# SPL Meter — Sound Level Meter

> Professional sound level meter for iOS devices measuring decibels. (iPhone/iPad app by Andrew Smith.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spl-meter/id309206756 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Andrew Smith](https://appshunter.io/developer/291822462)
- Category: Music, Utilities
- Price: $0.99 with in-app purchases
- Rating: 4.10/5 from 28 App Store ratings · 170 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 15.0 · 36 MB
- Languages: American English, European Spanish, German (Germany), Polish, Chinese (Traditional, Taiwan), Chinese (Simplified, China), French (France), Swedish, Japanese
- Released: 2009-03-27
- Data updated: 2026-09-12
- Monetization: paid
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spl-meter/id309206756/reviews.md

## What is SPL Meter?

SPL Meter is a professional-grade sound level meter, also known as a decibel or dB meter, for your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch.

Modeled after a traditional analog SPL meter, we have faithfully reproduced all the characteristics and qualities found in those meters, including the ballistics, ranges, filters, and decay rates.

Under the hood we have advanced DSP-based algorithms that meet or exceed ANSI / IEC Type 1 standards. And starting with iOS 6, we can disable the mic filters and limiters, to get the real world performance of a hand-held SPL meter.

And now, upgrade SPL Meter with iTestMic, our pro-grade test & measurement mic, made specifically for iOS devices. Using iTestMic with SPL Meter, you get a calibrated, accurate SPL Meter, that meets industry standards for Type 2 performance. See our website for more information.

But don't compare us to a Radio Shack meter, ours is much more accurate! 

We have also included a digital LCD display, as shown in the image, to make this the best SPL meter available for iPhone or iPad. And this is something that the old analog meters never had! 

The screen will flip when you flip the phone over, so that you can point the iPhone mic directly at the sound source. (iPhone X does not support upside down mode)

SPL Meter is a universal app -- buy once, and use on all of your iOS devices.

SPL Meter is built by the same team that created the other great professional audio and acoustics apps on the store, Studio Six Digital.  Built on the engine of our more expensive "SPL" app, SPL Meter's filters and decay rates meet or exceed ANSI type 1. This app is not a toy or a game.

SPL Meter is the one audio app that everyone who works in audio must have on their phone! Not only have we made the best one, but we've priced it so you can't afford not to get it.

*** FEATURES:

FILTERS -- A and C weighting filters are provided.

DECAY -- Choose ANSI Fast or Slow.

RANGES -- 40dB to 120dB in 9 ranges.

CALIBRATION -- Comes pre-calibrated for the typical iPhone or iPad built-in and headset mic, but you can adjust the calibration if you have a professional, calibrated meter to compare it to. Accesses our cloud-based iOS device calibration database, which we updates as new devices are released.

INTERNAL / EXTERNAL MIC -- Select Internal to activate the included compensation filter, which is designed to flatten the frequency response of the built-in or headset mic. External will work with our iPhone Measurement Mic, to be released later this summer. See our website for more details.

SPL Meter is bargain-priced to make it easy for anyone to check out one of our professional, accurate apps. Studio Six Digital is dedicated to making the iPhone and Touch a professional audio and acoustics test device.

Check out our full line of professional-grade audio and acoustics apps: SPL, the professional digital iPhone sound level meter, SPL Graph, for recording SPL over time, RTA, a 1/3 octave real-time analyzer,  FFT, for detailed acoustic analysis, ETC, the energy-time curve function, RT60, for automated octave-band decay time measurement, Speaker Pop, to test speaker polarity, and Generator, the iPhone signal generator.

Also, if you are looking for more great acoustical and audio test apps, have a look at AudioTools, our premier app for audio professionals.

## Key features

- A and C weighting filters
- ANSI Fast or Slow decay
- 40dB to 120dB ranges
- Adjustable calibration
- Internal/External mic support
- Universal app

## Pricing and in-app purchases

Base price: $0.99.

