# UMSmartSound vs ARCQ SPL

The clearest difference is price: UMSmartSound at Free against ARCQ SPL's $5.99. UMSmartSound also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 17.0). ARCQ SPL's advantage is update cadence (every 2 days vs every 3 months). On ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

UMSmartSound is free to download; ARCQ SPL costs $5.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UMSmartSound ships an update every 3 months, ARCQ SPL every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 27, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | UMSmartSound | ARCQ SPL |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $5.99 |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 2 days** |
| Monetization | — | Paid |
| Size | 11 MB | 2 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [ZERO PLUS, K.K.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1536723252) | [JRB LAB](https://appshunter.io/developer/6782095828) |

## What reviewers say

### UMSmartSound

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/umsmartsound/id1658261071)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### ARCQ SPL

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/arcq-spl-spl-meter/id6782095826)

Transform your device into a precision sound pressure level meter. Analyze real-time A- and C-weighted measurements, view live spectrum analysis, and utilize flexible input options for accurate audio monitoring.

**Highlights:** Real-time A- and C-weighted measurements, Octave-band spectrum analyzer, Flexible input options (built-in, USB, Bluetooth), Simultaneous metric display, Customizable averaging windows, On-device processing for privacy

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is UMSmartSound free?

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

### Is ARCQ SPL free?

ARCQ SPL costs $5.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Do UMSmartSound or ARCQ SPL have ads?

Neither UMSmartSound nor ARCQ SPL shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, UMSmartSound or ARCQ SPL?

UMSmartSound ships an update every 3 months, and ARCQ SPL every 2 days. Most recently, UMSmartSound was updated on October 27, 2026 and ARCQ SPL on October 28, 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.*