# tuneUp Lite vs Active Ear

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Active Ear at none against tuneUp Lite's 5. Active Ear also leads on update cadence (monthly vs every 4 months). tuneUp Lite's advantage is iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.1). On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. tuneUp Lite sells 5 one-off in-app purchases. Active Ear asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for tuneUp Lite against 4.7 for Active Ear. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 22 and 50 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 100% of tuneUp Lite's written reviews are positive against 94% of Active Ear's.

tuneUp Lite ships an update every 4 months, Active Ear monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | tuneUp Lite | Active Ear |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (22 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tuneup-lite-ear-training/id884607905/reviews) | **[4.7 (50 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/active-ear-ear-trainer/id1541508221/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 22 | **50** |
| Positive reviews | **100.0% of reviews** | 93.8% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 4 MB | 23 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 15.1 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [H Calvin Flegal](https://appshunter.io/developer/884607908) | [MCPHERSON'S MUSIC LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1541508223) |

## What reviewers say

### tuneUp Lite

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tuneup-lite-ear-training/id884607905)

Sharpen your musical ear with this engaging game that tests your ability to identify sharp or flat pitches. Progress through difficulty levels and compete globally. Unlock additional instrument sound packs through in-app purchases.

**Highlights:** Pitch identification game, Adjustable difficulty levels, Global leaderboards, Multiple instrument sound packs, Ear training for musicians

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 3 More Lives | $0.99 | one-time |
| Flute Sample Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Acoustic Guitar Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Marimba Sample Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Complete Sample Pack | $1.99 | one-time |


### Active Ear

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/active-ear-ear-trainer/id1541508221)

Develop your musical ear with a comprehensive ear training app. It offers various exercises to help musicians identify pitches, intervals, chords, and progressions. Customize your learning with practice modes and test your knowledge with quizzes.

**Highlights:** Pitch Recognition, Interval Training, Chord Quality Identification, Bassline Training, Progression Training, Chord Inversions, Customizable Practice Mode, Quiz Mode

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is tuneUp Lite free?

tuneUp Lite is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Active Ear free?

Active Ear is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, tuneUp Lite or Active Ear?

Active Ear is rated higher. tuneUp Lite averages 4.6 out of 5 from 22 ratings, while Active Ear averages 4.7 from 50 ratings.

### Do tuneUp Lite or Active Ear have ads?

Neither tuneUp Lite nor Active Ear shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, tuneUp Lite or Active Ear?

tuneUp Lite ships an update every 4 months, and Active Ear monthly. Most recently, tuneUp Lite was updated on October 24, 2026 and Active Ear on October 21, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*