The EarTrumpet Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about EarTrumpet in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
EarTrumpet
The Insider’s Guide
Per-app volume mixer for the Windows system tray
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among desktop utilities, read from EarTrumpet’s own pages.
Made by File-New-Project · checked Oct 9, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from EarTrumpet’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on EarTrumpet’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 9, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.8
GPA, above 57 of the 94 other desktop utilities we grade
EarTrumpet is a free volume control app for Windows that sits in the system tray and opens its own volume flyout. It sets the volume of each app separately, moves an app's audio to a different playback device, and changes the default device in two clicks. It is installed from the Microsoft Store, winget or Chocolatey, and its source is on GitHub under an MIT license that excludes three named companies.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about EarTrumpet, taken from its own pages and our grades.
No 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.
- 1
Best for a separate volume for each app on Windows
EarTrumpet is a free Windows volume mixer in the system tray, with a slider for each app and two-click switching of the default device.
- 2
It is free
EarTrumpet has no paid plan at all. 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.
- 3
It runs on Windows
Windows.
- 4
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.
- 5
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.
- 6
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.
- 7
A 2.8 GPA, above 57 of 94
That is against the other desktop utilities we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
Keep it
EarTrumpet is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
EarTrumpet at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- Windows
- Made by
- File-New-Project
- Category
- Desktop Utilities
- Our grade
- 2.8 GPA, good
The report card
Best for a separate volume for each app on Windows
EarTrumpet is a free Windows volume mixer in the system tray, with a slider for each app and two-click switching of the default device. It does sound and nothing else. It's Windows only, on Windows 10 version 1803 or later, a crash sends diagnostic details to Bugsnag, and its MIT license bars three named companies from using the code.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | Free 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. |
| Free plan and trial | A | The whole app is free. The Store terms allow installing it on up to ten Windows devices under one Microsoft account. |
| Features | C | Volume 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. |
| Ease of use | B | No 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. |
| Platforms and integrations | D | Windows 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. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who EarTrumpet is for
- 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
Who it is not for
- 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
Good to know
Good for
- Windows users who want a different volume for each app
- People who switch often between speakers, headsets and other outputs
- Anyone who wants a free volume mixer that matches the Windows 10 and 11 look
Worth knowing
- 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.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
Free
No paid plan at all
EarTrumpet is free to use.
Free on the Microsoft Store with no in-app purchases, a plain install anyone can run, and the source is on GitHub.
EarTrumpet
$0
The complete app. The Store terms allow installing it on up to ten Windows devices while signed in to a Microsoft account.
The 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.
Read from apps.microsoft.com on Oct 9, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
1
Place it runs: Windows
Per-app volume mixer for the Windows system tray. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, menu bar app.
Nothing beyond sound, which is the point of it.
- 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.
Where it runs
- Windows
What it works with
- Feedback Hub
EarTrumpet is made by File-New-Project.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
57/94
Other desktop utilities it is graded above
EarTrumpet's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 57 of the 94 other desktop utilities we grade, and level with 26.
It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 49 of 94) and worst on platforms and integrations (D, above 0).
EarTrumpet has no paid plan.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.0 out of 4. Nothing scores higher for less, though at least one tool matches that score at a lower price.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 95 desktop utilities we grade, cut by the letter each got. EarTrumpet’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 24 of 94
- AFree plan and trialAbove 49 of 94
- CFeaturesAbove 1 of 94
- BEase of useAbove 33 of 94
- DPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 94
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 55 desktop utilities. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. EarTrumpet is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
EarTrumpet is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
What you could not
- A native app living in the menu bar.
- A real app for Windows. Something home-made would be a web page.
What this rests on. EarTrumpet’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
SoundSource, Twinkle Tray and Microsoft PowerToys
The 3 tools EarTrumpet is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.2GPA
SoundSource
Free trial · from $49 one-time
Per-app volume, output routing and audio effects for the Mac.
- EarTrumpet has a free plan. SoundSource does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only EarTrumpet lists a Windows app.
- Only SoundSource lists a macOS app.
- 2.8GPA
Twinkle Tray
Free
Free brightness sliders for external monitors on Windows.
- Twinkle Tray also covers display control.
- 2.8GPA
Microsoft PowerToys
Free
Free Microsoft utilities for customizing Windows 10 and 11.
- EarTrumpet also covers menu bar app.
- Microsoft PowerToys also covers launcher, window management, file management and keyboard and mouse remapping.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
12
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is EarTrumpet free?
Yes. EarTrumpet is free to use.
How much does EarTrumpet cost?
EarTrumpet lists one plan. EarTrumpet: $0.
What platforms does EarTrumpet work on?
EarTrumpet is available on Windows.
Does EarTrumpet have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. EarTrumpet is listed for Windows.
Does EarTrumpet have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. EarTrumpet is listed for Windows.
Is EarTrumpet open source?
Yes. EarTrumpet is open source, according to its own site.
What does EarTrumpet integrate with?
EarTrumpet's listing names Feedback Hub. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Who makes EarTrumpet?
EarTrumpet is made by File-New-Project.
What are the alternatives to EarTrumpet?
The closest alternatives to EarTrumpet in our directory are SoundSource, Twinkle Tray and Microsoft PowerToys.
How does EarTrumpet compare with other desktop utilities?
EarTrumpet's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 57 of the 94 other desktop utilities we grade, and level with 26.
Is EarTrumpet good value for money?
ToolGPA grades EarTrumpet A for value for money. EarTrumpet has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of EarTrumpet?
EarTrumpet is free, so making your own would save you nothing. What you could not make: A native app living in the menu bar.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from EarTrumpet’s own pages on Oct 9, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from EarTrumpet's own pages on 9 October 2026. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-06-27.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by File-New-Project. Prices change, so check eartrumpet.app before you buy.
- eartrumpet.app/
- apps.microsoft.com/detail/9nblggh516xp?hl=en-US&gl=US
- github.com/File-New-Project/EarTrumpet
- raw.githubusercontent.com/File-New-Project/EarTrumpet/master/CHANGELOG.md
- raw.githubusercontent.com/File-New-Project/EarTrumpet/master/PRIVACY.md
- raw.githubusercontent.com/File-New-Project/EarTrumpet/master/LICENSE
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
3,189
Tools graded, in 94 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
3,189
tools graded
94
categories
426
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- EarTrumpet, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/eartrumpet
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "EarTrumpet: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 9, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/eartrumpet
Know someone choosing between desktop utilities?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/eartrumpet/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded desktop utilities after EarTrumpet, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Desktop Utilities Insider's GuideEvery one of the 95 desktop utilities we grade, compared
- LocalSend Insider's GuideOpen-source file sharing between nearby devices, no cloud3.2 GPA
- Ninite Insider's GuideInstalls and updates many Windows apps at once3.2 GPA
- 7-Zip Insider's GuideFree, open-source file archiver with the 7z format3.0 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what EarTrumpet’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. EarTrumpet is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by File-New-Project. Prices and plans change: check eartrumpet.app before you buy.