Comparison

Spectrolite vs Sound Level & Spectrogram

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
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

Sound Level & Spectrogram

Measure sound levels in decibels and visualize sound frequencies with a real-time spectrogram. Understand your environment's noise and protect your health. Offers advanced settings for accurate acoustic analysis.

Highlights
  • Sound level measurement (dB)
  • Real-time spectrogram analysis
  • Frequency weighting correction (A, C, Z)
  • Time weighting characteristics (Fast, Slow)
  • Time course graph
  • Environmental noise measurement
Read full description

"Sound Level & Spectrogram" is a sound level meter app for iPhone to easily measure the sound level of noise and music in your living environment. Simply tap the start button to measure sound levels in decibels (dB) and view the real-time variation of the sound level. You can also use the spectrogram feature to visually check the frequency characteristics of the sound source. Furthermore, you can select between frequency weighting correction characteristics and time weighting characteristics, which are essential for standard sound level meters, enabling appropriate sound measurement. Exposure to noise can impact health, potentially causing tinnitus, sleep disorders, stress, cognitive decline and heart disease. These risks have also been highlighted by the World Health Organization (WHO). Understanding noise levels is the first step towards improving your quality of life. Use this app to protect your health and create a comfortable living environment. Features: - Sound level measurement (dB): Leq (equivalent sound level), Min (minimum value), Max (maximum value), Avg (time-averaged equivalent sound level) - Frequency weighting correction characteristics: A (general sound level measurement with auditory correction), C (sound level measurement with almost flatter correction than A correction, e.g. peak evaluation at high volume), Z (flat characteristics without auditory correction, physical sound level measurement) - Time weighting characteristics: Fast=0.125sec, Slow=1.0sec - Time course graph - Spectrogram: 1/3 octave band analysis - Measurement time: 20 sec Applications: - Environmental noise measurement - Architectural acoustics - Live sound check - Installation of audio equipment - Tuning of sound equipment - Device management Example of the noise level situation: - 130 dB: Engine sound of Airplane - 110 dB: Horn of Car - 100 dB: Noise of passing train - 90 dB: In loud factory - 80 dB: In the train, Vacuum cleaner - 70 dB: Noisy office, Noisy Street - 60 dB: Quiet Car, Normal conversation - 50 dB: Quiet office - 40 dB: In the library, Quiet residential area - 30 dB: Outskirts of midnight, Whisper - 20 dB: Sounds of rubbing leaves Note: - Spectrogram is a tool to analyze the frequency spectrum of sound, with time on the horizontal axis, frequency on the vertical axis, and the strength of the signal represented by colors, and is used for acoustic analysis, voiceprint identification, etc. - This app is adjusted the reference value for iPhone. However, the built-in microphone of your iPhone is likely to have a non-uniform gain. Therefore, exact measurements are not guaranteed. - The standard noise measurement range is 30-130 dBA, and the measured value (Leq) is about 30 dBA in a quiet room of the household. Due to the presence of background noise, noise levels are never measured at 0dBA even in very quiet environments. In a typical anechoic room, the noise level is around 5-15 dBA. - At the initial startup after installing the app, the iOS system asks for permission to access the built-in microphone. In this case, you need to enable access to the microphone. If you have not enabled this setting, this app cannot work by privacy restrictions of the iOS system. Please enable the access permission on the iOS setting, "Settings > Privacy & Security > Microphone". Please visit our iOS app support page for more information on this app.

Screenshots

Spectrolite4 screens
Sound Level & Spectrogram4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Sound Level & Spectrogram at none against Spectrolite's 1. Sound Level & Spectrogram also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 83%). Spectrolite's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and device support (3 vs 1). On price and update cadence 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. Sound Level & Spectrogram asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Spectrolite ships an update every 8 months, Sound Level & Spectrogram every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 18, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Spectrolite versus Sound Level & Spectrogram: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSpectroliteSound Level & Spectrogram
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (51 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews83.3% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings51 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 8 monthsEvery 5 months — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesAd-supported — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS15.6 — better18.7
Further details — not scored
Size1 MB4 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperWaxing WaveTOON,LLC

Customer experience

Spectrolite

All ratings51 ratings
Positive92.2%
Neutral5.9%
Negative2.0%
Written reviews6 reviews
Positive83.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative16.7%

Sound Level & Spectrogram

Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Spectrolite

One-time1
  • Pro$4.99
None

Sound Level & Spectrogram

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Spectrolite free?
Spectrolite is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Sound Level & Spectrogram free?
Sound Level & Spectrogram is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Spectrolite or Sound Level & Spectrogram have ads?
Sound Level & Spectrogram shows ads; Spectrolite does not.
Which is updated more often, Spectrolite or Sound Level & Spectrogram?
Spectrolite ships an update every 8 months, and Sound Level & Spectrogram every 5 months. Most recently, Spectrolite was updated on September 23, 2026 and Sound Level & Spectrogram on September 18, 2026.

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