# NPC vs Sound Meter

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: NPC at none against Sound Meter's 1. NPC also leads on iOS requirement (11.0 vs 13.0). Sound Meter's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 34 months). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Sound Meter sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. NPC asks for nothing beyond the download.

NPC ships an update every 34 months, Sound Meter fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 16, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | NPC | Sound Meter |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[4.4 (16 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sound-meter/id1560541986/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **16** |
| Positive reviews | — | 40.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 34 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | — | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 127 MB | 57 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 13.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [NPC CORPORATION](https://appshunter.io/developer/921527562) | [Hiep Pham](https://appshunter.io/developer/1040792388) |

## What reviewers say

### NPC

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/npc-ar/id1363850044)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Sound Meter

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sound-meter/id1560541986)

This utility app measures ambient noise levels in decibels. It provides a reference table to help users understand safe listening levels and protects their hearing. The app also stores historical measurements for later review.

**Highlights:** Measures sound level in decibels, Decibel level reference table, Hearing protection guidance, Stores measurement history, Easy to use interface

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove ADs | $4.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is NPC free?

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

### Is Sound Meter free?

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

### Do NPC or Sound Meter have ads?

Neither NPC nor Sound Meter shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, NPC or Sound Meter?

NPC ships an update every 34 months, and Sound Meter fortnightly. Most recently, NPC was updated on September 16, 2026 and Sound Meter on September 24, 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.*