Alternatives
LACE is the auditory training program hearing care offices know best. Its published research comes from its earlier CD and desktop era, and at about $499 with no way to just download it and begin, it is not the right fit for everyone. Here are the alternatives worth a look.
Three reasons come up most. The price is steep for one person to cover. Registering through a hearing care provider adds a hoop to jump through. And plenty of people want to try auditory training before putting down $499 to see if it works for them.
All fair. Here is what else is out there.
Hearoes is a gamified auditory training app with over 90 activities. It covers sound awareness, phonetic discrimination, and listening in noise. It works across device brands and is free to start.
It does not have the same depth of published evidence as LACE, and some users report bugs. But for someone who wants a free entry point into auditory training, it is a solid option.
Price: Free + in-app purchases
Works with: Any hearing device
Best for: People who want a gamified, self-serve starting point
CoPilot is free and well-designed, with active listening exercises and real-world practice tips. It is backed by Cochlear's own research.
The limitation is device lock-in. It is only available to Cochlear brand implant users. If you use a different manufacturer, this is not an option.
Price: Free
Works with: Cochlear devices only
Best for: Cochlear CI users who want a manufacturer-supported option
eargym offers hearing checks, training games, and progress tracking. It is UK-based and classified as a Class 1 medical device. The free tier gives you a hearing check and a two-day training trial.
The subscription model and limited free tier frustrate some users. The app has about 10,000 downloads, so the community is small.
Price: about $3.99 a month or $39.99 a year (a $11.99 lifetime unlock is also offered)
Works with: Any hearing device
Best for: People who want ongoing hearing health tracking alongside training
SoundSteps takes a different path than LACE. Instead of a broad training platform, it focuses on guided daily practice with a calmer progression. It starts with a listening check, uses one steady voice first, and builds toward harder real-life listening over time.
It is free to start, works across device brands, and needs no provider registration. The trade-off: it is newer, and its research base is still growing.
Price: Free to start
Works with: Any hearing device
Best for: People who want guided, progressive daily practice without a large upfront cost
Angel Sound is a free training tool from the Emily Shannon Fu Foundation, though it has not been updated in years and the interface feels dated. WordSuccess, from Advanced Bionics, offers free word-discrimination practice and works with any brand of hearing device. ReDi from MED-EL is free, actively updated, and open to hearing aid and implant users alike.
None of these are direct LACE replacements, but each covers part of what LACE does.
If your audiologist includes LACE in your care at no extra cost, it can be worth doing with their guidance. Just know that its published studies come from earlier versions of the program.
If you are paying out of pocket and want to try auditory training first, start with a free option. Use it for a few weeks and see whether structured practice makes a real difference to you, then decide if the $499 is worth it.
FAQ
No. Auditory training has research support across many programs and labs, and LACE's own published studies were run on its earlier versions. The key factor is consistent, active practice over time.
Some hearing care providers include LACE in their care plans at no extra cost to the person using it. Ask your audiologist if they offer it.
LACE offers adaptive difficulty and provider-facing progress tracking. Free alternatives are easier to start and cost nothing to try.
Hearing aids give your brain access to sound. Auditory training helps your brain get better at using that sound. They work together, not as substitutes for each other.
Give any program at least two to four weeks of consistent daily use before evaluating. Benefits from auditory training are cumulative and usually not obvious after one or two sessions.
Related reading
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A practical comparison of listening practice apps for CI users.
Simple ways to start structured listening practice without a clinic visit.
See what the check does, what it does not do, and what happens next.
SoundSteps
Start with a free listening check and see where SoundSteps suggests you begin. No registration required.
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.
