Comparison

SmarterNoise vs ZenLevel

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

SmarterNoise

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
Read full description

SmarterNoise measures sound level, records video and audio and informs about noise SmarterNoise is a premium sound level meter app featuring several unique functions. SmarterNoise measures sound levels in video and audio modes, records video and sound, and informs you about the risks of noise exposure. In addition, SmarterNoise includes a camera, measurement location, and easy sharing, all for free. From the archive you can view the video and audio files you've saved on your phone. With SmarterNoise you take sound level and noise measuring to a new level never available before. SmarterNoise features smart icons that react to the measured sound levels based on current research results focusing on the health and the adverse effects of noise pollution. With the SmarterNoise icons you easily understand how hearing, cognitive performance, and health may be affected by different levels of noise exposure. The awareness of harmful noise is increasing globally, and is considered a versatile risk factor for well-being and health, especially in noise polluted urban environments. Features of SmarterNoise: Sound level measurement and recording in video and audio modes Sound level activated audio recording Full HD, HD or VGA video resolution Three video quality settings Zoom and camera light Restarting of measurement Archive for saved files Sharing of saved files Calibration Smart icons Location, address Time and date display 10 second sound level average (LAeq, decibel) 60 second sound level average (LAeq, decibel) Max and min decibel level About decibels and sound measurement The unit for measuring noise and sound is called a decibel. Because the decibel scale is logarithmic, a sound with an intensity that is twice that of a reference sound corresponds to an increase of about 3 decibels. The reference point of 0 decibel is set at the intensity of the least perceptible sound, the threshold of hearing. On such a scale a 10-decibel sound is 10 times the intensity of the reference sound. Highlighting this is important as already a difference of a few decibels makes a noticeable difference in how noise is perceived. Leq is an average value describing the total sound energy over a period of time. It is however common practice to measure sound levels using A-weighting, which attenuates low and high frequencies that the average person cannot hear. In this case Leq is written LAeq. LAeq is a formulated average which emphasizes higher sound peaks, and is one of the most common measurements used by professionals to measure noise. All averages in SmarterNoise are measured in LAeq. Health effects of noise are often measured in Lden. Lden measures the average sound level over a 24 hour period, with a penalty of 5 dB added for the evening hours between 19:00 and 22:00, and a penalty of 10 dB added for the nighttime hours between 22:00 and 07:00. Increased health risks have been observed during long term exposure, which highlights the need to consider the full average sound energy over a longer period, not only temporary averages or noise peaks. About noise According to the findings of the World Health Organization (WHO), noise is the second largest environmental cause of health problems, after the impact of air quality. While environmental awareness in general has increased, the burden of noise has not yet been realized by the general public. People especially in urban environments are subjected to noise daily and nightly, at home and at work. Noise pollution has increased over the years due to increased traffic and air travel, urbanization, and industrial noise exposure. Because of the complex and frequent issue of everyday noise, we developed SmarterNoise in order for people to understand noise better.

About

ZenLevel

Transform your device into a precision inclinometer with a calm, deliberate feel. Offers multiple measurement modes for surface, plumb, and calibration, with a history log for saved readings. Designed with a focus on privacy and a realistic tool aesthetic.

Highlights
  • Surface measurement mode
  • Plumb measurement mode
  • Calibration and zeroing
  • Measurement history log
  • Landscape precision mode
  • Haptic feedback
  • Privacy-focused design
Features
Read full description

ZenLevel turns your iPhone into a precision inclinometer with the calm, deliberate feel of a real machinist's instrument. Built for builders, DIYers, photographers, woodworkers, and anyone who needs something perfectly level, perfectly plumb, or at exactly the right slope. FOUR MEASUREMENT MODES SURFACE — Lay your iPhone flat on a countertop, shelf, or picture frame. The two-axis bubble instrument shows the exact inclination, with digits that roll smoothly between values like a laboratory dial. When you find true level, the interface shifts to a calm, luminous green. PLUMB — Press the back of your iPhone against a vertical surface to check whether it is truly vertical. A tall bubble tube rises and falls with the wall's deviation, and a "check position" warning tells you when the phone is too flat for an accurate reading. CALIBRATE — Every sensor drifts. Place your phone on a surface you trust, wait for the stability meter, and tap ZERO OUT. Offsets persist across launches, and Reset calibration restores factory defaults at any time. HISTORY — Save any measurement to a log grouped by day. Tap an entry to see its details, edit its note, or delete it. HOLD THE READING Measuring under a shelf or behind a cabinet? Tap HOLD to freeze the reading, then take your iPhone out and read it — or save it — at your leisure. Tap RELEASE to go live again. SLOPE UNITS Show every reading in degrees, percent grade, millimetres per metre, or inches per foot. Rise-over-run units make drains, ramps, patios, decks, and gutters easy: a quarter inch per foot is simply 0.25 in/ft. Saved measurements follow your chosen unit and keep the original angle alongside. LANDSCAPE PRECISION MODE Rotate your iPhone to landscape and SURFACE becomes a long horizontal bubble vial for checking frames, shelf edges, and countertops along their length. A tipping indicator helps you keep the phone upright to avoid projection errors. DESIGN THAT FEELS LIKE A REAL TOOL • Deep blacks, subtle glass panels, and a signature zen-green accent • Rolling digit transitions on every live readout • Haptic feedback on level, save, calibration, and tab changes • Rotation-lock detection that guides you when iOS is locked to portrait • Decorative animations pause when Reduce Motion is on PRIVACY FIRST, BY DESIGN • No accounts, no login, no cloud sync • No tracking, no analytics, no advertising • No network requests of any kind • Measurements and calibration stay on your device • No third-party SDKs WHO IT'S FOR • Carpenters and builders checking walls, cabinets, and frames • Plumbers and landscapers setting drain and patio falls • DIY homeowners hanging shelves, pictures, TVs, and mirrors • Photographers aligning tripods and subjects • Woodworkers checking joinery and surfaces ZenLevel isn't a novelty. It's a precision instrument that lives in your pocket, ready to settle "is this level?" in seconds.

Screenshots

SmarterNoise4 screens
ZenLevel4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: ZenLevel at none against SmarterNoise's 2. ZenLevel also leads on ads (none vs shown) and rating (5.0 vs 4.6). SmarterNoise's advantage is ratings volume (118 vs 1) and update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 5 months). On price and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. SmarterNoise sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. ZenLevel asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

ZenLevel holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SmarterNoise has 118 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SmarterNoise ships an update every 6 weeks, ZenLevel every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
SmarterNoise versus ZenLevel: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSmarterNoiseZenLevel
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (118 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews75.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings118 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeks — betterEvery 5 months
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS12.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size27 MB4 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperJohan RogardYANMIN WANG

Customer experience

SmarterNoise

All ratings102 ratings
Positive89.2%
Neutral4.9%
Negative5.9%
Written reviews24 reviews
Positive75.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative25.0%

ZenLevel

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

2 purchases

SmarterNoise

One-time2
  • Long-term measurement$1.99
  • Remove ads$2.99
None

ZenLevel

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is SmarterNoise free?
SmarterNoise is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is ZenLevel free?
ZenLevel is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, SmarterNoise or ZenLevel?
ZenLevel is rated higher. SmarterNoise averages 4.6 out of 5 from 118 ratings, while ZenLevel averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do SmarterNoise or ZenLevel have ads?
SmarterNoise shows ads; ZenLevel does not.
Which is updated more often, SmarterNoise or ZenLevel?
SmarterNoise ships an update every 6 weeks, and ZenLevel every 5 months. Most recently, SmarterNoise was updated on November 2, 2026 and ZenLevel on October 31, 2026.

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