# NIOSH Sound Level Meter — user reviews > 188 indexed App Store user reviews of NIOSH Sound Level Meter by EA LAB, rated 4.70/5 from 16,645 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/niosh-sound-level-meter/id1096545820/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/niosh-sound-level-meter/id1096545820.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 13,401 · 4★ 1,993 · 3★ 688 · 2★ 175 · 1★ 388 ## What do users think of NIOSH Sound Level Meter? Overall sentiment: positive **Pros** - 🚀 Free and ad-free - 👍 Simple and intuitive interface - ⚖️ Accurate and reliable measurements - 💡 Useful for monitoring noise levels in various environments - 🔍 Provides detailed noise data and exposure information **Cons** - 🐛 Occasional bugs and crashes - 🔌 Issues with external microphone support - 🔋 Can drain battery when running for extended periods - 📱 Limited iPad optimization **Commonly reported bugs** - Inconsistent or inaccurate readings in some cases - Inability to properly connect and use external microphones - Freezing or crashing when minimizing the app **Most requested features** - Ability to save and export measurement sessions - Option to run the app in the background while the screen is locked - Integration with Apple Health for long-term noise exposure tracking - Frequency-specific noise measurements (e.g., A-weighted, C-weighted) ## Newest reviews (13 of 188) ### 3/5 — Emailed reading *2026-08-19* I emailed myself a reading earlier today and it was never sent ### 4/5 — yes *2026-08-16, version 1.5.0* yes ### 4/5 — Stopped working due to Hearing Aids *2026-05-08, version 1.4.2* If you connect hearing aids , iOS may cause app to not work because of this additional microphone. You will need to disable Bluetooth . Developer is responsive in helping to resolve issues. ### 2/5 — Loved it until recent update *2026-05-06, version 1.4.2* No longer works after the most recent update. It says I need a different frequency microphone. I have never needed an external mic in the past, but I guess I now do. ### 2/5 — Stopped working due to microphone *2026-04-28, version 1.4.2* This half worked great for so long. All of a sudden one day hot told me that the microphone requires 48K abut my iPhone is 16k. WTF! ### 3/5 — Save as pdf crashes *2026-03-27, version 1.3.0* Save as pdf crashes app ### 3/5 — Niosh sound level meter *2026-03-27, version 1.3.0* Use to be great NOW YOU SCREWED US WITH THIS NEWEST UPDATE !!!! ### 4/5 — Great app, would love a dark mode *2026-03-02, version 1.2.6* Amazing app - would love an option for a dark mode for parents measuring safe noise machine levels at night ### 2/5 — Graph view *2026-02-12, version 1.2.6* Would like to see a graph view for a measurement period ### 2/5 — No Apple Health or background *2026-01-19* Lack of updates, resulting in no AppleHealth integration or background. iPhone SE 2, iOS 26.2. Please update. ### 5/5 — Later when done *2026-01-16, version 1.2.6* Let me run test first ### 5/5 — NIOSH *2025-11-28, version 1.2.6* Works great ### 5/5 — Love it *2025-11-25* Thank you ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — What changed??? *2026-05-08, version 1.4.2* I used this app for years, but now it says the phone’s mic runs at 16k. The app says it needs to be 48k and no longer works. Same phone and same app, but it cannot measure. 😒 ### 1/5 — Microphone no longer works *2026-05-07, version 1.4.2* Updated app wants 48kHz mic, my iPhone SE only has 24kHz? Please fix the update Update, problem seems to be related to using my phone thru my hearing aids. When I turn that off, the microphone works fine. ### 1/5 — Microphone no longer works *2026-04-28, version 1.4.2* Updated app wants 48kHz mic, my iPhone SE only has 24kHz? Please fix the update ### 1/5 — Not calibrated for newer devices *2026-04-25* This worked great when it was released, but now reads about 20 dB higher than professional equipment (tested in iPhone 12 and 13, but I'm assuming it affects all newer devices). I'm assuming the dev never calibrated it for any newer devices. ### 1/5 — You broke it *2026-03-29, version 1.3.0* Worked great, 4 or 5 Stars. Then you decided to update the app. Now it does not work or randomly works and cannot be trusted. Nice work, folks. How do I go back? ### 1/5 — Do not update! *2026-03-28, version 1.3.0* Do not update to 1.3.0, it crashes on launch on an iPhone SE 2016. Unusable! ### 1/5 — Hard to use *2026-03-12, version 1.2.6* Poor instructions. Difficult to reset. ### 1/5 — Schrott *2025-05-04* Totenstille und es zeigt 31 Dezibel an. Wow. **Developer response:** Absolute Stille bedeutet nicht 0 Dezibel, es sei denn, man befindet sich in einem schalltoten Raum. Selbst in den ruhigsten Gegenden der Welt werden auf den besten Schallpegelmessern 10–20 dB gemessen. Bitte informieren Sie sich über absolute Stille und überdenken Sie diese Bewertung. Vielen Dank. ### 1/5 — Can’t change to English *2025-04-07* Searched