Comparison

PenVox vs Ear Games

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

Head to head
About

PenVox

This app provides a comprehensive suite of tools for songwriters, from drafting lyrics with section headers and multiple versions to accessing rhyming dictionaries, thesauruses, and AI assistance for creative blocks. It also includes multi-track audio recording, a chromatic tuner, metronome, and collaboration features.

Highlights
  • Distraction-free lyrics editor with section headers
  • Multiple versions per song
  • Rhymes, thesaurus, dictionary, and emotion tools
  • AI helper for brainstorming and overcoming blocks
  • Multi-track audio recording up to 5 takes
  • Chromatic tuner and metronome with practice sets
  • Collaboration with co-writers
Features
Read full description

PenVox is a songwriting studio built for people who take writing seriously. Write the lyrics, build the chords, record your ideas and finish songs in one focused app. WRITE WITHOUT FRICTION - Distraction-free lyrics editor with section headers ([Verse], [Chorus], [Bridge]) - Rhyme colors: words that rhyme share a color, so your rhyme scheme jumps off the page - Syllable counts beside every line, with a check against your first verse or chorus - Multiple versions per song — star the one you want to open - Auto-save as you type - Voice dictation for capturing lines on the fly - Notes panel for ideas and reminders - Word, line, and syllable counts WRITING TOOLS BUILT IN - Rhymes — perfect and near rhymes, right from your lyrics - Thesaurus — synonyms and related words - Dictionary — definitions, parts of speech, examples - Emotions — 12 categories to find the right feeling - Phrases — common songwriting hooks and patterns - Writing Coach — brainstorm, revise, and break through blocks - Freestyle — random word generator with timer mode CHORDS - Chord projects for the music behind your lyrics - Tap chords in any key, with numbers, feel colors, and guitar and piano shapes - Ready-made progressions, or hum a melody and get chords that fit - Real instrument sounds, drums and bass, in simple rhythms or 41 styles, or make your own - Lyrics beside each section's chords, with Rhymes - Record over the chords and mix with levels, pan, reverb, delay and Tune - Export a chord sheet (PDF), MIDI, or the chords as audio SYNC, PERFORM AND SHARE - Sync Lyrics: tap along as each line is sung - Performance View: your lyrics full screen, in time with your track - Lyric videos for Reels, TikTok and Shorts - Share your lines as an image ORGANIZE YOUR CATALOG - Albums (a song can be in more than one), favorites, and custom sort order - Search across every lyric and title, and search your Recent songs - Grid and list views - Deadline tracking with days-left indicators - Tags for genre, BPM, and key RECORD AND LAYER AUDIO - Multi-track recording — stack up to 10 takes per song - Import audio from your device - Play All transport with 15-second seek - Loop any part of a track while you write - Rename, delete, and export individual tracks TUNER AND METRONOME - Chromatic tuner with cents-accurate pitch detection - Full metronome with time signatures, subdivisions, and multiple sounds - Practice Sets — build routines with multiple BPMs and durations - Save and recall metronome presets COLLABORATE - Write together, live: see each co-writer's cursor and name as they type - Invite co-writers with Editor, Viewer, or Commenter roles - Co-writers hear the song's audio tracks - Invite co-writers to chord projects - Share links for quick access - Share Calendars EXPORT - Export songs as PDF, HTML, plain text, or for DistroKid - Export your entire catalog at once Constant updates and improvements! PenVox also works on the web at penvox.app, so your songs travel with you. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Ear Games

This app offers 16 retro arcade games designed to improve your musical ear. It covers intervals, chords, rhythm, melodies, and EQ frequencies using real instrument recordings. The app is 100% offline, ad-free, and requires no subscription.

Highlights
  • 16 retro arcade games
  • Interval, chord, and rhythm training
  • Real instrument recordings
  • 100% offline functionality
  • Daily 5-minute workouts
  • Progress tracking and skill rating
Features
Read full description

Most ear training apps feel like homework. Ear Games is 16 retro arcade games that build your musical ear — intervals, chords, rhythm, melodies, even EQ frequencies. Real recorded instruments. 100% offline. No ads. No subscription. Whether you're learning your first instrument, studying music theory, prepping for an aural exam, or training your producer ears, you'll actually want to come back every day. TRAIN EVERY MUSICAL SKILL • Daily Workout — a 5-minute session that mixes games and adapts to your weak spots • Intervals — recognize the distance between any two notes • Chord ID — major, minor, sevenths, inversions and beyond • Chord Progressions — hear how songs really move • Melody ID & Melody Memory — play back what you hear • Scale & Mode ID — from major and minor to the modes • Scale Degrees — feel where every note sits in the key • Rhythm, Sight Rhythm & Meter Detective — clap it, read it, find the beat • BPM & Tempo — guess the tempo like a pro • EQ Frequency ID — the mixing-ear trainer for producers and engineers • Microtonal Tuning — hear when a note is barely off • Find the Dough & Spot the Imposter — pure ear-sharpening arcade fun REAL INSTRUMENTS, REALLY RECORDED No synthesized MIDI. Every note is a real recording — piano, guitar, trumpet, sax, marimba, French horn, glockenspiel and more — so your ear learns the sounds you'll hear in real music. MADE TO BUILD A HABIT • Three difficulty tiers, from total beginner to conservatory-level • Deep settings for every game — train exactly what you need • Stats, streaks and a skill rating that tracks your progress • Review Weaknesses mode targets what you miss most • Built-in metronome that keeps your screen awake YOURS, WITH NOTHING WATCHING • Works 100% offline — planes, practice rooms, anywhere • No ads. No tracking. No account required. • No subscription — the app is free, with optional one-time instrument packs • Available in 11 languages Five minutes a day. Sixteen games. One great ear.

Screenshots

PenVox4 screens
Ear Games4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is monetization model: PenVox at free against Ear Games's free with in-app purchases. On price, rating, ratings volume and ads 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. PenVox sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month and Ear Games sells 8 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for PenVox against 5.0 for Ear Games. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 1 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
PenVox versus Ear Games: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPenVoxEar Games
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings11
Update frequencyEvery 5 days—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.115.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size57 MB49 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPenVox LLCHANOCH YOSEF LIB

Customer experience

PenVox

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Ear Games

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

2 purchases

PenVox

Subscriptions2
  • PenVox Pro7 Days trial$9.991 Month
  • PenVox Pro7 Days trial$99.991 Year
8 purchases

Ear Games

One-time8
  • Classic nylon guitar.$0.99
  • Black electric guitar$0.99
  • Green electric guitar$0.99
Show 5 more
  • Trumpet$0.99
  • Alto saxophone$0.99
  • Marimba$0.99
  • French Horn$0.99
  • All Instruments$3.99

Questions

Is PenVox free?
PenVox is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Ear Games free?
Ear Games is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, PenVox or Ear Games?
PenVox and Ear Games are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 1 and 1 ratings respectively.
Do PenVox or Ear Games have ads?
Neither PenVox nor Ear Games shows ads.

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