# Sound Meter vs Decibel Reader

The clearest difference is ads: Sound Meter at none against Decibel Reader's shown. Decibel Reader's advantage is rating (4.5 vs 4.1) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 2 months). On price, review sentiment, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Sound Meter sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days and Decibel Reader sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Decibel Reader holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 8 and 24 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 75% of Sound Meter's written reviews are positive against 80% of Decibel Reader's.

Sound Meter ships an update every 2 months, Decibel Reader every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Sound Meter | Decibel Reader |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.1 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sound-meter-db-measurement/id1603059654/reviews) | **[4.5 (24 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/decibel-reader/id6451411046/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 8 | **24** |
| Positive reviews | 75.0% of reviews | **80.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 94 MB | 12 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Loyal Foundry, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1620612434) | [Andy Sutanto](https://appshunter.io/developer/1659282966) |

## What reviewers say

### Sound Meter

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sound-meter-db-measurement/id1603059654)

Measure real-time noise levels in decibels using your phone's microphone. Track noise from appliances, identify dangerous sound environments, and save your measurements.

**Highlights:** Real-time decibel measurement, Noise tracking for appliances, Identify dangerous sound levels, Save noise measurements, Gauge display of decibels, Min, Max, and Average values

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Sound Meter Premium | $1.99 | per 7 days |
| Special Offer - 50% Discount | $3.99 | per month |


### Decibel Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/decibel-reader/id6451411046)

Measure ambient noise levels with real-time readings, tracking minimum, average, and maximum decibels. Offers calibration for accuracy and a dark mode for comfortable viewing. This tool helps you understand your sound environment.

**Highlights:** Real-time decibel measurement, Calibration for accuracy, Track min, average, and max noise levels, Dark mode for low-light use, Simple and intuitive interface

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

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Decibel Meter Pro - 1 Week | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| Decibel Meter Pro - 1 Month | $7.99 | per month |
| Sound Level Meter - 6 Months | $19.99 | per 6 months |
| Noise Level Meter - 1 Year | $29.99 | per year |
| Decibel Meter Pro - 1Y 2 | $29.99 | per year |
| dB Meter Pro | $49.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Sound Meter free?

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

### Is Decibel Reader free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Sound Meter or Decibel Reader?

Decibel Reader is rated higher. Sound Meter averages 4.1 out of 5 from 8 ratings, while Decibel Reader averages 4.5 from 24 ratings.

### Do Sound Meter or Decibel Reader have ads?

Decibel Reader shows ads; Sound Meter does not.

### Which is updated more often, Sound Meter or Decibel Reader?

Sound Meter ships an update every 2 months, and Decibel Reader every 2 weeks. Most recently, Sound Meter was updated on October 30, 2026 and Decibel Reader on October 22, 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.*