Comparison

Decibel vs AcoustiTools®

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

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Features
Read full description

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

About

AcoustiTools®

This app provides professional-grade audio analysis and diagnostic tools using augmented reality. It helps map sound levels, calculate delay timing, and offers corrective EQ settings for live sound, studios, car audio, and home theater.

Highlights
  • Augmented Reality Spatial Analyzer
  • Volume Mapping and Variance
  • Delay Timing Calculation
  • Diagnostic Parametric EQ (IAP)
  • Diagnostic Graphic EQ (IAP)
  • Real-Time Frequency Analyzer
Read full description

AcoustiTools® — Professional Tools for iPhone and iPad with Augmented Reality for Live Sound, Studio, Car Audio, and Home Theater. AcoustiTools is a new generation of professional-grade audio analysis and diagnostic tools using ARKit to elevate the audio experience. Five interactive modules – four tile display: 1) Audio Information in Augmented Reality Know the volume level across the venue using the ground-breaking AR Spatial Analyzer module. This module uses augmented reality (AR) to tag locations and calculate the volume level, distance, and delay for each placed tag. Ever need to use asymmetrically placed speakers? Prevent a blurred delay of sound for the audience. With the AR Spatial Analyzer module, you can instantly know how to accommodate for the depth difference and correct the time alignment. - Map The Volume The Volume Variance feature uses tagged locations to quickly map the sound level variations from tagged and labeled main speakers to your current position. The live values display in a 2D overlay allowing you to monitor the sound levels across the audience and keep the volume enjoyable for everyone. - Simplify Delay Timing The Delay Calc feature makes it simple to solve delay problems, calculating the delay timing between a tagged and labeled front speaker and delay stack. The displayed results give you the information needed to quickly sync your audio. 2) Diagnostic PEQ (in-app-purchase) Using the revolutionary real-time Diagnostic PEQ (parametric equalizer) module to listen to pink noise, receive recommended corrective EQ settings to implement for tuning your audio system, whether you’re in a large or small space. Want to reduce the stress of identifying the most problematic frequencies under pressure and choosing the most effective EQ settings to correct it? Available through in-app-purchase, the revolutionary Diagnostic PEQ module diagnoses your audio and recommends a corrective EQ curve to implement for your mix based on live audio or averaged recorded samples. With values for each setting of your PEQ — the center frequency, the Q, and the amplitude — you have a professional, real-time solution to your immediate audio challenges. 3) Diagnostic GEQ (in-app-purchase) If your system uses a graphic equalizer, use the revolutionary real-time Diagnostic GEQ (graphic equalizer) module to listen to pink noise and receive recommended corrective GEQ settings to implement for tuning your audio system, whether you’re in a large or small space. Want to quickly balance your car’s audio system? Set the Diagnostic GEQ to match the number of bands your car’s audio system uses. Available through in-app-purchase, the revolutionary Diagnostic GEQ module diagnoses your audio and recommends a corrective EQ curve based on live audio or averaged recorded samples making it easy to get the most out of your audio system. 4) Real-Time Analyzer The RTA module gives you the information you need to determine the best on-the-fly frequency corrections. The AcoustiTools RTA module includes a red problem frequency line to highlight the frequency on the RTA graph with the largest difference from surrounding frequencies. You can also keep your eye on a specific frequency you set using the blue selectable frequency line. Easily switch between a spectrum color display for bright environments or display the graph in solid blue for dimmer environments. 5) dB Meter - Max-Peak/Max-Average - Fast/Slow - User selectable Max-Average time periods - Threshold Alerts __________ AcoustiTools’ innovative design simultaneously displays four active modules. This breakthrough feature allows you to view information from multiple modules at once and quickly select a module to interact with. Global Features: - Spectral Weightings - Averaging Options - Selectable Block Sizes - Microphone Calibration Trim AcoustiTools — superpowers in your hands. For tutorial videos & the user guide, go to www.acousticmasterminds.com

Screenshots

Decibel4 screens
AcoustiTools®4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Decibel at Free against AcoustiTools®'s $39.99. Decibel also leads on ratings volume (36K vs 7). AcoustiTools®'s advantage is review sentiment (100% vs 66%). On rating, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Decibel is free to download; AcoustiTools® costs $39.99 up front. Decibel sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days and AcoustiTools® sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Decibel holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Decibel has 36K ratings behind it against 7, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 66% of Decibel's written reviews are positive against 100% of AcoustiTools®'s, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and July 13, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Decibel versus AcoustiTools®: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDecibelAcoustiTools®
PriceFree — better$39.99
Rating4.6 (36K ratings) — better4.4 (7 ratings)
Positive reviews66.1% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings36K — better7
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemium — betterPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.0 — better13.3
Further details — not scored
Size56 MB158 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperVlad PolyanskiyACOUSTIC MASTERMINDS INC.

Customer experience

Decibel

All ratings36,118 ratings
Positive92.5%
Neutral3.8%
Negative3.7%
Written reviews507 reviews
Positive66.1%
Neutral3.6%
Negative30.4%

AcoustiTools®

All ratings7 ratings
Positive85.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative14.3%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

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

AcoustiTools®

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

10 purchases

Decibel

Subscriptions5
  • Premium Mode3 Days trial$1.997 Days
  • Premium Plus7 Days trial$4.991 Month
  • Premium Mode3 Days trial$7.991 Month
Show 2 more
  • Premium Mode Subscription$9.991 Month
  • Premium Mode7 Days trial$29.991 Year
One-time5
  • dB Meter Pro$4.99
  • Noise Dosimeter Pro$9.99
  • Decibel Meter Pro$19.99
Show 2 more
  • Spectrum Analyzer Pack$24.99
  • dB Meter Premium Pack$49.99
2 purchases

AcoustiTools®

One-time2
  • Diagnostic PEQ$19.99
  • Diagnostic GEQ$19.99

Questions

Is Decibel free?
Decibel is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is AcoustiTools® free?
AcoustiTools® costs $39.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Decibel or AcoustiTools®?
Decibel is rated higher. Decibel averages 4.6 out of 5 from 36K ratings, while AcoustiTools® averages 4.4 from 7 ratings.
Do Decibel or AcoustiTools® have ads?
Neither Decibel nor AcoustiTools® shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Decibel or AcoustiTools®?
Decibel ships an update every 2 months, and AcoustiTools® every 2 months. Most recently, Decibel was updated on September 24, 2026 and AcoustiTools® on July 13, 2026.

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