ProperSound vs ShadowStep
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
ProperSound
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You already know English. Now make it sound right. In a job interview, a client call, or a presentation, the gap between correct English and convincing English is how it sounds — the rhythm, the stress, the melody of the sentence. ProperSound trains exactly that, the way interpreters and actors train: by mimicking a perfect model until it becomes your own voice. HOW IT WORKS 1. Listen to a sentence spoken the way it should sound. 2. Speak it back — mimic the model's rhythm, stress, and melody. 3. Hear your voice and the model side by side, and see exactly where you differ. The difference is the lesson. No scores, no grades. Your own ears are the judge — the way professionals have always trained their voice. HEAR YOUR OWN VOICE, PERFECTED ProperSound doesn't just compare — it corrects. • Plug in wired headphones and your voice is tuned toward the model in real time as you speak. You hear yourself sounding right while you practice. • After every take, replay a perfected version rendered from your own recording — your voice, with the model's polish. This is what you should sound like. • The model audio itself is enhanced so the cues learners usually miss — sentence stress, crisp consonants, linking — stand out clearly. SEE THE DIFFERENCE • Your waveform overlaid on the model's: rhythm and pauses at a glance. • A band-by-band sound profile shows exactly where your energy falls short of the model. • Every sentence comes with its stress pattern, IPA transcription, and a coaching tip written for that exact sentence. ENGLISH FOR REAL SITUATIONS Practice the sentences professionals actually say: • Job interviews — introduce yourself, answer with the STAR method • Workplace communication — meetings, small talk, difficult conversations • Presentations — open, transition, persuade, close • Financial news — read the markets aloud like a broadcast anchor • Daily life, travel, and campus English From your first sounds to native-level delivery, with six US and UK studio voices to train your ear. WORKS ANYWHERE, STAYS PRIVATE Every lesson and every recording ships inside the app. Nothing to download, nothing to stream, no account needed to look around. Practice on a plane, on the subway, anywhere. Your voice never leaves your device: recordings and progress are stored locally and are never uploaded to us or anyone else. PROPERSOUND PRO Start free with lessons in every chapter. ProperSound Pro unlocks the full curriculum, with a 7-day free trial on the monthly and yearly plans. • Monthly, yearly, or yearly for the family (up to 6 people) • Payment is charged to your Apple Account at confirmation of purchase • Subscriptions renew automatically unless turned off at least 24 hours before the period ends • Manage or cancel in your Apple Account settings after purchase • Any unused portion of a free trial is forfeited when you buy a subscription Terms of Use: https://rx20.github.io/propersound_pages/terms-of-service.html Privacy Policy: https://rx20.github.io/propersound_pages/privacy-policy.html
ShadowStep
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Listen. Repeat. Make English your own. ShadowStep is an English shadowing app that helps you keep practicing through engaging stories and conversations. ■ English lessons that leave you wanting more At a café, a voice arrives from a sister who has died. “The Voicemail at Table Six” is a continuing mystery in 36 episodes. Each short conversation reveals another clue. You will also find everyday, travel, and office conversations, plus surprising facts. With 7 courses and 156 lessons, studying three times a week gives you about a year of learning. Choose materials that suit you, from beginner (A1) to intermediate (B1). ■ Five clear steps 1. Listen: understand what happened without looking at the English text. 2. Understand: check the English text, translation, and expressions. 3. Speak: listen to the model and record one sentence at a time. 4. Read Along: look at the English and read at the same time as the model. 5. Shadow: hide the English and repeat just behind the model. Adjust the speed, play individual sentences, and resume where you left off. ■ Hear changes in your own voice Compare your recordings with the model. Practice scores and tips help you decide what to practice next. Pronunciation, text match, rhythm, intonation, and fluency are shown when they can be measured. Scores are guides for practice and do not guarantee an expert assessment or test result. ■ Keep going from three days a week On busy days, try a three-minute review. Earn prizes as your practice adds up. Look back on your changes through progress graphs and earlier recordings. You are not required to maintain an unbroken daily streak. ■ Recordings stay on your device Recording and audio analysis take place on your device. Recordings, transcripts, and learning history are not passed to advertising SDKs. You can export and delete your own recordings. ■ All lessons free, with no monthly subscription Banner ads appear on Home and the lesson list. No ads appear during the five learning steps. Watching ads is not a requirement for opening lessons. In the drama, complete the five steps of the previous episode to continue. Ad delivery and consent checks use an internet connection. See the privacy policy for details of advertising data handling. Lesson audio uses synthesized voices. Built with Fish Audio
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: ShadowStep at none against ProperSound's 3. ShadowStep also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs every 2 weeks). ProperSound's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price, 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
Both are free to download. ProperSound sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $8.99 per month. ShadowStep asks for nothing beyond the download.
ProperSound ships an update every 2 weeks, ShadowStep every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on November 5, 2026 and November 6, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | ProperSound | ShadowStep |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | Every 2 days — better |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 — better | 18.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 606 MB | 589 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | Yonghao Xu | Nobuaki Kuwabara |
In-app purchases
ProperSound
- Pro Monthly7 Days trial$8.991 Month
- Pro Yearly7 Days trial$29.991 Year
- Pro Family$49.991 Year
ShadowStep
No in-app purchases








