# NIOSH Sound Level Meter vs BBD BBQ

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.

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

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | NIOSH Sound Level Meter | BBD BBQ |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (17K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/niosh-sound-level-meter/id1096545820/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **17K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 64.5% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Size | 6 MB | 49 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 16.1 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [EA LAB](https://appshunter.io/developer/1005558529) | [深圳市优智达科技有限公司](https://appshunter.io/developer/1651370948) |

## What reviewers say

### NIOSH Sound Level Meter

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/niosh-sound-level-meter/id1096545820)

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 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

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional bugs and crashes
- 🔌 Issues with external microphone support
- 🔋 Can drain battery when running for extended periods
- 📱 Limited iPad optimization

**Reported bugs**

- Inconsistent or inaccurate readings in some cases
- Inability to properly connect and use external microphones
- Freezing or crashing when minimizing the app

**Requested features**

- 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

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bbd-bbq/id6739481914)

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

**In-app purchases:** none


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