StaffWars vs Listener
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
StaffWars
Master musical clefs with this interactive game. Practice note names on the grand staff, treble, alto, and bass clefs. Ideal for musicians of all levels looking to improve their sight-reading skills.
- Learn note names on grand staff
- Practice treble clef
- Master alto clef
- Woodshed bass clef
- Interactive musical game
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StaffWars is a game designed to help beginning and intermediate musicians learn, practice and woodshed the note names on the grand staff, treble, alto and bass clefs. THE APP for anyone who wants to master these clefs.
Listener
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Listener scores your scales and arpeggios using just your iPhone microphone. No MIDI cable. Any piano. Play a scale. The app identifies what you played — key, scale type, direction, octave range — and scores you on note accuracy, speed control, evenness and togetherness. Instant, objective feedback on the technique that matters. WHAT IT DOES - Listens via your iPhone microphone while you practise - Identifies exercises from thousands of patterns across all 12 keys - Scores note accuracy, speed control, evenness and togetherness - Supports hands-together playing (parallel octaves) - Covers scales, arpeggios, all inversions, 3rds, 6ths and 10ths in parallel - Works with any piano — acoustic, digital, or keyboard HOW IT WORKS Open the app, tap start, and play. The app stays out of the way while you practise. When you stop, see your scores. Tap any exercise for detailed analysis with note-by-note breakdowns and trend charts. In Open Practise, play whatever you like — the app identifies each exercise automatically. In Test Mode, the app prompts you for what to play and you progress to more difficult exercises as you master easier ones. TRACK YOUR PROGRESS The progress matrix shows your scores across all keys and exercise types at a glance. See which exercises need developing, maintenance, or a refresh. Watch your scores improve over time. PRIVATE BY DESIGN All audio processing happens on-device. Nothing is uploaded. Your practise stays between you and your piano. Listener doesn't teach you how to play. It makes technical practise more focussed, and more fun, improving your overall playing. Built for students preparing for graded exams, adult learners who want objective feedback, and anyone who takes their technical practise seriously.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Listener at Free against StaffWars's $1.99. Listener also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs every 4 months). StaffWars's advantage is chart position (#19 vs unranked) and device support (3 vs 1). On 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
Listener is free to download; StaffWars costs $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
StaffWars ships an update every 4 months, Listener every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 19, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | StaffWars | Listener |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 4.3 (132 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 74.1% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 132 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | Every 2 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Best chart rank | #19 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 — better | 18.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 32 MB | 9 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | TMI Media, LLC | Daniel Clifton |
Bugs and requests
StaffWars
Reported bugs
5 issues- Double-click registration causing unintended note selections
- Incorrect note location detection preventing proper learning
- App fails to close properly on iPhone X
- Unresponsive touch input
- Occasional app crashes reported
Requested features
13 requests- Extended note range for ledger lines (especially for cello and violin)
- Piano keyboard interface instead of letter buttons
- Microphone/instrument input feature for actual note playing
- Note names displayed in note heads
- Slow mode option for beginners
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- Sound feedback for incorrect answers
- Multiple clef practice mode (switching between clefs)
- Separate range settings for treble and bass staves
- Teacher account system to track student progress
- Different background music themes
- Instrument-specific transposition settings
- Audio playback of correct pitches
- Account system for home practice tracking
Listener
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
StaffWars
No in-app purchases
Listener
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is StaffWars free?
Is Listener free?
Do StaffWars or Listener have ads?
Which is updated more often, StaffWars or Listener?
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