Comparison

SPL vs Spectrum Analyzer

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

Head to head
About

SPL

This professional-grade digital sound level meter measures decibels with advanced modes and filters meeting ANSI Type 1 standards. It allows storing, exporting, and calibrating measurements, and can be used with external calibrated microphones for precise results.

Highlights
  • Professional-grade digital sound level meter
  • ANSI/IEC Type 1 standards compliant filters and modes
  • Store, recall, and export GPS/time-stamped results
  • Supports external calibrated microphones
  • Adjustable calibration for accuracy
  • Internal mic compensation filter
Features
Read full description

SPL is a professional-grade digital sound level meter (decibel meter) for your iPad, iPhone or iPod touch. It includes all of the modes, filters, and features that you would expect from a professional ANSI or IEC Sound Level Meter. All filters and averaging modes meet or exceed the criteria for ANSI Type 1 standards or better. SPL is created from the same team who brought you the Audio Toolbox and ATB Plus. Store Results -- Uses the same powerful Save / Recall engine as our premier app, AudioTools. Allows storing GPS and time-stamped results, and exporting them to your computer. You can also use SPL with our calibrated iPhone measurement mic, iTestMic, or iAudioInterface. The screen flips if you turn the phone upside down, so that you can point the built-in iPhone mic directly at the sound source. *** Modes: Slow, Fast, Impulse, Peak, and Leq. *** Filters: A and C weighting, and 10 octave band filters. *** Includes a resettable Max field to track the highest reading. *** Includes a reference field (except in Leq mode) so that you can set a reference level and do seat-to-seat comparisons. The SPL meter can be fully calibrated. It comes preset with the calibration for a typical iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch. Most iOS devices will be within a few dB of this reading. If you have access, even temporarily, to a calibrated sound level meter, just use the calibration field on the settings scree to match the meter, and you will be accurately calibrated. Also, see our other professional-grade audio apps: AudioTools, our premier suite of professional-caliber audio and acoustics test apps, Speaker Pop, to test speaker polarity, and RTA, a real-time analyzer for the iPhone. And, we have a group of calibrated, accurate measurement microphones, including iTestMic,iTestMic2, and iAudioInterface2, that allows full professional results for Type 1 or Type 2 measurements. This will allow measuring a range from approximately 30 dB SPL to 130 dB SPL. Each mic will include a calibration factor that you will enter into the SPL app for calibrated measurements. This mic will also work with Speaker Pop, our speaker polarity tester, FFT, RTA, ETC, and other acoustical measurement apps in our AudioTools app that is available now. Also, see our iAudioInterface2 system, which supports any pro test and measurement mic. Now includes an iPhone internal mic compensation filter, to cancel out the low-frequency roll-off present in the iPhone and other iOS devices. See our other audio apps, including AudioTools.

About

Spectrum Analyzer

Visualize audio frequencies with real-time analysis. Features include a sound level meter, multichannel harmonic analysis, and adjustable graphical representations. Gain insights into your sound environment with advanced tools.

Highlights
  • Sound level meter
  • Multichannel harmonic analysis
  • Adjustable graphics
  • AI-powered sound source analyzer
  • Real-time analysis
  • FFT analysis
Features
Read full description

Spectrum Analyzer is a pro audio tool with sound level meter, multichannel harmonic analysis and detailed graphical representation. Learn something new about your sound environment with real-time analysis! FEATURES: - sound level meter; - harmonic analyzer; - adjustable graphics; - AI-powered sound source analyzer. SOUND LEVEL METER - precise measurement of sound and noise level - real-time results HARMONIC ANALYZER - multichannel FFT analysis; - adjustable parameters; - graphical representation. ADJUSTABLE GRAPHICS - various graphics and diagram types; - zoom of selected chart areas. This app offers subscriptions. The paid version includes AI noise detection, immersive 3D visualization, and customizable settings. The free version offers dB/Hz measurement, 2D mode, and limited visualization options. Privacy Policy: https://musicbreath.com/privacy Terms Of Use: https://musicbreath.com/tos

Screenshots

SPL1 screens
Spectrum Analyzer3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: SPL at 68% against Spectrum Analyzer's 5%. SPL also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 13) and ads (none vs shown). Spectrum Analyzer's advantage is price (Free vs $8.99) and rating (4.2 vs 3.0). On 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

Spectrum Analyzer is free to download; SPL costs $8.99 up front. Spectrum Analyzer sells 13 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. SPL asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Spectrum Analyzer holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Spectrum Analyzer has 197 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 68% of SPL's written reviews are positive against 5% of Spectrum Analyzer's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SPL ships an update every 6 months, Spectrum Analyzer fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 2 level
SPL versus Spectrum Analyzer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSPLSpectrum Analyzer
Price$8.99Free — better
Rating3.0 (4 ratings)4.2 (197 ratings) — better
Positive reviews67.6% of reviews — better5.0% of reviews
Number of ratings4197 — better
Update frequencyEvery 6 monthsFortnightly — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFreemium — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size29 MB132 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAndrew SmithMusic Breath

Customer experience

SPL

All ratings4 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%
Written reviews34 reviews
Positive67.6%
Neutral8.8%
Negative23.5%

Spectrum Analyzer

All ratings197 ratings
Positive77.2%
Neutral6.6%
Negative16.2%
Written reviews241 reviews
Positive5.0%
Neutral5.0%
Negative90.0%

Bugs and requests

SPL

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Spectrum Analyzer

Reported bugs

10 issues
  • App becomes unusable after iOS 16 update
  • Crashes immediately on iPhone 5 with iOS 7
  • Cannot exit app on iPhone X without reboot
  • App freezes when changing settings or views
  • Inaccurate frequency readings
Show 5 more
  • Slow and unresponsive performance
  • App hijacks device sound settings
  • Accidental in-app purchases triggered by home button
  • Subscription charges without clear user consent
  • App locks users into year-long subscriptions with no cancellation option

Requested features

7 requests
  • Audio file import functionality
  • Customizable background colors for chroma key compatibility
  • Ability to record audio instead of only analyzing
  • Better documentation and help files
  • Improved sensitivity for detecting soft sounds
Show 2 more
  • Dark mode option
  • Upfront pricing disclosure before download

In-app purchases

None

SPL

No in-app purchases

13 purchases

Spectrum Analyzer

Subscriptions9
  • Pitch Finder: Audio Visualizer3 Days trial$4.997 Days
  • Pitch Finder: Audio Visualizer3 Days trial$9.991 Month
  • One Month Sale$9.991 Month
Show 6 more
  • 1 Week Subscription3 Days trial$9.997 Days
  • 1 Year Sub. with discount$19.991 Year
  • 1 Month Subscription$19.991 Month
  • 3 Month Subscription$25.993 Months
  • 1 Year Subscription3 Days trial$39.991 Year
  • 2 months subscription3 Days trial$39.992 Months
One-time4
  • No Ads$9.99
  • Additional Settings Controls$15.99
  • Full Pack + No Ads$19.99
Show 1 more
  • Get More$19.99

Questions

Is SPL free?
SPL costs $8.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Spectrum Analyzer free?
Spectrum Analyzer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, SPL or Spectrum Analyzer?
Spectrum Analyzer is rated higher. SPL averages 3.0 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while Spectrum Analyzer averages 4.2 from 197 ratings.
Do SPL or Spectrum Analyzer have ads?
Spectrum Analyzer shows ads; SPL does not.
Which is updated more often, SPL or Spectrum Analyzer?
SPL ships an update every 6 months, and Spectrum Analyzer fortnightly. Most recently, SPL was updated on September 23, 2026 and Spectrum Analyzer on September 24, 2026.

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