# JBScan vs Sound Meter (Decibel)

The clearest difference is ads: JBScan at none against Sound Meter (Decibel)'s shown. JBScan also leads on iOS requirement (9.0 vs 14.1). Sound Meter (Decibel)'s advantage is update cadence (every 5 months vs every 12 months). On price, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

JBScan ships an update every 12 months, Sound Meter (Decibel) every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | JBScan | Sound Meter (Decibel) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[4.5 (3.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sound-meter-decibel/id1626613141/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **3.3K** |
| Positive reviews | — | 50.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 12 months | **Every 5 months** |
| Monetization | — | Ad-supported |
| Size | 10 MB | 8 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.0** | 14.1 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [NextEvent AG](https://appshunter.io/developer/1306010371) | [UniCom Technology](https://appshunter.io/developer/1270764210) |

## What reviewers say

### JBScan

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/jbscan/id1306010372)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Sound Meter (Decibel)

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sound-meter-decibel/id1626613141)

This application measures and displays environmental noise levels in decibels. It offers various visual representations of the data, including gauges, graphs, and numerical readouts. Users can also save their measurement history.

**Highlights:** Measures decibel values, Displays noise reference, Shows min/avg/max dB, Graphical decibel display, Saves measurement records

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Works perfectly
- 👍 Easy to use and free
- 👍 Good simple UI
- 👍 Good basic sound level meter
- 👍 Very easy and simplified display

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Spelling mistake ('quiet' spelled as 'quite')
- 🐛 Inaccurate readings compared to other apps
- 🐛 Requires a subscription for basic recording
- 🐛 Imprecise metering, not a reliable tool
- 🐛 Doesn't work in split screen

**Reported bugs**

- Apple security alert displayed on a Google ad
- Readings are half of other apps
- Misspelled 'quiet' throughout the app

**Requested features**

- Add option to prevent screen timeout
- Add landscape mode
- Improve accuracy and calibration


## Frequently asked questions

### Is JBScan free?

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

### Is Sound Meter (Decibel) free?

Sound Meter (Decibel) is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do JBScan or Sound Meter (Decibel) have ads?

Sound Meter (Decibel) shows ads; JBScan does not.

### Which is updated more often, JBScan or Sound Meter (Decibel)?

JBScan ships an update every 12 months, and Sound Meter (Decibel) every 5 months. Most recently, JBScan was updated on October 26, 2026 and Sound Meter (Decibel) on October 30, 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.*