# Decibel vs Decibel Meter

The clearest difference is rating: Decibel Meter at 4.6 against Decibel's 3.5. Decibel Meter also leads on update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 18 months) and review sentiment (57% vs 45%). Decibel's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4) and ads (none vs shown). On price, ratings volume, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Decibel Meter sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days. Decibel asks for nothing beyond the download.

Decibel Meter holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 475 and 719 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 45% of Decibel's written reviews are positive against 57% of Decibel Meter's.

Decibel ships an update every 18 months, Decibel Meter every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Decibel | Decibel Meter |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.5 (475 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/decibel-accurate-db-meter/id1130936133/reviews) | **[4.6 (719 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/decibel-meter-db/id1521325229/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 475 | **719** |
| Positive reviews | 45.3% of reviews | **56.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 18 months | **Every 6 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 4 MB | 36 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.6** | 16.1 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [祥祎 刘](https://appshunter.io/developer/1071522659) | [Devnex](https://appshunter.io/developer/1486636842) |

## What reviewers say

### Decibel

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/decibel-accurate-db-meter/id1130936133)

Transform your device into a professional sound meter to accurately measure ambient noise levels. Understand how loud your surroundings are, from quiet rooms to loud events, and learn about potential hearing risks.

**Highlights:** Accurate sound pressure level measurement, Measures decibels (dB), Provides real-time sound intensity readings, Useful for understanding noise pollution, Helps identify potential hearing hazards

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Simple and intuitive
- 💡 Useful for measuring noise levels
- 🚀 Easy to use
- 🔍 Provides instant and average readings

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Inaccurate readings
- 🔍 Overly sensitive microphone
- 🔍 Inconsistent measurements
- 🔍 Readings too high compared to other apps

**Reported bugs**

- App shows high decibel readings even in silent environments
- Microphone issues causing inaccurate measurements
- App freezes or stops working

**Requested features**

- Ability to calibrate the app
- Option to record and save measurement history
- Add peak hold feature
- Improve spelling and grammar


### Decibel Meter

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/decibel-meter-db/id1521325229)

Easily measure sound levels with this accurate and intuitive tool. It displays current, maximum, and average decibel values, along with a graphical overview for quick comprehension. This utility is completely free to use.

**Highlights:** Simple and easy to use, Quick and accurate dB measuring, All-in-one meter, Maximum, current, and average values, Gauge meter display, Values displayed in graph

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly subscription | $1.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly Subscription | $2.99 | per month |
| Weekly Subscription | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| Half-Yearly Subscription | $9.49 | per 6 months |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast and reliable
- 👍 Easy to use
- 🔍 Accurate readings
- 📏 Good for monitoring sound levels
- 🔊 Useful for music/audio enthusiasts

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes/freezes on some devices
- 💰 Misleading about free features
- 📢 Excessive ads/prompts to buy premium
- 🤔 Inconsistent readings compared to other apps

**Reported bugs**

- Unable to close the app or cancel Google requests
- Recordings not saving despite claims of free saving

**Requested features**

- Add ability to save/export recordings
- Provide more customization options (weighting, etc.)
- Improve stability and reduce crashes


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Decibel free?

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

### Is Decibel Meter free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Decibel or Decibel Meter?

Decibel Meter is rated higher. Decibel averages 3.5 out of 5 from 475 ratings, while Decibel Meter averages 4.6 from 719 ratings.

### Do Decibel or Decibel Meter have ads?

Decibel Meter shows ads; Decibel does not.

### Which is updated more often, Decibel or Decibel Meter?

Decibel ships an update every 18 months, and Decibel Meter every 6 weeks. Most recently, Decibel was updated on November 6, 2026 and Decibel Meter on November 3, 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.*