at hello@musicmastereducation.co.nz. We'd love to hear how it's working in your studio! The syllabus upon which Scales Academy is based is © The Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music and is used under licence. Scales Academy is produced independently by MusicMaster Education Limited; ABRSM neither owns, endorses, nor quality-assures the product, but has granted permission for the limited use of its content and branding. © The Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music. All rights reserved for all countries. Scales Academy™ is a trademark of MusicMaster Education Limited. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: [Privacy Policy URL]

About

Heddle

This platform connects English as an Additional Language (EAL) educators with a supportive community, practical resources, and expert-led training. Access a weekly newsletter, share insights with peers, and find on-demand help. Develop practical strategies and access ready-to-use materials for whole-school EAL provision.

Highlights
  • EAL specialist community
  • Weekly EAL newsletter
  • Expert-led video courses
  • Ready-to-use learning materials
  • Whole-school EAL training resources
  • Downloadable how-to guides and toolkits
Features
Read full description

Heddle: A thriving community of EAL specialists. Heddle is a dedicated platform for teachers working with pupils who use English as an Additional Language (EAL). Whether you're new to EAL or leading provision across a school, Heddle connects you to a supportive network, practical resources and expert-led learning designed to help you feel confident and well-equipped in your role. The Heddle app allows you to access all that Heddle offers, EAL expertise at your fingertips. The Heddle app hosts: The Heddle Community •Stay up to date with fresh insights, classroom tips and sector news with our weekly EAL newsletter. •Connect with educators who understand your challenges and share your goals. Exchange ideas, ask questions, share resources and build support networks. •Navigate those tricky questions with on-demand insights from the Heddle team. A full suite of tools and training designed for whole-school EAL provision. •Master practical strategies for supporting your learners in our expert-led video courses. •Apply your learning with structured, ready-to-use materials. •Promote whole-school understanding of EAL and feel confident leading training with resources designed for training your team. •Feel confident that your EAL provision supports your school, colleagues and learners with our downloadable how-to guides and toolkits of strategies. Heddle is built by and for EAL professionals. It’s a space where your expertise is valued, your challenges are understood and your growth is supported.

Screenshots

Scales Academy4 screens
Heddle4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Heddle at none against Scales Academy's 2. Heddle also leads on update cadence (every 2 months vs every 6 months). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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. Scales Academy sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Heddle asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Scales Academy ships an update every 6 months, Heddle every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 28, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 7 level
Scales Academy versus Heddle: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterScales AcademyHeddle
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Number of ratings—1 — better
Update frequencyEvery 6 monthsEvery 2 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
Monetization—Free
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.016.4 — better
Further details — not scored
Size374 MB91 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperMUSICMASTER EDUCATION LIMITEDHeddle Education Ltd

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Scales Academy

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly - ABRSM Grades 1 to 5$1.991 Month
  • Annual - ABRSM Grades 1 to 5$9.991 Year
None

Heddle

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Scales Academy free?
Scales Academy is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Heddle free?
Heddle is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Scales Academy or Heddle have ads?
Neither Scales Academy nor Heddle shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Scales Academy or Heddle?
Scales Academy ships an update every 6 months, and Heddle every 2 months. Most recently, Scales Academy was updated on October 28, 2026 and Heddle on October 24, 2026.

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