ToneGym alternatives in 2026: 8 ear training apps compared
ToneGym's games and daily workouts work well for some musicians. Others want a lower price, less gamification, a structured curriculum, or a better phone app. Eight alternatives compared with current pricing.
ToneGym turns ear training into a daily workout: short games, a performance score, weekly contests and a community. It’s made by SoundGym, the company behind the audio-engineering trainer of the same style. For musicians who like streaks and leaderboards, it works.
The usual reasons people look elsewhere are price, gamification that doesn’t suit them, wanting a structured path instead of a game rotation, and phone support (ToneGym is web-first, and its iOS app is new). We make one of the alternatives (Fifths, which runs in the browser like ToneGym), and we’ve tried to rank the others honestly by what each is best at.
Prices are as of October 2026, from official sites and the US App Store.
What ToneGym offers and costs
- Free (Basic): “limited access to training and learning tools”, per ToneGym’s terms.
- Pro: unlocks all ear training games, full daily workouts, advanced statistics, all interactive tools and a personalized practice plan.
- Pro pricing: in the iOS app, $13.95/month or $74.99/year. The website also offers a one-time lifetime plan, sold on the website only.
- Games: Chordelius, Solfègiator, Rhythmic Parrot and Melody Jay, plus interval and chord recognition.
- Tools: a sight-singing trainer, a perfect pitch test, a chord progression generator and a circle of fifths.
- iOS app: ToneGym Ear Training Studio is new: it was at version 1.1, with only a handful of ratings, when we checked.
Quick comparison
| App | Platforms | Price (Oct 2026) | Gamified? | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Theta Music Trainer | Web, iOS | Free levels; $9/mo or $39/yr | Yes (50 games) | The closest ToneGym-style experience, cheaper |
| Fifths | Web | Free tier; $4.99/mo or $39.99/yr | Light (streaks, no leaderboards) | A structured path with stats on what you miss |
| Complete Ear Trainer | iOS, Android | Free; $6.99 one-time | Some (arcade mode) | Pay once, mobile |
| EarMaster | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android | All-Access $49.95/yr; desktop $59.95 once | No | Depth, sight-singing, exams |
| Functional Ear Trainer | iOS, Android | Free; Plus $19.99 | No | Scale-degree hearing |
| Perfect Ear | iOS, Android | Free; Premium $14.99 | No | Cheap all-rounder on a phone |
| Tonedear | Web | Free to use | No | Configurable drills at no cost |
| MyEarTraining | iOS, Android, Web | Free; Premium $12.99 | Daily challenge | Free, with lots of exercise types |
The alternatives
1. Theta Music Trainer
If you like ToneGym’s game format but not its price, start here. Theta has about 50 ear training games across 12 courses: interval, chord, melody, rhythm and more, on the web and iOS. The first three levels of every game are free, plus three weekly credits for higher levels. An individual plan is $9/month or $39/year on the website, about half ToneGym’s yearly price on iOS.
Pros: the most similar experience; more games; generous free levels; cheaper. Cons: less community and contest feature; the iOS app has few ratings and was last updated in March 2025. Best for: ToneGym users who want the games without the cost.
2. Fifths (ours)
Fifths takes a different approach from ToneGym. Instead of rotating games, it’s a path of short lessons through nine sections: foundations, voice, tonality, scale degrees, intervals, chords, progressions, jazz harmony and rhythm. Each lesson takes place in a key, and the stats break down which specific scale degrees, intervals, chord qualities and keys you miss. The Voice section grades sing-back exercises through the microphone, from matching one note up to singing scales. There’s a streak counter, but no leaderboards or contests.
Pros: structured progression instead of a game shuffle; per-item stats on weak spots; serious harmony coverage (secondary dominants, ii-V-I, altered dominants, voicings); runs in any browser with no signup for the first lessons; no ads. Cons: much less gamified, which is a downside if games are what keep you practicing; no community features; no sight-singing from notation yet; iOS and Android apps aren’t in the stores yet. Pricing: free tier covers foundations, tonality, scale degrees, basic intervals and most Voice lessons. Pro is $4.99/month or $39.99/year. Best for: musicians who found ToneGym’s games fun but weren’t sure what they were improving.
