Angel Sound is a free auditory training tool from the Emily Shannon Fu Foundation, built on research from the House Research Institute. It is one of the oldest names people still find when they search for listening practice. This review covers what it offers, where it has aged, and who should still use it.
Angel Sound comes from the Emily Shannon Fu Foundation and grew out of about two decades of research at the House Research Institute. It was built for cochlear implant users, and everything in it is free.
The training runs from telling basic sounds apart up to understanding speech in noise. The library holds a few thousand sounds, the desktop edition is organized into named training modules, and there is a functional hearing self-test built in.
The content has real depth. Most free tools cover one or two skills; Angel Sound covers the full ladder, from basic sound awareness up to speech in noise, and the research behind that structure is real. The price helps too — no subscription, no trial that expires, no account tied to a device brand. Any implant or hearing aid user can use it.
Angel Sound is effectively frozen. The iOS app was last updated in January 2019. The desktop version dates to December 2014 and only runs on Windows. There is no Android app at all.
The website has problems of its own. Parts of it no longer load reliably, which can make downloading the desktop version or finding help harder than it should be.
iOS app: last updated January 2019
Desktop version: December 2014, Windows only
No Android app
Parts of the official site fail to load
If you have an iPhone or iPad, want free training with depth, and do not mind an interface from another era, Angel Sound can still serve you well. Updates stopped, but the exercises still work.
If you are on Android, or the app will not install, or the site will not load for you, it is time to look elsewhere. There is no sign that a fix is coming.
Two free apps cover similar ground and still get updates. WordSuccess, from Advanced Bionics, offers a big library of recorded words arranged in a long ladder of levels and works with any device brand. ReDi, from MED-EL, is free, works with any device, and was updated in July 2026.
SoundSteps is our app, so weigh this suggestion with that in mind. It has a free version that runs in any browser, with word pairs, sentences, conversations, and stories, plus adjustable background noise. Your first 7 days include full Premium access with no card.
FAQ
Yes. Angel Sound is fully free, with no subscription or in-app purchases. It comes from the Emily Shannon Fu Foundation, a nonprofit.
No. The iOS app was last updated in January 2019 and the desktop installer dates to December 2014. Parts of the official website also fail to load.
No. Angel Sound is available for iPhone and iPad, plus a Windows desktop version from 2014. There is no Android app.
The Emily Shannon Fu Foundation, building on about two decades of auditory research at the House Research Institute.
It was built for implant users, with modules that run from telling basic sounds apart up to speech in noise. If the app runs on your device, the training content is still solid.
WordSuccess and ReDi are both free, still updated, and work with any hearing device. SoundSteps — our app — has a free version that runs in any browser.
Related reading
Every listening-practice app compared: price, platforms, devices, languages.
The apps that are truly free to use, and who each one fits.
A practical comparison of listening practice apps for CI users.
What to try if LACE is not the right fit for your listening practice.
What the research supports, what varies, and how to judge an app for yourself.
SoundSteps
SoundSteps has a free version that runs in your browser — word pairs, sentences, and stories with adjustable background noise. No install needed to start.
SoundSteps is designed for hearing training and practice. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any medical condition. Consult a healthcare professional for medical advice.
