# Decibels: dB Sound Level Meter — Analyze audio with style

> Precise and stylish sound level meter with photo and recording capabilities. (iPhone/iPad app by David Bannach.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/decibels-db-sound-level-meter/id383207286 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [David Bannach](https://appshunter.io/developer/286310199)
- Category: Utilities, Music
- Price: Free with in-app purchases
- Rating: 4.60/5 from 261 App Store ratings · 664 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 11.0 · 18 MB
- Languages: American English, German (Germany), Swiss German
- Released: 2010-07-29
- Data updated: 2026-08-17
- Monetization: free with in-app purchases
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/decibels-db-sound-level-meter/id383207286/reviews.md

## What is Decibels?

Want to know what noise level is around you? in the restaurant? in the train? in the office? This app will show you with precision & style.

Features:
- Smooth analog display of dB(A)
- Take photo with sound level display
- Share, print, and store sound level photos

Extra Features (with purchase):
- Select frequency weightings A, C, and Z
- Record decibels on beautiful strip charts
- Annotate the strip charts
- Share, print, and store the strip charts

This app uses the internal microphone to estimate the sound pressure level in decibels (dB SPL).

Examples:
- quiet bedroom at night: 30 dB
- average home: 50 dB
- vacuum cleaner, 1m away: 70 dB
- jet aircraft, 50 m away: 140 dB

## Key features

- Analog dB(A) display
- Photo with sound level
- Share/print/store photos
- Select frequency weightings (A, C, Z)
- Record decibels on strip charts
- Annotate strip charts

## Pricing and in-app purchases

Base price: Free.

**One-time purchases**

| Purchase | Price | Type |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Beautiful Strip Chart Recorder | $2.99 | one-time |
| Professional Controls | $1.99 | one-time |


## What do users think of Decibels?

Overall sentiment: positive

**Pros**

- 👍 Simple and straightforward
- 📏 Effective for measuring sound levels
- 🔍 Useful for various applications (e.g. home, construction)
- 🎨 Clean and elegant interface
- 💡 Ability to take photos with readings

**Cons**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes or freezes
- 🔢 Limited measurement range (max 100 dB)
- 🔍 Questionable accuracy, especially at lower levels
- 📊 Lack of advanced features (e.g. digital readout, data logging)

**Commonly reported bugs**

- Crashes when trying to save images
- Compatibility issues with newer iOS versions
- Needle getting stuck at certain levels

**Most requested features**

- Digital readout in addition to analog meter
- Ability to save/export measurement history
- Support for different weighting scales (A, C, Z)
- Landscape mode support
- Customizable appearance options

## Recent user reviews (10 of 664)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/decibels-db-sound-level-meter/id383207286/reviews.md

### 5/5 — Excellent logiciel

*2026-05-26, version 3.5.2*

Un très bon soft avec tickets horodatés

### 2/5 — Free is ok. Regret paying

*2026-05-25, version 3.5.2*

Free version is ok. If you pay you  won t get much more. I regret paying

### 4/5 — Needs a max reading metric

*2026-05-24, version 3.5.2*

It’s not useful to me without recording the max volume. It only shows instantaneous volume.

### 5/5 — Perfetto

*2026-03-16, version 3.5.2*

Ottima app per rilevazioni suoni

### 5/5 — 디자인 예뻐요

*2025-11-26, version 3.5.2*

양쪽으로 left right 이렇게 나오면 더 좋을거 같아요 불빛도 바꿀수 있음 더 좋구여~ 예뻐요

### 5/5 — It’s a fun little app

*2025-10-04, version 3.5.2*

I like the old-school chart recorder thingy and the ability to use different weighting for the sound. Great for audio nerds

### 5/5 — Lautstärkemesser

*2025-08-17, version 3.5.2*

Die App ist einfach zu bedienen und erlaubt auch Langzeitnessungen

### 2/5 — The

*2025-05-14, version 3.5.2*

Sc

### 5/5 — Simple

*2025-01-25, version 3.5.2*

It's simple to use and doesn't collect personnal data like many other free apps do for money. Thanks!

### 5/5 — Super tevreden!

*2025-01-18, version 3.5.2*

Mogelijkheid om meetraport op te slaan, te verzenden en af te drukken. Elk rapport wordt elke 120 sec automatisch opgeslagen je kan ook een foto maken van de situatie ter plaatse en een tekst wat bijplaatsen als geheugen wat heel makkelijk is om naderhand te gaan bekijken kortom heel tevreden na toch wat ervaring met andere decibelmeters over deze meter die ik zeker kan aanraden voor heel veel toepassingen

## Frequently asked questions about Decibels

### What does Decibels: dB Sound Level Meter do?

This app measures and displays the ambient sound pressure level in decibels (dB SPL) using your device's internal microphone. It offers a stylish analog display and allows you to capture photos with the sound level data embedded.

### What are the key features of the app?

Key features include a smooth analog display of dB(A), the ability to take photos with the sound level displayed, and options to share, print, and store these photos. With an in-app purchase, you can also select frequency weightings (A, C, Z) and record decibels on annotated strip charts.

### Is the app free to use?

The core functionality of the app, including the analog dB(A) display and photo capture, is free. Advanced features such as selecting frequency weightings and recording decibels on strip charts require an in-app purchase.

### What kind of devices is this app compatible with?

The app uses the internal microphone of your mobile device to estimate sound pressure levels. Specific compatibility details regarding operating system versions and hardware requirements are typically found on the app store listing.

### What are some common use cases for this app?

Common use cases include checking noise levels in restaurants, trains, or offices, assessing the quietness of a bedroom at night, or understanding the sound levels of everyday appliances like vacuum cleaners. It's useful for anyone curious about their acoustic environment.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 3.5.2 — 2023-11-17

Thank you for using Decibels. This version fixes a bug that in some cases prevented the microphone from being activated when the app was reopened.

### 3.5.1 — 2023-11-13

A few invisible improvements to make sure the app starts properly in any situation.

### 3.5 — 2023-10-26

Enjoy a refreshed design that extends to every edge of your iPhone's screen.

### 3.4.2 — 2023-10-17

The strip chart recorder, which elegantly records sound level on paper strips, has been improved to run even more efficiently on your device, and a bug is fixed that in some cases caused the app to crash when closing.

### 3.4.1 — 2023-10-15

This version makes the app run more efficiently and it resolves issues that a few people had when storing or deleting recorded paper strips on the device.

## Apps similar to Decibels

| App | Rating | Price | Category |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Decibel : dB sound level meter](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/decibel-db-sound-level-meter/id1227650795) | 4.6 (36,106) | Free | Utilities |
| [Decibel X:dB Sound Level Meter](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/decibel-xdb-sound-level-meter/id448155923) | 4.6 (160,618) | Free | Utilities |
| [NIOSH Sound Level Meter](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/niosh-sound-level-meter/id1096545820) | 4.7 (16,565) | Free | Utilities |
| [Decibel X PRO: dBA Noise Meter](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/decibel-x-pro-dba-noise-meter/id1257651611) | 4.7 (6,888) | $69.99 | Utilities |
| [Decibel Meter - Sound Level dB](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/decibel-meter-sound-level-db/id1624503658) | 4.7 (1,292) | Free | Utilities |
| [Decibel dB – Sound Level Meter](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/decibel-db-sound-level-meter/id1644852399) | 4.7 (676) | Free | Utilities |

## More apps by David Bannach

- [ClockArt](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/clockart/id286310196)
- [My Turns: Snowboard & Ski](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/my-turns-snowboard-and-ski/id1611534784)

All apps by David Bannach: https://appshunter.io/developer/286310199

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-17.*