# Decibel vs Timecode Gen

The clearest difference is price: Decibel at Free against Timecode Gen's $4.99. Decibel also leads on ratings volume (36K vs 4) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.1). Timecode Gen's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 10) and update cadence (every 5 days vs every 2 months). On rating, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Decibel is free to download; Timecode Gen costs $4.99 up front. Decibel sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days. Timecode Gen asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for Decibel against 4.5 for Timecode Gen. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Decibel has 36K ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 66% of Decibel's written reviews are positive against 83% of Timecode Gen's.

Decibel ships an update every 2 months, Timecode Gen every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Decibel | Timecode Gen |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $4.99 |
| Rating | **[4.6 (36K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/decibel-db-sound-level-meter/id1227650795/reviews)** | [4.5 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/timecode-gen/id6498150459/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **36K** | 4 |
| Positive reviews | 66.1% of reviews | **83.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | **Freemium** | Paid |
| Size | 56 MB | 1 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.1 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Vlad Polyanskiy](https://appshunter.io/developer/438646985) | [Anna Koynova](https://appshunter.io/developer/1441894484) |

## What reviewers say

### Decibel

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/decibel-db-sound-level-meter/id1227650795)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing, Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Mode | $1.99 | per 7 days |
| Premium Plus | $4.99 | per month |
| Premium Mode | $7.99 | per month |
| Premium Mode Subscription | $9.99 | per month |
| Premium Mode | $29.99 | per year |
| dB Meter Pro | $4.99 | one-time |
| Noise Dosimeter Pro | $9.99 | one-time |
| Decibel Meter Pro | $19.99 | one-time |
| Spectrum Analyzer Pack | $24.99 | one-time |
| dB Meter Premium Pack | $49.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Useful for monitoring noise levels
- 🔍 Accurate for a phone app
- 🔧 Good for calibrating audio equipment
- 💡 Helpful for hearing protection
- 📊 Provides detailed measurements

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Aggressive upselling tactics
- 🔒 Privacy concerns around data collection
- 🕹️ Confusing free vs paid options
- 🔁 Recurring subscription issues
- 🔢 Inconsistent/inaccurate readings

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes or freezes during use
- Subscription issues and unwanted charges
- Microphone compatibility problems

**Requested features**

- Add option to set noise level alerts
- Improve geolocation and recording features
- Allow audio playback while using the app
- Provide more calibration options


### Timecode Gen

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/timecode-gen/id6498150459)

This app generates linear timecode (LTC) with support for various frame rates and audio output. It can create audio files with embedded timecode, operate in real-time using the device's current time, and manage cue playlists. It also allows for synchronized start/stop commands between devices via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.

**Highlights:** LTC SMPTE timecode generation (PAL, SECAM, 24-30 FPS), Audio file creation with embedded timecode (AAC/.m4a), Real-time generation using device's system time, CUE timecode playlist creation and management, Synchronized start/stop commands via Bluetooth/Wi-Fi, Sync TX/RX modes for device command transmission

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Decibel free?

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

### Is Timecode Gen free?

Timecode Gen costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Decibel or Timecode Gen?

Decibel is rated higher. Decibel averages 4.6 out of 5 from 36K ratings, while Timecode Gen averages 4.5 from 4 ratings.

### Do Decibel or Timecode Gen have ads?

Neither Decibel nor Timecode Gen shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Decibel or Timecode Gen?

Decibel ships an update every 2 months, and Timecode Gen every 5 days. Most recently, Decibel was updated on October 15, 2026 and Timecode Gen on October 1, 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.*