Decibel vs SoundMeter X
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Decibel
Transform your device into a professional sound level meter and audio analyzer. Measure ambient noise, monitor decibel levels, and visualize sound frequencies in real time. It also offers advanced sleep tracking with sound recognition to identify disruptions.
- Real-time decibel (dB) sound level monitoring
- Integrated Spectrum Analyzer (FFT, spectrogram)
- Sleep tracking with sound recognition
- Noise exposure data export to Health app
- Add sound level overlays to photos/videos
- Save, export, and playback sound measurements
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Decibel turns your device into a powerful sound level meter without any extra hardware. Measure ambient noise in real time, monitor sound levels (dB), and explore frequencies with the built-in Spectrum Analyzer. Capture reliable sound and noise data wherever you are. Designed for casual users, audio enthusiasts, and sound engineers, Decibel works as a portable sound meter for quick sound checks or deeper audio analysis. Use it to easily check noise levels, test room acoustics, monitor workplace noise, or fine-tune audio equipment. Decibel has various advanced features, including saving and exporting noise measurement data, live sound level overlays for photos and videos, and exporting data to the Health app to track noise exposure over time. “The best way to meter sound levels” — AppAdvice SLEEP TRACKING AND SOUND RECOGNITION Decibel’s sleep tracking and smart sound recognition help you understand your sleep environment and nighttime noise. While sleep tracking is active, the app can detect common sleep sounds such as snoring, coughing, talking, and other household or environmental noise that may affect sleep quality. Each detected sound appears on a detailed sleep timeline, so you can see exactly when disruptions occurred and play back the related audio. This makes it easier to identify snoring patterns, sleep disturbances, and noise events that impact your rest. All sleep sound recognition and audio analysis are performed entirely on your device using advanced on-device machine learning. Recordings stay private, are processed locally, and never leave your device. KEY FEATURES - Visualize ambient sound levels and decibel (dB) readings in real time - Sync with the Health app to track and export noise exposure data - Add live sound level overlays to photos and videos - Save sound measurements with location data and custom labels - Record, store, export, and play back sound measurements - Export sound and noise data in CSV or audio formats SPECTRUM ANALYZER - Integrated Spectrum Analyzer with FFT and spectrogram modes - Multiple FFT sizes up to 16,384 points with selectable window functions - Flexible visualization modes and graph styles - Octave Band Real-Time Analyzer (RTA) for detailed frequency analysis EXTERNAL MICROPHONES AND CALIBRATION - Support for external microphones - Calibrate connected microphones directly in the app - Create and manage custom profiles for different microphones REPORTING AND EXPORT - Generate detailed noise measurement reports, including LAeq values - Batch export multiple measurements in supported formats Decibel app is not a replacement for professional devices and should be used for personal purposes only. By using this app, you acknowledge and agree that the developers and publishers are not liable for any decisions made based on the information provided by the app. SUBSCRIPTIONS Decibel offers optional subscriptions that unlock advanced tools and ongoing feature enhancements. With a subscription, you get access to an expanding set of professional Spectrum Analyzer features, advanced sound level weighting modes, and continued updates for compatibility with new devices and hardware. Subscriptions also include support for external microphones, unlimited saving and exporting of measurements, batch export tools, and audio and video exports with sound level overlays. Payment will be charged to your Apple account at confirmation of purchase. Subscriptions renew automatically unless auto-renewal is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. You can manage or disable auto-renewal at any time in your Apple ID account settings. By downloading and using the app, you agree to the following: Terms of Use: https://www.iubenda.com/terms-and-conditions/94359518 Privacy Policy: https://www.iubenda.com/privacy-policy/94359518 Disclaimer: http://dbmeterpro.com/disclaimer.html Questions or feedback? Contact us at support@decibelpro.app
SoundMeter X
Transform your device into a professional sound level meter, noise dosimeter, and spectrum analyzer. Log data, calibrate sensitivity, and analyze audio with advanced features. Offers a free trial for premium functionalities.
