Comparison

Sound Noise Meter+ dB SPL vs Decibel

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

Head to head
About

Sound Noise Meter+ dB SPL

This app measures sound levels in decibels using your iPhone's microphone. It offers OSHA/NIOSH noise dose tracking, A/C/Z weighting, and calibration for accurate readings. Monitor workplace, neighborhood, or event noise with a clear, color-coded display.

Highlights
  • Real-time decibel measurement (0–120 dB SPL)
  • OSHA + NIOSH 8-hour noise dose tracking
  • A / C / Z weighting toggle
  • One-tap quiet room calibration
  • Color-coded radial gauge
  • Live waveform chart
  • Min, Average, and Max dB tracking
Features
Read full description

Sound Noise Meter+ is a professional-grade sound level meter with built-in OSHA/NIOSH 8-hour noise dose tracking, A/C/Z weighting, and one-tap Quiet Room calibration. No hardware required — just your iPhone. The radial gauge displays live dB SPL from 0 to 120, color-coded green / yellow / red so you can read your environment at a glance. Switch to the Dose Panel to watch your 8-hour TWA build in real time, with separate OSHA (90 dBA / 5 dB exchange) and NIOSH (85 dBA / 3 dB exchange) accumulators. Key Features: • Real-time decibel measurement (0–120 dB SPL) • OSHA + NIOSH 8-hour noise dose tracking with TWA • A / C / Z weighting toggle (dBA · dBC · dBZ) • Quiet Room one-tap calibration (3-second auto-cal) • Animated radial gauge with color-coded noise levels • Live waveform chart with continuous monitoring • Min, Average, and Max dB tracking per session • Manual calibration adjustment (±20 dB) for precision tuning • 12 noise level descriptions with reference examples • Dark theme interface optimized for any environment Perfect For: • Checking workplace noise levels for OSHA compliance • Monitoring neighborhood and traffic noise • Measuring music venue and concert sound levels • Assessing classroom or office noise environments • Testing speaker and audio equipment output • Environmental noise surveys and studies The app features an intuitive dark interface with a professional radial gauge that animates smoothly as sound levels change. Track minimum, average, and maximum readings to understand noise patterns over time. The built-in calibration tool lets you fine-tune measurements for your specific device. Your privacy matters — all audio processing happens locally on your device. No recordings are stored or transmitted. Sound Noise Meter respects your privacy completely.

About

Decibel

Features
Read full description

The honest sound level meter that tracks your real noise exposure. Turn your iPhone into a real-time dB(A)/dB(C) sound level meter — live waveform, peak, average, and Leq — then watch it roll into your daily NIOSH/OSHA noise dose. Fair pricing, no weekly traps. ▸ MEASURE SOUND INSTANTLY Open the app and start reading in real time — no setup, no sign-up. • Live dB(A) gauge + scrolling waveform — see the room react as it happens • Min, average, max, peak, and Leq — the numbers a real meter shows • "How loud is this?" scale — from rustling leaves to a jet engine • Clear Start/Stop and named sessions — measure, save, and revisit ▸ KNOW YOUR NOISE EXPOSURE Most apps stop at a single number. Decibel tracks how that noise adds up. • Daily noise-dose ring — NIOSH (85 dBA) and OSHA (90 dBA) standards • Loud-event alerts — a heads-up when sustained sound crosses 85 dBA • Exposure timeline + charts — see your week, not just this second • TWA and total exposure time — the metrics that matter for your hearing ▸ ACCURATE & TRUSTWORTHY Built to read honestly — and to tell you when it can't. • Measurement-mode capture — disables auto-gain for stable readings • Mic calibration offset — fine-tune against a reference meter • A, C, and Z weighting — dBA for hearing, dBC for bass and peaks • CSV & PDF reports — clean exports for complaints, work, or your records ▸ FAIR, HONEST PRICING The category's loudest complaint is price. We fixed that. • About half the price of the leading sound meter apps • No weekly traps, no à-la-carte unlock packs • A genuinely useful free tier — the live dBA meter is always free ▸ FREE VS PREMIUM FREE: • Live dB(A) meter with waveform, peak, average, and Leq • Today's noise dose • Your last 3 saved sessions PREMIUM unlocks: • Unlimited measurement history • dBA, dBC, and dBZ weighting + mic calibration offset • Full exposure timeline with charts • CSV & PDF noise reports • Zero ads ▸ PREMIUM SUBSCRIPTION Decibel Premium is available with the following subscription options: Monthly: $4.99/month Annual: $24.99/year — includes a 7-day free trial Payment will be charged to your Apple ID account at confirmation of purchase. Subscription automatically renews unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Your account will be charged for renewal within 24 hours prior to the end of the current period. You can manage and cancel your subscriptions by going to your App Store account settings after purchase. Terms of Service: https://decibel.bulpara.com/terms Privacy Policy: https://decibel.bulpara.com/privacy ▸ A NOTE ON ACCURACY Decibel is not a certified Type 1 or Type 2 sound level meter and is not a medical or hearing-diagnostic device. iPhone microphones are factory-calibrated and typically read within a couple of dB of professional meters, and the calibration offset improves them further — but for legal, occupational, or clinical decisions, use certified equipment. Questions or feedback? support@bulpara.com

Screenshots

Sound Noise Meter+ dB SPL3 screens
Decibel4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Sound Noise Meter+ dB SPL at none against Decibel's 2. On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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. Decibel sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Sound Noise Meter+ dB SPL asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard1 real difference · 8 level
Sound Noise Meter+ dB SPL versus Decibel: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSound Noise Meter+ dB SPLDecibel
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.0 (2 ratings) — better
Number of ratings2 — better
Update frequencyWeekly
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationAd-supported
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS16.4 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size59 MB6 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperKyu-Hee JangBULPARA TEKNOLOJI LIMITED SIRKETI

In-app purchases

None

Sound Noise Meter+ dB SPL

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

Decibel

Subscriptions2
  • Premium Monthly$4.991 Month
  • Premium Annual7 Days trial$24.991 Year

Questions

Is Sound Noise Meter+ dB SPL free?
Sound Noise Meter+ dB SPL is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Decibel free?
Decibel is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Sound Noise Meter+ dB SPL or Decibel have ads?
Both Sound Noise Meter+ dB SPL and Decibel show ads.

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