# FFTWave vs SoundMeter X

The clearest difference is review sentiment: FFTWave at 77% against SoundMeter X's 23%. FFTWave also leads on rating (4.3 vs 3.6) and in-app purchases (none vs 7). SoundMeter X's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 15 months) and ratings volume (45 vs 15). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. SoundMeter X sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. FFTWave asks for nothing beyond the download.

FFTWave holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 3.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 15 and 45 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 77% of FFTWave's written reviews are positive against 23% of SoundMeter X's.

FFTWave ships an update every 15 months, SoundMeter X every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 17, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | FFTWave | SoundMeter X |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.3 (15 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fftwave/id1080227446/reviews)** | [3.6 (45 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/soundmeter-x/id1348050232/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 15 | **45** |
| Positive reviews | **76.9% of reviews** | 22.6% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 15 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 8 MB | 18 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 18.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Eisaku Nozu](https://appshunter.io/developer/1080227445) | [Faber Acoustical, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/284781780) |

## What reviewers say

### FFTWave

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fftwave/id1080227446)

Visualize sound from your microphone as a waveform and spectrum analysis. Identify frequency characteristics, detect peaks, and analyze howling with pinch-to-zoom gestures. Ideal for sound adjustment and analysis.

**Highlights:** Microphone waveform display, Spectrum analysis via Fourier transform, Frequency characteristic checking, Peak detection and hold, Pinch zoom gestures, Howling analysis

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### SoundMeter X

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/soundmeter-x/id1348050232)

Transform your device into a professional sound level meter, noise dosimeter, and spectrum analyzer. Log data, calibrate sensitivity, and analyze audio with advanced features. Offers a free trial for premium functionalities.

**Highlights:** Handheld data-logging sound level meter, Data-logging noise dosimeter, Real-time octave spectrum analyzer, Multi-channel data recorder, Stereo signal generator, Sensitivity calibration, Data logging in CSV, TXT, MAT, and PDF

**Features:** Family Sharing, Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| SoundMeter Pro, 1 Month | $4.99 | per month |
| Pro Tool Set, 1 Month | $24.99 | per month |
| SoundMeter Pro, 1 Year | $49.99 | per year |
| Pro Tool Set, 1 Year | $249.99 | per year |
| 14-day Free Trial, SoundMeter Pro | Free | one-time |
| SoundMeter Pro 2026 Upgrade | $29.99 | one-time |
| SoundMeter Pro 2026 | $99.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is FFTWave free?

FFTWave is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is SoundMeter X free?

SoundMeter X is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, FFTWave or SoundMeter X?

FFTWave is rated higher. FFTWave averages 4.3 out of 5 from 15 ratings, while SoundMeter X averages 3.6 from 45 ratings.

### Do FFTWave or SoundMeter X have ads?

Neither FFTWave nor SoundMeter X shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, FFTWave or SoundMeter X?

FFTWave ships an update every 15 months, and SoundMeter X every 3 weeks. Most recently, FFTWave was updated on September 17, 2026 and SoundMeter X on September 25, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*