- Handheld data-logging sound level meter
- Data-logging noise dosimeter
- Real-time octave spectrum analyzer
- Multi-channel data recorder
- Stereo signal generator
- Sensitivity calibration
- Data logging in CSV, TXT, MAT, and PDF
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SoundMeter X turns your iPhone or iPad into a handheld data-logging sound level meter (SLM), data-logging noise dosimeter, stereo signal generator, multi-channel data recorder, and real-time whole or 1/3 octave band spectrum analyzer (subscription or perpetual license required for most features--14-day free trial available). Input signals can be acquired from any available audio input path. Sensitivity calibration can also be performed for any audio input device and/or input channel. Direct hardware support (automatic sensitivity calibration, based on factory-defined values) for The Modal Shop’s 2-channel 485B39 USB-ICP interface and miniDSP’s UMIK-1, UMIK-2, and EARS microphones. In addition to real-time sound level measurements, SoundMeter can stream raw sound data to audio files, and store acquired sound level data, including date, time, and location, in CSV or TXT (tab-delimited) files, MAT-files, or high-resolution PDF images for later retrieval from your device. SoundMeter may be downloaded for free from the App Store. Additional tools and features are offered via in-app purchase. The SoundMeter Pro subscription includes: - User-defined custom metadata in saved audio and data files - Level MeterLp, Leq, Lx sound levels -- Standard Flat, A, C frequency weighting -- Standard Fast, Slow, Impulse time weighting -- Data logging. Data can be logged as often as every 0.1 seconds for up to 8 hours, every second for up to 72 hours, or every 10 seconds for up to two weeks. -- Event notifications - Max Levels Meter -- Traffic-light-style meters make it easy to monitor 2 separate sound level thresholds in 2 independent user-defined frequency bands. -- Define lower (warning) and higher (limit) sound level thresholds for overall (full audio band) levels as well as for individual octave frequency bands. -- Store user-defined thresholds in files for later recall. - Noise Dosimeter -- 8-hour Noise Dose, Projected Dose, TWA calculations -- Criterion Levels: 80, 85, 90 dB -- Exchange Rates: 3, 4, 5 dB -- Data logging. Data can be logged as often as every 0.1 seconds for up to 8 hours, every second for up to 72 hours, or every 10 seconds for up to two weeks. - Real-time Octave Spectrum Analyzer (RTA) -- Lp, Leq, Lx sound levels -- Supports whole or 1/3-octave frequency bands -- Standard Flat, A, C frequency weighting -- Standard Fast, Slow, Impulse time weighting -- NC, RNC, and NR references curves, NC, SIL, and NR values -- Data logging. Data can be logged as often as every 0.1 seconds for up to 8 hours, every second for up to 72 hours, or every 10 seconds for up to two weeks. - Multi-channel Data Recorder -- Supports up to 8 channels -- Live monitoring of recorded data -- Metadata (including calibrated sensitivity) embedded in audio file (AIF, CAF, WAV), optionally saved in separate data file - Stereo Signal Generator -- Left and right outputs assigned to arbitrary hardware output channels -- Random and pseudorandom (periodic) noise sequences with white or pink spectrum -- Linear and logarithmic frequency sweeps -- Dual periodic waveforms with arbitrary frequency and phase difference - MultiTool -- Powerful data monitoring and project management (Add 2-6 subtools, depending on screen size, and save configurations for easy recall at a later time.) The SignalScope X Pro Tool Set subscription can be shared between SoundMeter X and SignalScope X. It unlocks all tools and features of the SoundMeter Pro subscription in SoundMeter X and all tools and features of the Pro Tool Set subscription in SignalScope X (iCloud login required). Learn more about SoundMeter X at FaberAcoustical.com. Subscription Terms: - https://www.faberacoustical.com/apps/subscriptions/terms.html Privacy Policy: - https://www.faberacoustical.com/about/privacy.html Terms and Conditions for FaberAcoustical.com: https://www.faberacoustical.com/about/terms.html
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Decibel at 66% against SoundMeter X's 23%. Decibel also leads on rating (4.6 vs 3.6) and ratings volume (36K vs 45). On price, update cadence, ads 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. Decibel sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days and SoundMeter X sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Decibel holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Decibel has 36K ratings behind it against 45, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 66% of Decibel's written reviews are positive against 23% of SoundMeter X's.
Decibel ships an update every 2 months, SoundMeter X every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Decibel | SoundMeter X |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.6 (36K ratings) — better | 3.6 (45 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 66.1% of reviews — better | 22.6% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 36K — better | 45 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 5 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — better | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 — better | 18.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 56 MB | 18 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Vlad Polyanskiy | Faber Acoustical, LLC |
Customer experience
Decibel
SoundMeter X
Bugs and requests
Decibel
Reported bugs
3 issues- App crashes or freezes during use
- Subscription issues and unwanted charges
- Microphone compatibility problems
Requested features
4 requests- Add option to set noise level alerts
- Improve geolocation and recording features
- Allow audio playback while using the app
- Provide more calibration options
SoundMeter X
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Decibel
- Premium Mode3 Days trial$1.997 Days
- Premium Plus7 Days trial$4.991 Month
- Premium Mode3 Days trial$7.991 Month
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- Premium Mode Subscription$9.991 Month
- Premium Mode7 Days trial$29.991 Year
- dB Meter Pro$4.99
- Noise Dosimeter Pro$9.99
- Decibel Meter Pro$19.99
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- Spectrum Analyzer Pack$24.99
- dB Meter Premium Pack$49.99
SoundMeter X
- SoundMeter Pro, 1 Month14 Days trial$4.991 Month
- Pro Tool Set, 1 Month14 Days trial$24.991 Month
- SoundMeter Pro, 1 Year14 Days trial$49.991 Year
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- Pro Tool Set, 1 Year14 Days trial$249.991 Year
- 14-day Free Trial, SoundMeter ProFree
- SoundMeter Pro 2026 Upgrade$29.99
- SoundMeter Pro 2026$99.99
Questions
Is Decibel free?
Is SoundMeter X free?
Which has better reviews, Decibel or SoundMeter X?
Do Decibel or SoundMeter X have ads?
Which is updated more often, Decibel or SoundMeter X?
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