everywhere on your website and the app yet still have no clue how to change the language from Spanish to English.That’s not very user friendly. **Developer response:** The app follows the iPhone settings, if you go to General-Settings-Language and Regions and change back language back to English, the app should automatically change once you restart it again. If that works, please reconsider your 1 star rating. Thank you. ### 1/5 — Werte sind nicht real *2025-03-17* Zeigt auch bei absoluter Stille Werte über 30 dB an, die Werte sind völlig unglaubhaft **Developer response:** 0 dB ist in einer normalen Umgebung nicht erreichbar, es sei denn, Sie führen eine Messung in einem schalltoten Raum durch und verwenden die besten Mikrofone. Das liegt nicht an der App. Bitte lesen Sie mehr darüber, was Null Dezibel bedeutet, und berücksichtigen Sie Ihre Bewertung. Danke. ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — So good I’m surprised it’s free! *2026-08-17, version 1.5.0* It’s just nice that there’s an app out there that does what you want without constantly bombarding you with ads and limiting features Need to check the noise level? Use this app ### 5/5 — Helpful *2026-07-04* I started using this at work because I needed a way to document the noise level around my desk. The people making decisions about the workspace aren’t the ones sitting there all day, so having actual decibel readings made it easier to show that the constant noise wasn’t just my perception. I was surprised that I had to prove my desk sits around 65 dB for a basic desk job, but I’m glad I had a free tool available to measure it. I’ve also used it at home to check noise levels around my dogs so I can be more aware of what they’re being exposed to. I also appreciated that the app is completely free. There were no ads interrupting me and no in-app purchases getting in the way, which is becoming less common. **Developer response:** Thank you for your review and feedback! ### 5/5 — Awesome App *2026-06-27* App is working great. The developer(s) were awesome to deal with. Thanks **Developer response:** Hello, please contact us directly at nioshnoiseresearch@cdc.gov and we will happily work with you to address any issues you have with starting and stopping the app. ### 5/5 — Great App *2026-06-27* App is working great Now! The developer(s) were very helpful. ### 5/5 — Thank you for creating this app *2026-05-26, version 1.5.0* It helps me with my science project ### 5/5 — Microphone unavailable fixed in 1.5.0(52) *2026-05-16, version 1.5.0* I have used NIOSH for several years but it recently fails reporting my internal microphone operates at 16000 Hz and 48 kHz is required. My Starkey hearing aids connected via Bluetooth is the culprit. If I turn off Bluetooth, NIOSH works but Starkey Thrive app can’t connect. Thank you NIOSH for this accommodation. ### 5/5 — Shut off bluetooth on Iphone while using with hearing aids. *2026-05-13, version 1.4.2* If bluetooth is on app will will grab hearing aid mics instead of phone mics. ### 5/5 — Microphone unavailable *2026-05-09, version 1.4.2* I have used NIOSH for several years but it recently fails reporting my internal microphone operates at 16000 Hz and 48 kHz is required. My Starkey hearing aids connected via Bluetooth is the culprit. If I turn off Bluetooth, NIOSH works but Starkey Thrive app can’t connect. ### 5/5 — Check for “external” microphones! *2026-05-09* Updating my earlier review. It is not intuitive, but if you have an external microphone setup, usually bluetooth (such as your hearing aids!) it may not work. And kudos to the support folks who saw my first review/complaint and got back to me within about 24 hours with this critical information. I use the app when working in an operating room, as we have a lot of different equipment that makes variable amounts of noise, and routinely get into the 70dB range and occasionally into the 80s. At which point, I see what we can turn off, to protect everyone’s hearing. ### 5/5 — Microphone no longer works (see update below) *2026-05-09* Updated app wants 48kHz mic, my iPhone SE only has 24kHz? Please fix the update Update, problem seems to be related to using my phone thru my hearing aids. When I turn that off, the microphone works fine. Update 2, thank you to developer who explained that it’s the hearing aid microphone that is getting used instead of the phone microphone. To use the app, don’t have your phone playing thru your hearing aids. **Developer response:** Hello and thanks for the update and confirming that the issue is with your hearing aid microphone (24 kHz mic) is being automatically connected to your iPhone through Bluetooth. Other users have reported similar problems and that's not an app "issue" but more of an iOS and hearing aid settings issue. Please reconsider your rating as it still shows 1 star. Thank you. --- *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 2026-08-28.*