# OpeNoise vs Decibel

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: OpeNoise at none against Decibel's 15. Decibel's advantage is rating (4.4 vs 4.0) and update cadence (monthly vs every 7 months). On price, review sentiment, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Decibel sells 15 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days. OpeNoise asks for nothing beyond the download.

Decibel holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Decibel has 250 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 86% of OpeNoise'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.

OpeNoise ships an update every 7 months, Decibel monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and September 9, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | OpeNoise | Decibel |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/openoise/id1387499991/reviews) | **[4.4 (250 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/decibel-db-noise-level-meter/id6464403884/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 4 | **250** |
| Positive reviews | **85.7% of reviews** | 81.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 7 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 18 MB | 80 MB |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 | **13.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Arpa Piemonte](https://appshunter.io/developer/1317255035) | [EYWIN BILGI TEKNOLOJILERI ANONIM SIRKETI](https://appshunter.io/developer/1492105189) |

## What reviewers say

### OpeNoise

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/openoise/id1387499991)

This application measures real-time sound pressure levels, displaying minimum and maximum values. It offers advanced analysis like third octave and FFT, with options to save data, calibrate, and share measurements with a community. Note: it is not intended for professional use.

**Highlights:** Real-time A-weighted sound pressure level measurement, Minimum and maximum level tracking, Third octave and FFT analysis, Data saving in text file, Calibration functionality, Measurements displayed on a map, Community sharing of calibration and measurements

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### 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 OpeNoise free?

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

### Is Decibel free?

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

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

Decibel is rated higher. OpeNoise averages 4.0 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while Decibel averages 4.4 from 250 ratings.

### Do OpeNoise or Decibel have ads?

Neither OpeNoise nor Decibel shows ads.

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

OpeNoise ships an update every 7 months, and Decibel monthly. Most recently, OpeNoise was updated on September 21, 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.*