**One-time purchases**

| Purchase | Price | Type |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Controls & Ad-Free | $0.99 | one-time |


## Chart rankings

- #75 in Top Paid · Music (US App Store)

## What do users think of SPL Meter?

Overall sentiment: mixed

**Pros**

- ✅ Accurate sound level measurements when calibrated
- 💰 Excellent value at $0.99 price point
- 📱 Works across multiple Apple devices (iPhone, iPad, iPod)
- 🎯 Simple and intuitive user interface
- 🔧 Analog meter design looks professional and authentic
- ⚙️ Customizable settings (A/C weighting, fast/slow response)
- 🎛️ Useful for home theater calibration and audio setup
- 👨‍💻 Responsive developer support and quick bug fixes
- 📊 Reliable relative measurements for comparative testing
- 🔊 Sensitive microphone picks up even faint sounds

**Cons**

- 🐛 Inconsistent and unstable meter readings
- 💳 Pricing discrepancies (advertised as $0.99 but charged $6.99)
- 📐 UI scaling issues on various screen sizes and orientations
- 🔍 Text and meter display too small to read easily
- 🖼️ Outdated retro interface design
- ⚠️ Accuracy issues at low frequencies with built-in microphone
- 🎨 Blurry interface after updates
- 📱 Compatibility issues with newer iOS versions and devices
- 🔄 Screen rotation causes display glitches and crashes
- ⚡ App crashes on certain device models

**Commonly reported bugs**

- Meter readings change completely and are not stable
- App crashes on iPhone 6s Plus with jumbled screen display
- Screen scaling issues on iPad models
- Display glitches when rotating device between portrait and landscape
- Greyed out settings after installation
- Blurry UI and low resolution after updates
- App fails to respond or shows 999dB reading
- Incompatibility with iOS 8 and iOS 10.3.2
- Screen only fills bottom-left corner of display
- Microphone not responding with external mics
- Feedback/screeching with certain external microphones

**Most requested features**

- Larger meter display in landscape mode
- Digital-only display option without analog meter face
- Peak hold and min/max reading indicators
- Time-based decibel graph visualization
- Linear response visual option in addition to logarithmic
- Lighter display theme for outdoor readability
- Larger digital numbers for better visibility
- Data capture and note-tagging functionality
- Three-point calibration system
- Octave band analysis
- Automatic range selection
- Improved knob/dial controls (less touchy)

## Recent user reviews (10 of 170)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spl-meter/id309206756/reviews.md

### 5/5 — Featured in a research paper!

*2026-09-10*

This was one of three SPL Meter apps I tested and wrote a paper about. Check it out at: 

Fava, G., Oliveira, G., Baglione, M., Pimpinella, M., & Spitzer, J. B. (2016). The use of sound level meter apps in the clinical setting. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 25(1), 14-28.

### 5/5 — Great SPL Meter App

*2026-07-17*

I’ve had this installed on various phones over the years and whenever I use it, I always think, " What a great little SPL Meter this app is”

If you ever need to use it when you’re out and about and don’t have a dedicated SPL Meter, then this does the job

You can even calibrate the app to a point balancing it manually when using your actual SPL Meter giving real confidence that it’s going to be somewhere near accurate without relying on the phone's own microphone quality

As I only use it once in a while, that’s why I’d forgotten it was installed and it was perfect for the job of calibrating my electronics before applying some basic EQ today

The results were brilliant and the other staff members were pleased with the results as the electronics were being used uncalibrated 

I’m so surprised by the lack of reviews rating this product, but I guess, when something works so well, people like me forget

So this is me unforgetting giving it a 5-star rating 👊

### 1/5 — Too inconsistent

*2022-08-15*

The meter is too inconsistent compared to other meters. Wouldn’t recommend paying for this.

### 5/5 — Efficace et précis.

*2022-07-09*

Très bon sonomètre.
Seul petit bémol, dommage que l’on ne puisse pas travailler en retournant l’iPhone pour que le micro soit dirigé vers la source sonore. L’affichage ne tourne pas à 180°.

### 1/5 — Don’t buy here’s why

*2022-06-03*

Don’t purchase this app. The meters are inconsistent. You’ll get a measurement then it changes completely. Not stable.

