EarTrumpet vs FxSound (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, FxSound grades higher than EarTrumpet: 3.0 against 2.8 out of 4.0.
Checked Oct 9, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 · graded Oct 10, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
FxSound grades higher on features. They get the same grade on value for money, the free plan, ease of use and platforms.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Which one is for you
Pick EarTrumpet if
- Fits if you want the game quiet and the call loud at the same time on Windows
- Works for people who swap between speakers and a headset several times a day
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you're on a Mac or Linux, as it only runs on Windows 10 version 1803 or later and Windows 11
- Not for you if you want nothing leaving your PC, since a crash sends diagnostic details to Bugsnag
- Too light for anything beyond volume and output switching, as that's all it does
- Watch out: automatic updates are listed for the Microsoft Store install; winget and Chocolatey are command-line installs
- Watch out: its MIT license has a preface barring three named companies from reproducing or adapting it
Pick FxSound if
- Fits if you want a free equalizer for Windows speakers or headphones
- Works for people who just want sound louder with a bass boost
Look elsewhere if
- Not for you if you use a Mac, Linux, Android or iOS, as it is Windows only
- Watch out: it is run by a small team of contributors and funded by donations
- Watch out: older paid versions are still on the site as legacy downloads, which can confuse which one you get
- Too light for studio work, since it is an equalizer and booster rather than a mixer
How we grade them
| 2.8GPAEarTrumpetGood | 3.0GPAFxSoundVery good | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | AFree on the Microsoft Store with no in-app purchases, a plain install anyone can run, and the source is on GitHub. The project takes sponsors, but nothing is held back if you don't chip in. | AFree with no paid tier, which is below any price the utilities category charges. |
| Free plan and trial | AThe whole app is free. The Store terms allow installing it on up to ten Windows devices under one Microsoft account. | AThe whole app is free, with no cap and no trial. It asks for donations. |
| Features | CVolume is a small job, and EarTrumpet covers it: a slider per app, an app's sound moved to another output, the default device switched in two clicks, a standalone mixer with peak meters, hotkeys and scroll-wheel control. Nothing beyond sound, which is the point of it. | BEqualizer, presets, volume and bass boost, voice emphasis and audio routing. The listing shows no gap in the job. |
| Ease of use | BNo store rating is on record, but there's nothing to set up: install it from the Microsoft Store, click the tray icon, drag a slider. It follows light and dark mode and comes in more than 20 languages. | BNo rating on record. You install it and pick a preset; nothing to set up. |
| Platforms and integrations | DWindows only, a single operating system: Windows 10 version 1803 and later, and Windows 11. There's no Mac or Linux version, and the only tie-in listed is Feedback Hub. | DWindows only (Intel/AMD and ARM64). The vendor only hopes for Mac and Linux builds. |
| Best for | a separate volume for each app on Windows | a free equalizer and volume booster on Windows |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: EarTrumpet and FxSound. How we grade
Price against what you get
EarTrumpet has no paid plan and scores 2.0 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. FxSound has no paid plan and scores 2.3.
FxSound scores higher for the same starting price. Of the other desktop utilities on the chart, none scores higher than EarTrumpet for less, and none scores higher than FxSound for less.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
Where they differ
- EarTrumpet also covers menu bar app.
- FxSound also covers noise cancellation.
In commonFree planWindowsOpen source
At a glance
| EarTrumpet | FxSound | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free |
| Starts at | Free | Free |
| Free plan | The US Microsoft Store lists the app as Free with no in-app purchases, and it can also be installed with winget or Chocolatey. The GitHub project accepts sponsors. | The whole app is free; the project accepts donations. |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| Windows | ||
| Made by | File-New-Project | FxSound |
| Price read from | apps.microsoft.com | fxsound.com |
| Checked | Oct 9, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 |
Worth knowing
EarTrumpet
- Windows only. The README lists Windows 10 version 1803 and later and Windows 11 as supported.
- When the app crashes it sends diagnostic details, such as exception, version and system settings, to Bugsnag, as its privacy document describes.
- Automatic updates are listed as coming through the Microsoft Store; winget and Chocolatey are offered as command-line installs.
- The license is the MIT License with a preface that bars three named companies from reproducing, distributing or adapting the software.
FxSound
- Windows only; the vendor says it hopes to build Mac and Linux versions if contributions allow.
- System-wide processing is not possible on Android or iOS because of operating system restrictions, the vendor says.
- Funded by donations from users and run by a small team of contributors.
- Older paid versions are kept on the site as legacy downloads.
Key features
EarTrumpet
- Per-app volume
- Controls the volume of both classic and modern Windows apps, app by app, from a flyout opened at the system tray icon.
- Move apps between devices
- An app's audio can be moved from one playback device to another, so different programs can play through different outputs.
- Default device in two clicks
- The flyout manages the default playback device, and the context menu keeps shortcuts to the legacy volume mixer and app volume preferences.
- Standalone mixer with peak meters
- A standalone volume mixer window is included, and audio activity is visualized with peak meters that are aware of multiple channels.
- Hotkeys and scroll wheel
- Hotkeys are configurable and can adjust several devices at once, and optional settings change the volume with the scroll wheel anywhere or over the tray icon.
- Matches the Windows look
- The flyout follows light and dark mode and every accent color, and the interface has been translated into more than 20 languages.
FxSound
- Equalizer and presets
- An equalizer with presets for tuning music, calls, games and spoken audio.
- Volume and bass boost
- Raises volume with controlled peaking, and a Bass effect adds low-end punch.
- Voice emphasis
- The vendor says it targets the frequency range of the human voice, which it presents as useful for transcription work.
- Audio routing and volume control
- Includes audio routing and volume control for matching the sound to your headphones or speakers.
- Windows Intel/AMD and ARM64 builds
- The download page offers installers for x86/x64 PCs and for ARM64, plus legacy DFX Audio Enhancer and FxSound Enhancer versions.
Plans
EarTrumpet
EarTrumpet$0
The complete app. The Store terms allow installing it on up to ten Windows devices while signed in to a Microsoft account.
FxSound
Free$0
Full app with equalizer, effects and presets, funded by user contributions.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, EarTrumpet or FxSound?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both EarTrumpet and FxSound are free to use.
Which has a free plan, EarTrumpet or FxSound?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both EarTrumpet and FxSound have a free plan.
More comparisons
How this page was made
- The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
- The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
- Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
- The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.