# SmarterNoise vs Decibel

The clearest difference is ads: Decibel at none against SmarterNoise's shown. On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. SmarterNoise sells 2 one-off in-app purchases and Decibel sells 15 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

SmarterNoise holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 115 and 250 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 75% of SmarterNoise's written reviews are positive against 81% of Decibel's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

SmarterNoise ships an update every 6 weeks, Decibel monthly. The most recent releases landed on August 11, 2026 and September 9, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SmarterNoise | Decibel |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (115 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smarternoise/id1384299042/reviews)** | [4.4 (250 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/decibel-db-noise-level-meter/id6464403884/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 115 | **250** |
| Positive reviews | 75.0% of reviews | **81.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 27 MB | 80 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 13.1 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 12+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Johan Rogard](https://appshunter.io/developer/1384299041) | [EYWIN BILGI TEKNOLOJILERI ANONIM SIRKETI](https://appshunter.io/developer/1492105189) |

## What reviewers say

### SmarterNoise

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smarternoise/id1384299042)

This app measures sound levels, records audio and video, and provides information on noise exposure risks. It features smart icons to help users understand the impact of noise on health and cognitive performance. Save, share, and archive your recordings with this comprehensive tool.

**Highlights:** Sound level measurement, Video and audio recording, Noise exposure risk information, Smart icons for health impact, Archive and sharing of recordings, Calibration, Location and time display

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Long-term measurement | $1.99 | one-time |
| Remove ads | $2.99 | one-time |


### Decibel

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/decibel-db-noise-level-meter/id6464403884)

Measure, analyze, and protect your hearing with this comprehensive sound level meter. It offers real-time decibel readings, noise exposure monitoring, and tools for audio exploration like frequency generation and speaker cleaning.

**Highlights:** Real-time sound level measurement (dB), Noise exposure monitoring (Dosimeter), Interactive recording and visualization, Frequency generator, Speaker cleaner, Frequency hearing test

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (15)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Grooz DB Meter Weekly | $1.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly Decibel Meter | $2.99 | per 7 days |
| weekly premium | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly Premium | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly PRO Decibel | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly Decibel Meter | $5.99 | per month |
| Monthly Premium | $6.99 | per month |
| Unlimited Weekly PRO | $7.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly Decibel Sonic PRO | $12.99 | per month |
| Special Yearly Premium | $12.99 | per year |
| Annual Decibel Meter | $29.99 | per year |
| Yearly Premium (B) | $39.99 | per year |
| Yearly Premium | $39.99 | per year |
| Yearly Decibel Sonic PRO | $44.99 | per year |
| Yearly premium pro | $59.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 📏 Accurate decibel meter
- 🔊 High sound level detection
- 👂 Healthy for ear
- 🏠 Useful for home noise levels

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔋 High battery usage
- 💸 Difficult to cancel subscription
- 💳 Hidden charges after trial
- ⚠️ Dodgy subscription practices

**Reported bugs**

- Background activity drains battery
- Subscription cancellation not obvious

**Requested features**

- Clear cancellation instructions


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SmarterNoise free?

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

### Is Decibel free?

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

### Which has better reviews, SmarterNoise or Decibel?

SmarterNoise is rated higher. SmarterNoise averages 4.6 out of 5 from 115 ratings, while Decibel averages 4.4 from 250 ratings.

### Do SmarterNoise or Decibel have ads?

SmarterNoise shows ads; Decibel does not.

### Which is updated more often, SmarterNoise or Decibel?

SmarterNoise ships an update every 6 weeks, and Decibel monthly. Most recently, SmarterNoise was updated on August 11, 2026 and Decibel on September 9, 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.*