# Sound Meter HQ vs Decibel Reader

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Decibel Reader at 80% against Sound Meter HQ's 38%. Decibel Reader also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 4 months). Sound Meter HQ's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and rating (4.8 vs 4.5). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Sound Meter HQ sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Decibel Reader sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Sound Meter HQ holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Sound Meter HQ has 348 ratings behind it against 24, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 38% of Sound Meter HQ's written reviews are positive against 80% of Decibel Reader's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Sound Meter HQ ships an update every 4 months, Decibel Reader every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Sound Meter HQ | Decibel Reader |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (348 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sound-meter-hq/id1093419762/reviews)** | [4.5 (24 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/decibel-reader/id6451411046/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **348** | 24 |
| Positive reviews | 37.5% of reviews | **80.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 13 MB | 12 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [ExaMobile S.A.](https://appshunter.io/developer/506014841) | [Andy Sutanto](https://appshunter.io/developer/1659282966) |

## What reviewers say

### Sound Meter HQ

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sound-meter-hq/id1093419762)

This application measures noise and sound levels using your device's microphone. It displays results in decibels on a logarithmic graph and allows for calibration to ensure accuracy. You can record minimum, average, and maximum sound levels.

**Highlights:** Measure sound level, Vibration meter, Noise detector, Record Min, AVG, Max levels, Logarithmic dB graph, Manual and auto calibration

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove ads | $1.99 | one-time |


### Decibel Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/decibel-reader/id6451411046)

Measure ambient noise levels with real-time readings, tracking minimum, average, and maximum decibels. Offers calibration for accuracy and a dark mode for comfortable viewing. This tool helps you understand your sound environment.

**Highlights:** Real-time decibel measurement, Calibration for accuracy, Track min, average, and max noise levels, Dark mode for low-light use, Simple and intuitive interface

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Decibel Meter Pro - 1 Week | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| Decibel Meter Pro - 1 Month | $7.99 | per month |
| Sound Level Meter - 6 Months | $19.99 | per 6 months |
| Noise Level Meter - 1 Year | $29.99 | per year |
| Decibel Meter Pro - 1Y 2 | $29.99 | per year |
| dB Meter Pro | $49.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Sound Meter HQ free?

Sound Meter HQ is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Decibel Reader free?

Decibel Reader is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Sound Meter HQ or Decibel Reader?

Sound Meter HQ is rated higher. Sound Meter HQ averages 4.8 out of 5 from 348 ratings, while Decibel Reader averages 4.5 from 24 ratings.

### Do Sound Meter HQ or Decibel Reader have ads?

Decibel Reader shows ads; Sound Meter HQ does not.

### Which is updated more often, Sound Meter HQ or Decibel Reader?

Sound Meter HQ ships an update every 4 months, and Decibel Reader every 2 weeks. Most recently, Sound Meter HQ was updated on October 26, 2026 and Decibel Reader on October 22, 2026.

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