# SoundMeter X vs dBMeter

SoundMeter X and dBMeter both sit at 3.6 stars, but that hides the real split: 67% of dBMeter's written reviews are positive against 23% of SoundMeter X's. dBMeter also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 7) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 18.6). SoundMeter X's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 3 months). On price, rating and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. SoundMeter X sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. dBMeter asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 3.6 for SoundMeter X against 3.6 for dBMeter. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SoundMeter X has 45 ratings behind it against 8, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 23% of SoundMeter X's written reviews are positive against 67% of dBMeter's.

SoundMeter X ships an update every 3 weeks, dBMeter every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 20, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SoundMeter X | dBMeter |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.6 (45 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/soundmeter-x/id1348050232/reviews) | **[3.6 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dbmeter-decibelmeter/id1466056567/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **45** | 8 |
| Positive reviews | 22.6% of reviews | **66.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Ad-supported** |
| Size | 18 MB | 19 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.6 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Faber Acoustical, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/284781780) | [Ramon Palacios Saez](https://appshunter.io/developer/1177436233) |

## What reviewers say

### SoundMeter X

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/soundmeter-x/id1348050232)

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.

**Highlights:** 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

**Features:** Family Sharing, Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| SoundMeter Pro, 1 Month | $4.99 | per month |
| Pro Tool Set, 1 Month | $24.99 | per month |
| SoundMeter Pro, 1 Year | $49.99 | per year |
| Pro Tool Set, 1 Year | $249.99 | per year |
| 14-day Free Trial, SoundMeter Pro | Free | one-time |
| SoundMeter Pro 2026 Upgrade | $29.99 | one-time |
| SoundMeter Pro 2026 | $99.99 | one-time |


### dBMeter

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dbmeter-decibelmeter/id1466056567)

This application precisely measures sound intensity in real time using your device's microphone. It displays minimum, maximum, and average decibel levels, offers a noise-time graph, and allows for microphone calibration. The tool is ideal for monitoring ambient noise in various environments and exporting data for analysis.

**Highlights:** Real-time decibel measurement, Min, max, and average values, Noise-time graph, Microphone calibration, Background operation, CSV data export, Timer option

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SoundMeter X free?

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

### Is dBMeter free?

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

### Which has better reviews, SoundMeter X or dBMeter?

dBMeter is rated higher. SoundMeter X averages 3.6 out of 5 from 45 ratings, while dBMeter averages 3.6 from 8 ratings.

### Do SoundMeter X or dBMeter have ads?

dBMeter shows ads; SoundMeter X does not.

### Which is updated more often, SoundMeter X or dBMeter?

SoundMeter X ships an update every 3 weeks, and dBMeter every 3 months. Most recently, SoundMeter X was updated on October 21, 2026 and dBMeter on October 20, 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.*