LACE AI Pro is the most established auditory training program available. This is a plain review: what it is, what it does well, what to know before you pay, and who it fits best.
LACE is an auditory training program with more than 20 years behind it. The AI Pro version adapts difficulty to your performance, so the exercises get harder or easier as you go.
It is distributed through more than 1,000 hearing clinics. In April 2026 it expanded to 10 languages, and it added a feature for practicing with recorded family voices.
Start with the research. Dozens of published studies stand behind LACE, and no other consumer-facing auditory training tool comes close to that record. If you want the option with the most validation, this is it.
The adaptive engine is well built, the language support is broad, and the family-voice feature is a thoughtful touch. People who get through setup and use it consistently report real benefit in group conversations, which is one of the hardest listening situations there is.
Dozens of published studies, an unmatched evidence base
Adaptive difficulty that responds to how you do
10 languages and practice with recorded family voices
Three things. First, the price: about $499 as a one-time purchase. That is a lot for one person to cover out of pocket.
Second, access. You register through a hearing care provider rather than downloading it and starting on your own. Third, stability: public app store reviews mention friction with setup and login, and some flag stability complaints. Weigh those against the strong reports from people who get past the early hurdles.
Price: about $499, one time
Access: registration through a provider, not a solo download
Per public app store reviews: setup, login, and stability complaints
LACE fits best when your audiologist provides it as part of your care and tracks your progress with you. In that setting the price hurdle and the registration step mostly disappear, and you get the benefit of the strongest evidence base with someone guiding you.
It also fits people who value published validation above all and do not mind the setup. If that is you, LACE is a reasonable choice.
If the price or the provider step is a barrier, you have options. Several free and lower-cost apps let you try auditory training first and decide later.
We keep a fuller comparison on our LACE alternatives page. Whatever you choose, give it a couple of weeks of steady use before you judge it.
FAQ
It is about $499 as a one-time purchase. Some hearing care providers include it in a care plan at no extra cost to the person using it.
You register through a hearing care provider rather than downloading it directly. Ask your audiologist whether they offer it.
It has the strongest published evidence of any auditory training tool. Whether the price is worth it depends on whether you will use it steadily and whether your provider covers it.
Public app store reviews mention setup, login, and stability friction. People who get through it report real benefit in group conversations.
Free and lower-cost apps like Hearoes, eargym, Cochlear CoPilot, and SoundSteps let you try auditory training without the upfront cost or provider step.
Related reading
What to try if LACE is not the right fit for your listening practice.
A fair roundup of listening practice apps by price, features, and fit.
A practical comparison of listening practice apps for CI users.
A plain answer on what listening practice can and cannot do.
See what the check does, what it does not do, and what happens next.
SoundSteps
Take the free SoundSteps listening check and see where your practice could start. No account, no provider step.
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.