3. Complete Ear Trainer
A free iOS and Android app with a $6.99 one-time unlock. It has more than 150 drills in 28 chapters covering intervals, chords, scales and melodic dictation, plus an arcade mode if you miss the game feel.
Pros: one payment instead of a subscription; structured; good on phones. Cons: no browser version without the paid web add-on; fewer social features. Best for: phone-first learners tired of subscriptions.
4. EarMaster
The opposite of ToneGym in feel: a comprehensive, course-like program with more than 4,000 exercises. It includes sight-singing with microphone feedback, rhythm, jazz workshops and ABRSM/RCM exam prep. The One-Year All-Access Pass is $49.95, the desktop licence $59.95 one-time, and iOS modules are sold separately.
Pros: depth ToneGym doesn’t attempt; graded sight-singing; exam material. Cons: can feel like homework; no browser version listed for individuals. Best for: students and serious learners who want a full aural-skills curriculum. More in EarMaster alternatives.
5. Functional Ear Trainer
One exercise, done very well. A cadence sets the key, a note plays, and you name its scale degree. It’s free on iOS and Android, with a $19.99 Plus upgrade on iOS, and it’s among the highest-rated ear training apps (4.9 from about 3,800 App Store ratings).
Pros: the most direct training for playing by ear; free; quick daily sessions. Cons: no chords, rhythm or variety. Best for: learners who want to hear notes in a key and don’t need games. Why this matters: functional vs interval ear training.
6. Perfect Ear
A broad, low-cost iOS and Android app covering intervals, chords, scales, rhythm, solfège and singing drills, with a custom exercise editor. On iOS, Premium is $14.99, with individual packs from $0.99.
Pros: covers most of what ToneGym does for a fraction of the cost; works well on phones. Cons: plain multiple-choice drills; less motivation design. Best for: budget-conscious phone users.
7. Tonedear
A free-to-use website with configurable interval, chord, scale, scale-degree, progression and dictation exercises. You pick exactly what to drill, including direction and which intervals. Paid apps are available for offline use.
Pros: costs nothing; flexible; instant. Cons: no curriculum or motivation features, so you supply the discipline. Best for: self-directed learners who want ToneGym’s skills without paying.
8. MyEarTraining
A free app with more than 100 exercises (intervals, chords, scales, progressions, melodies, rhythm), custom exercises and a daily challenge, on iOS, Android and the web. Premium is $12.99 on iOS. Expect ads in the free version, and note the iOS app was last updated in May 2025.
Best for: a free daily-challenge alternative.
If you actually wanted audio-engineering training
ToneGym’s sister product, SoundGym, trains EQ, compression and other production listening skills. If that’s what you were after, none of the musical ear trainers above replace it.
How to choose
- You love the games, hate the price: Theta Music Trainer.
- You want to know what you’re improving at: Fifths.
- You’re done with subscriptions: Complete Ear Trainer ($6.99 once) or EarMaster’s desktop licence.
- You want depth and exam prep: EarMaster.
- You want to play by ear: Functional Ear Trainer or Fifths.
- You want free: Tonedear, MyEarTraining, or the free tiers above.
- You’re a singer: see best ear training apps for singers.
ToneGym’s tools include a circle of fifths; ours is free at /tools/circle-of-fifths/, alongside a vocal range test and an interval ear trainer. For a wider comparison, see the best ear training apps roundup.
FAQ
Is ToneGym worth it? If daily games, scores and contests keep you practicing, Pro can be worth it. The best ear training app is the one you use daily. If you find yourself playing games without a clear sense of improvement, a structured app may suit you better.
What’s the cheapest ToneGym alternative? Tonedear is free to use in the browser. Of the paid options, Complete Ear Trainer ($6.99 one-time) and Perfect Ear (Premium $14.99 on iOS) are the cheapest. Theta Music Trainer ($39/year) and Fifths ($39.99/year) are the cheapest subscriptions here.
Is there a ToneGym alternative with similar games? Theta Music Trainer is the closest, with about 50 games across intervals, chords, melody and rhythm.
Does ToneGym have a mobile app? Yes. ToneGym Ear Training Studio is on iOS, and the website links to Google Play as well. It’s newer and less established than the web version.
Which alternative is best for jazz musicians? EarMaster has jazz workshops. Fifths covers ii-V-I progressions, dominant extensions, altered dominants, modal interchange and voicings.