Comparison

Spectrolite vs Noise Guru

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

Head to head
About

Spectrolite

This app visualizes sound in real-time using various spectrogram types. Explore detailed audio data with intuitive touch controls and adjustable parameters. An optional purchase unlocks advanced measurement tools.

Highlights
  • Real-time spectrogram visualization
  • Constant-Q, linear, and mel frequency scales
  • Full human hearing frequency range
  • Intuitive touch panning and zooming
  • Adjustable gain, Q, and other parameters
  • Pro version: grids, scales, spectrum view, tap-to-measure
Features
Read full description

Spectrolite visualizes sound as spectrograms in real time. Spectrolite supports constant-Q spectrograms, which use a logarithmic frequency scale for a display where musical notes are evenly spaced. Spectrograms based on linear and mel frequency scales are also supported. The display covers the full frequency range of human hearing. Intuitive touch panning and zooming lets you dive in and explore the spectrograms in detail. Gain, Q, and other parameters can be adjusted in real time and instantly apply to the display of past signals as well as future ones. The Pro in-app purchase adds grids and scales for time, frequency, and amplitude, as well as a spectrum view and a tap-to-measure function. This expands Spectrolite into an audio measurement tool that you can use to measure frequencies, musical pitches, amplitudes, and durations.

About

Noise Guru

Measure sound levels with precision to understand your environment and protect your hearing. Identify loud noises, monitor noise pollution, and find quiet spaces for recording. Features include a decibel dosimeter, background noise measurement, and geo-tagged recordings.

Highlights
  • Precise sound level metering (SPL)
  • DB Dosimeter for noise exposure tracking
  • Background noise measurement
  • Noise pollution monitoring
  • Geo-tagged noise recordings
  • Unlimited recording duration
Read full description

Want to expose the absurd loudness of your pet's snoring? Need to find a quiet place to record, so your social media video doesn’t turn out to be muffled? Take control of your sound environment with ease with the ultimate tool for measuring decibels and taking control of your hearing health. With precise sound level metering, you can measure the sound pressure level (SPL) and choose your preferred display format. The app also allows you to measure pet snoring loudness and find a quiet recording spot for social media users and streams. Features: - Keep track of the noise you're exposed to with the DB Dosimeter, set acceptable noise standards and be informed if the noise level exceeds the typical threshold. - Measure noise in the background. - Monitor noise pollution with DB Dosimeter. - Overlay video with noise recordings and geo-tagged location. - Set your customized display options with video effects - Record without limits on duration. Don't risk damaging your hearing with prolonged exposure to constant daily noise. Take control of your hearing health with this app and protect your hearing for the long term. “[..] perhaps as many as 40 million adults (24 percent)—have features of their hearing test that suggest hearing loss in one or both ears from exposure to loud noise. Researchers have also estimated that as many as 17 percent of teens (ages 12 to 19) have features of their hearing test suggestive of NIHL in one or both ears” NIH report on noise-induced hearing loss, NIH Publication No. 14-4233, March 2014 Terms of Use: http://aserykh.com/decibel/terms-of-use Privacy Policy: http://aserykh.com/decibel/privacy-policy

Screenshots

Spectrolite4 screens
Noise Guru4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Noise Guru at none against Spectrolite's 1. Noise Guru also leads on update cadence (monthly vs every 8 months) and ratings volume (360 vs 64). On price, rating, review sentiment and ads 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. Spectrolite sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Noise Guru asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for Spectrolite against 4.6 for Noise Guru. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Noise Guru has 360 ratings behind it against 64, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 83% of Spectrolite's written reviews are positive against 88% of Noise Guru's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Spectrolite ships an update every 8 months, Noise Guru monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 22, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Spectrolite versus Noise Guru: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSpectroliteNoise Guru
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (64 ratings) — better4.6 (360 ratings)
Positive reviews83.3% of reviews88.3% of reviews — better
Number of ratings64360 — better
Update frequencyEvery 8 monthsMonthly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS15.614.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size1 MB15 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperWaxing WaveAndrei Serykh

Customer experience

Spectrolite

All ratings64 ratings
Positive92.2%
Neutral4.7%
Negative3.1%
Written reviews6 reviews
Positive83.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative16.7%

Noise Guru

All ratings299 ratings
Positive91.0%
Neutral6.4%
Negative2.7%
Written reviews120 reviews
Positive88.3%
Neutral7.5%
Negative4.2%

Bugs and requests

Spectrolite

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Noise Guru

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Forced to leave a review to use the app
  • Can't delete max values

Requested features

2 requests
  • Add frequency meter
  • Add option to reset max/min values

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Spectrolite

One-time1
  • Pro$4.99
None

Noise Guru

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Spectrolite free?
Spectrolite is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Noise Guru free?
Noise Guru is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Spectrolite or Noise Guru?
Spectrolite is rated higher. Spectrolite averages 4.8 out of 5 from 64 ratings, while Noise Guru averages 4.6 from 360 ratings.
Do Spectrolite or Noise Guru have ads?
Neither Spectrolite nor Noise Guru shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Spectrolite or Noise Guru?
Spectrolite ships an update every 8 months, and Noise Guru monthly. Most recently, Spectrolite was updated on October 25, 2026 and Noise Guru on October 22, 2026.

Other comparisons