Comparison

Ear Spy vs MaxHear

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

Head to head
About

Ear Spy

Amplify ambient sounds and bring distant voices closer in real-time using your phone's microphone and headphones. Features include environment presets, a 10-band equalizer, personal hearing calibration, and on-device live transcription. It prioritizes privacy with all processing done locally.

Highlights
  • Real-time sound amplification
  • Environment presets
  • 10-band parametric equalizer
  • Personal hearing calibration
  • Unlimited clip capture
  • On-device live transcription
  • Hearing-safety limiter
Features
Read full description

Spy Ear turns your phone into a long-range listening device. With your microphone and headphones, you can amplify ambient sound in real time and pull faraway voices closer - a quiet conversation across the room, a distant speaker in a hall, the hum from the next room. WHAT YOU GET • 8 environment presets — Restaurant, Lecture, Whisper, Meeting, Outdoor, TV, Music, Balanced • Full 10-band parametric equalizer — shape every frequency yourself • Personal hearing calibration — a two-minute tuning that adapts every preset to your own ears • Unlimited clip capture — save what you heard, replay it through the same enhancement chain • On-device live transcription — see what is being said • Hearing-safety limiter — prevents sudden loud sounds from damaging your ears • Zero data leaves your phone — everything is processed on-device BUILT FOR REAL SITUATIONS Whether you want to follow a quiet conversation at dinner, catch every word in a lecture, hear the TV more clearly, or simply explore what's beyond your normal hearing range, Spy Ear gives you the sharper listening superpower in your pocket. Use of headphones is strongly recommended. SUBSCRIPTION REQUIRED Spy Ear requires a paid subscription or a one-time lifetime purchase to use the full app after onboarding. Plans available: • Weekly with a 3-day free trial for new users • Lifetime one-time payment, no renewals Subscriptions automatically renew at the end of each weekly period at the published rate unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the renewal date. Payment is charged to your Apple ID account on confirmation of purchase. You can manage subscriptions and cancel anytime in your iPhone's App Store account settings. The free trial converts to a paid weekly subscription unless cancelled before the trial ends. Lifetime purchase is a single payment and does not auto-renew. PRIVACY FIRST All audio processing happens entirely on your iPhone. We do not collect, store, or transmit any personal data. The app has no accounts, no analytics, no tracking, and no third-party SDKs. Captured clips and your calibration profile stay on your device. Privacy Policy: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1nWqZMQjT6nNW28ytWD5fZShar3SW4NLPhWC9fUCCPJw/ Terms of Service: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Lpr6Gtwyb_ofa5ABEUSc1JY4Y5DklugXPq5p3PkzT6M/ Note: Spy Ear is not a medical device, hearing aid, or substitute for professional audiological care.

About

MaxHear

Features
Read full description

MaxHear turns your iPhone or iPad and your headphones into a live hearing amplifier. It picks up the sounds around you and makes them clearer and louder — right in your ears, in real time. Simple enough for anyone who struggles to catch conversations, hear the TV, or follow people in noisy places. HOW IT WORKS 1. Put on wired or wireless headphones 2. Turn your volume up 3. Tap once — and hear the world louder and clearer WHAT YOU GET • Live sound amplification of the voices around you • Voice Focus — makes speech clearer and cuts background noise • Ear Guard — softens sudden loud sounds to protect your hearing • A personal sound profile from a quick, easy hearing check • A simple equalizer to fine-tune the sound to your ears • Works with any wired or Bluetooth headphones and earbuds GREAT FOR • Following conversations at home, in cafés or the car • Hearing the TV at a volume comfortable for everyone • Seniors and anyone hard of hearing who wants to hear better MaxHear is a personal sound amplifier for everyday listening. It is not a hearing aid or a medical device, and is not intended to diagnose or treat any hearing condition. Subscription unlocks unlimited use. Start with a 3-day free trial, then yearly or monthly. Cancel anytime. Privacy Policy: https://maxhear.app/privacy Terms of Use (EULA): https://maxhear.app/terms

Screenshots

Ear Spy3 screens
MaxHear4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is device support: MaxHear at 3 against Ear Spy's 1. MaxHear also leads on iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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 Spy sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days and MaxHear sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Ear Spy ships an update weekly, MaxHear every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 7 level
Ear Spy versus MaxHear: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterEar SpyMaxHear
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (16 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings16 — better—
Update frequencyWeekly — betterEvery 9 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationSubscription—
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS17.015.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size7 MB18 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAwais MuneerKyrylo Karlov

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Ear Spy

Subscriptions1
  • Weekly (with trial)3 Days trial$3.997 Days
One-time1
  • Lifetime$19.99
2 purchases

MaxHear

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly$9.991 Month
  • Yearly3 Days trial$49.991 Year

Questions

Is Ear Spy free?
Ear Spy is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is MaxHear free?
MaxHear is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Ear Spy or MaxHear have ads?
Neither Ear Spy nor MaxHear shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Ear Spy or MaxHear?
Ear Spy ships an update weekly, and MaxHear every 9 days. Most recently, Ear Spy was updated on October 25, 2026 and MaxHear on October 24, 2026.

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