### 1/5 — Price

*2022-04-25*

It Said it was .99 but charged me 6.99

### 5/5 — Great little Sound Meter

*2021-09-25*

I really like this App, it seems accurate enough for general use and I can use it on my iPhone and iPad. It’s a bit retro, but there’s nothing wrong with that :-)

The latest update today fixed an issue with not being able to use the iPad Pro 5th Gen microphones - shame it takes so long for Apple to ‘test’ and release updates, like two months.

### 4/5 — It’s good. Pls make meter bigger

*2021-01-13*

It’s good. Pls make meter bigger in landscape mode. Switches and dial can be redesigned. 
Thanks!

### 5/5 — SPL Metre

*2020-07-29*

Great app. Well worth it!

### 5/5 — Good

*2020-06-04*

I use this in places where I play. It allows me to keep track of the noise levels and stay within permitted levels.  Also make the boss happy

## Frequently asked questions about SPL Meter

### What does the SPL Meter app do?

The SPL Meter app functions as a professional-grade sound level meter for your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch. It measures sound pressure levels in decibels (dB) using advanced DSP algorithms and offers features like adjustable filters, decay rates, and ranges, mimicking traditional analog SPL meters.

### What are the key features of SPL Meter?

Key features include A and C weighting filters, ANSI Fast or Slow decay settings, adjustable ranges from 40dB to 120dB, and the ability to calibrate the meter for accuracy. It also supports both internal and external microphones, with an option to use a specialized pro-grade measurement mic for enhanced performance.

### How much does SPL Meter cost?

The application is described as bargain-priced to make it accessible. While the exact price is not stated, it is positioned as an affordable professional tool, and the description mentions 'buy once, and use on all of your iOS devices' indicating a one-time purchase model.

### What devices is SPL Meter compatible with?

SPL Meter is a universal app designed for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch devices. It requires iOS 6 or later to disable mic filters and limiters for real-world performance. Specific features like upside-down screen flipping may vary on certain models like the iPhone X.

### Who would benefit from using SPL Meter?

This app is essential for anyone working in audio, including audio professionals, acousticians, and sound engineers. It's also useful for anyone who needs to accurately measure sound levels for environmental monitoring, construction, or other applications where precise decibel readings are required.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 11.13 — 2026-09-11

-Bug fixes and stability improvements
-Support for latest iOS versions

### 11.12 — 2025-12-22

-Bug fixes and stability improvements

### 11.11 — 2025-12-08

-Fixed tiny tiny numbers on display

### 11.10 — 2025-12-01

-Fixed small font on labels
-Fixed button not showing on launch

### 11.9 — 2025-11-24

-Updated for new iOS devices
-Bug fixes and stability improvements

## Apps similar to SPL Meter

| App | Rating | Price | Category |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Sound Decibel Meter-NIOSH,OSHA](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sound-decibel-meter-nioshosha/id1571075296) | 4.5 (335) | Free | Music |
| [Decibel meter for personal use](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/decibel-meter-for-personal-use/id6448749318) | 4.5 (28) | Free | Music |
| [AudioTools, dB, Sound & Audio](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/audiotools-db-sound-and-audio/id325307477) | 4.8 (5,060) | $19.99 | Music |
| [Spectrum Analyzer: Spectrogram](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spectrum-analyzer-spectrogram/id981810895) | 4.2 (195) | Free | Music |
| [Bass Tester & Booster Pro](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bass-tester-and-booster-pro/id941024213) | 3.9 (225) | Free | Music |
| [SPL](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spl/id293573990) | 3.0 (4) | $8.99 | Music |

## More apps by Andrew Smith

- [Speaker Polarity](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/speaker-polarity/id293263027)
- [SPL](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spl/id293573990)
- [RTA](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rta/id298839433)
- [FFT](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fft/id298840058)
- [RT60](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rt60/id298840320)
- [Generator](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/generator/id298840802)

All apps by Andrew Smith: https://appshunter.io/developer/291822462

## Related topics

[nielson meter](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/nielson-meter) · [db spl meter](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/db-spl-meter) · [spl meter](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/spl-meter)

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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 2026-09-12.*