Plenty of listening practice apps say free and mean free to download. This roundup covers the ones that are free to use: WordSuccess, ReDi, Speech Banana, Angel Sound, and the free version of SoundSteps. SoundSteps is our app, so read that entry knowing who wrote it.
We only included apps where the training itself is free, not just the download. That rules out Hearoes and eargym, which are free to install but keep most content behind a subscription. Cochlear CoPilot is free but only works for Cochlear-brand implant users in the US and Canada, so it is not a general pick.
That leaves five options. Four are fully free, and one — ours — has a free version alongside a paid tier.
WordSuccess (Advanced Bionics): fully free, any device brand
ReDi (MED-EL): fully free, any device brand
Speech Banana (Johns Hopkins): fully free, iPad and web
Angel Sound (Emily Shannon Fu Foundation): fully free, but dormant
SoundSteps (our app): free version, runs in any browser
WordSuccess comes from Advanced Bionics, but it works with any brand of hearing device. It offers a large library of recorded words across a long ladder of levels, a placement test that finds your starting level, and a two-person Listening Coach mode for practicing with a partner.
It runs on iPhone, iPad, and Android. One caution: neither store listing has been updated since mid-2024, so new features look unlikely.
ReDi is MED-EL's training app, and no manufacturer app is updated more often — its most recent release landed in July 2026. It gives AI feedback on both your listening and your speech, and it works with any hearing device, not just MED-EL's.
It runs on iPhone, iPad, and Android, and its store listing shows dozens of language localizations. The web portal is for hearing professionals only, so plan to practice on a phone or tablet.
Speech Banana was built at Johns Hopkins and has a peer-reviewed study behind it. Its structured lessons run on iPad and on the web, in English and Korean. The catch is age: the iPad app was last updated in 2021, and there is no iPhone version.
Angel Sound is in deeper freeze. Its iOS app dates to 2019, its Windows-only desktop version to 2014, and parts of its site no longer load. The research-grade content is still real if you can get it running — our full Angel Sound review covers when that is worth the trouble.
SoundSteps is our app, so treat this entry as the maker talking. The free version runs in any browser with nothing to install, and your first 7 days include full Premium access without entering a card. Practice covers word pairs, sentences, conversations, and stories, all real recordings, with adjustable background noise on every activity. It works with any hearing device or none, in English, Spanish, German, Portuguese, Italian, and French.
How to choose from all five? If you want word drills with a placement test, start with WordSuccess. If you want speech feedback too, try ReDi. If you want structured lessons on an iPad, Speech Banana still holds up. Whichever you pick, give it two to four weeks of steady use before you judge it.
FAQ
Yes. WordSuccess, ReDi, Speech Banana, and Angel Sound are all fully free, with no subscription. SoundSteps also has a free version.
No. Partner clinics list LACE AI Pro at about $499 one-time, and you register through a hearing care professional rather than downloading it yourself.
ReDi from MED-EL, updated in July 2026, is the most active of the fully free apps. The SoundSteps free version is also updated regularly — SoundSteps is our app.
The ones in this roundup do. WordSuccess, ReDi, Speech Banana, Angel Sound, and SoundSteps all work regardless of device brand. Cochlear CoPilot is the exception — it is free but limited to Cochlear-brand implant users.
Several are. WordSuccess and ReDi come from major hearing device makers, and Speech Banana has a peer-reviewed study behind it. What matters most is steady practice, not the price tag.
Related reading
Every listening-practice app compared: price, platforms, devices, languages.
A fair look at the free training tool, its research roots, and its frozen state.
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.
A fair roundup of listening practice apps by price, features, and fit.
SoundSteps
Try the SoundSteps free listening check in your browser. Your first 7 days include everything, and we never ask for a card 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.
