# Decibel Meter vs Decibel Shield

The clearest difference is ads: Decibel Shield at none against Decibel Meter's shown. Decibel Shield also leads on update cadence (daily vs every 2 weeks) and rating (4.7 vs 4.3). Decibel Meter's advantage is iOS requirement (13 vs 15.6). On price, ratings volume, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Decibel Meter sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days and Decibel Shield sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Decibel Shield holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 907 and 644 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 57% of Decibel Meter's written reviews are positive against 77% of Decibel Shield's.

Decibel Meter ships an update every 2 weeks, Decibel Shield daily. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Decibel Meter | Decibel Shield |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.3 (907 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/decibel-meter-measure-db-level/id1274038012/reviews) | **[4.7 (644 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/decibel-shield-db-meter/id6461600902/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **907** | 644 |
| Positive reviews | 56.8% of reviews | **76.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | **Daily** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 107 MB | 43 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13** | 15.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [文波 曾](https://appshunter.io/developer/1557199654) | [APPSTACK LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1454414263) |

## What reviewers say

### Decibel Meter

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/decibel-meter-measure-db-level/id1274038012)

Transform your phone into a professional-grade decibel meter for real-time noise detection. Features advanced algorithms, noise visualization, and recording capabilities for comprehensive sound analysis.

**Highlights:** Military-grade algorithm, Professional GB weighted detection, Noise recording, Noise classification system, AI ambient noise visualization, Noise dosimeter

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

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Free trail then subscribe | $1.99 | per 7 days |
| 分贝测试仪专业版 | $2.99 | per 3 months |
| 分贝仪专业版 | $2.99 | per 7 days |
| 分贝测试仪专业版 | $4.49 | per 6 months |
| Pro Monthly Subscription | $5.49 | per month |
| 分贝测试仪专业版 | $25.99 | per year |
| Remove advertisement | $0.99 | one-time |
| 终身尊享权益 | $29.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Accurate decibel measurements
- 🚀 Easy to use
- 💡 Useful for various applications (e.g. restaurants, heating systems)
- 🚀 Free version works great

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Inaccurate readings at higher decibel levels
- 🔒 Requires location access for no apparent reason
- 🔒 Excessive ads and subscription model
- 🐛 Compatibility issues (e.g. no iPad support, Chinese EULA)

**Reported bugs**

- Decibel readings capped at 90 dB
- Displaying incorrect address information
- Crashing or freezing on launch
- Showing 70 dB in a completely silent room

**Requested features**

- Landscape mode for iPad
- Ability to detect sounds above 90 dB
- Option to disable ads or switch to a paid version


### Decibel Shield

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/decibel-shield-db-meter/id6461600902)

Measure and track sound levels in real-time with this user-friendly decibel meter. Log historical data, integrate with Apple Health, and gain insights into your sound environment. Includes a white noise generator for focused listening.

**Highlights:** Real-time decibel monitoring, Historical data tracking, Apple Health integration, White noise generator, iCloud sync, Location tagging, Background processing

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Weekly | $1.99 | per 7 days |
| Premium Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| Annual Membership | $44.99 | per year |
| Premium Yearly | $49.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Decibel Meter free?

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

### Is Decibel Shield free?

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

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

Decibel Shield is rated higher. Decibel Meter averages 4.3 out of 5 from 907 ratings, while Decibel Shield averages 4.7 from 644 ratings.

### Do Decibel Meter or Decibel Shield have ads?

Decibel Meter shows ads; Decibel Shield does not.

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

Decibel Meter ships an update every 2 weeks, and Decibel Shield daily. Most recently, Decibel Meter was updated on November 6, 2026 and Decibel Shield 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.*