Comparison

NIOSH Sound Level Meter vs BBD BBQ

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

NIOSH Sound Level Meter

This award-winning utility app accurately measures sound levels and noise exposure using your smartphone. Developed by acoustics experts, it provides professional-grade metrics and educational resources on hearing protection, all for free.

Highlights
  • Accurate sound level measurement (± 2 dBA)
  • Professional metrics (LAeq, TWA, Max, Peak)
  • Noise dose and projected dose calculations
  • Calibration for internal/external microphones
  • Informational screens on noise hazards
  • Reporting and data sharing
  • Apple Health (Hearing) app integration
Read full description

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

About

BBD BBQ

Features
Read full description

Smart grilling made easy! Connect your meat probe via Bluetooth, monitor real-time temperatures, and get alerts when your food is perfectly cooked.

Screenshots

NIOSH Sound Level Meter4 screens
BBD BBQ4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: BBD BBQ at monthly against NIOSH Sound Level Meter's every 4 months. On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

NIOSH Sound Level Meter ships an update every 4 months, BBD BBQ monthly. The most recent releases landed on November 11, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
NIOSH Sound Level Meter versus BBD BBQ: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNIOSH Sound Level MeterBBD BBQ
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (17K ratings) — better—
Positive reviews64.5% of reviews—
Number of ratings17K — better—
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsMonthly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS15.0 — better16.1
Further details — not scored
Size6 MB49 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperEA LAB深圳市优智达科技有限公司

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)

BBD BBQ

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

NIOSH Sound Level Meter

No in-app purchases

None

BBD BBQ

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is NIOSH Sound Level Meter free?
NIOSH Sound Level Meter is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is BBD BBQ free?
BBD BBQ is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do NIOSH Sound Level Meter or BBD BBQ have ads?
Neither NIOSH Sound Level Meter nor BBD BBQ shows ads.
Which is updated more often, NIOSH Sound Level Meter or BBD BBQ?
NIOSH Sound Level Meter ships an update every 4 months, and BBD BBQ monthly. Most recently, NIOSH Sound Level Meter was updated on November 11, 2026 and BBD BBQ on October 28, 2026.

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