NIOSH Sound Level Meter vs Decibel Metre (Sound Meter)
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
NIOSH Sound Level Meter
This free app measures sound levels and noise exposure using your smartphone. Developed by acoustics experts, it provides professional-grade metrics and guidance on hearing protection and noise prevention.
- Sound level measurement
- Noise dosimetry
- Hearing hazard information
- Hearing protector guidelines
- Data reporting and sharing
- Microphone calibration
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This award-winning app combines the best features of professional sound level meters and noise dosimeters into a simple, easy-to-use package. - Developed by experienced acoustics engineers and hearing loss experts. - Completely FREE – No ads, no limited features, and no in-app purchases. - Tested and validated (accuracy ± 2 dBA) according to standards in a reverberant chamber at NIOSH acoustics lab – the only proper method to validate accuracy. - Trusted source and world-class expertise in noise and hearing research. - Meets Type 2 requirements of IEC 61672:3 SLM standard when used w/ external microphone.* - Provides the most relevant metrics found in professional sound instruments today. Averages such as LAeq and TWA, Max and Peak Levels, Noise Dose and Projected Dose according to NIOSH and OSHA standards, and all three major weighting networks (A, C, and Z). - Capability to calibrate either internal or external microphone. Reporting and Sharing data. - Up-to-date informational screens on what noises are considered hazardous, how to conduct a noise measurement, how to properly select a hearing protector, and guidelines for preventing hearing loss, all at the palm of your hand. - Excellent and timely support from NIOSH hearing experts. - Support for Apple's Health (Hearing) app. * Celestina M, Hrovat J, Kardous CA [2018]. Smartphone-based sound level measurement apps: Evaluation of compliance with international sound level meter standards. Applied Acoustics, 139:119-128. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apacoust.2018.04.011 More resources (including instructional videos and a user manual), a science blog, FAQ, and information about how to interpret results can be found on the NIOSH SLM website https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/noise/app.html
Decibel Metre (Sound Meter)
This application functions as a smart sound level meter, utilizing your device's microphone to measure ambient noise in decibels (dBA). It provides real-time readings on a digital screen and displays historical data through a graph. The app also shows reference noise levels and tracks minimum, average, and maximum decibel values.
- Measures sound level in decibels (dBA)
- Uses built-in microphone
- Displays readings on digital screen
- Shows current noise reference
- Tracks min/avg/max decibel values
- Visualizes decibel data on a graph
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Want to measure sound level? This is smart sound level meter app for IOS! Our decibel meter uses your built-in microphone to measure sound volume in decibels (dBA) and also displays samples on graph. Features: - Indicates decibel by digital screen - Display the current noise reference - Display min/avg/max decibel values - Display decibel by graph line
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ads: NIOSH Sound Level Meter at none against Decibel Metre (Sound Meter)'s shown. NIOSH Sound Level Meter also leads on ratings volume (17K vs 577) and rating (4.7 vs 4.5). Decibel Metre (Sound Meter)'s advantage is device support (4 vs 2) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
NIOSH Sound Level Meter holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: NIOSH Sound Level Meter has 17K ratings behind it against 577, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 64% of NIOSH Sound Level Meter's written reviews are positive against 68% of Decibel Metre (Sound Meter)'s, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
NIOSH Sound Level Meter ships an update every 4 months, Decibel Metre (Sound Meter) every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and August 17, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | NIOSH Sound Level Meter | Decibel Metre (Sound Meter) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.7 (17K ratings) — better | 4.5 (577 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 64.5% of reviews | 68.3% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 17K — better | 577 |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | Every 3 months — better |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free — better | Ad-supported |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — better |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 13.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 6 MB | 6 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | EA LAB | UniCom Technology |
Customer experience
NIOSH Sound Level Meter
Decibel Metre (Sound Meter)
User reviews
NIOSH Sound Level Meter
From 17K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 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
Room to improve
- 🐛 Occasional bugs and crashes
- 🔌 Issues with external microphone support
- 🔋 Can drain battery when running for extended periods
- 📱 Limited iPad optimization
Decibel Metre (Sound Meter)
From 577 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 👍 Simple and easy to use
- 👍 Helpful tool for measuring sound levels
- 👍 Straightforward and effective
- 👍 Genuinely free and useful
Room to improve
- 🐛 Inaccurate readings
- 🐛 Inconsistent measurements
- 🐛 Reset button doesn't reset average value
- 🐛 No calibration feature
Bugs and requests
NIOSH Sound Level Meter
Reported bugs
3 issues- Inconsistent or inaccurate readings in some cases
- Inability to properly connect and use external microphones
- Freezing or crashing when minimizing the app
Requested features
4 requests- 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)
Decibel Metre (Sound Meter)
Reported bugs
2 issues- Microphone not registering any noise
- Completely unresponsive app
Requested features
3 requests- Quiet room label correction
- Add fast and slow response time settings
- Ability to export/save measurement logs and graphs
In-app purchases
NIOSH Sound Level Meter
No in-app purchases
Decibel Metre (Sound Meter)
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is NIOSH Sound Level Meter free?
Is Decibel Metre (Sound Meter) free?
Which has better reviews, NIOSH Sound Level Meter or Decibel Metre (Sound Meter)?
Do NIOSH Sound Level Meter or Decibel Metre (Sound Meter) have ads?
Which is updated more often, NIOSH Sound Level Meter or Decibel Metre (Sound Meter)?
Other comparisons
