# dBMeter Pro vs NIOSH Sound Level Meter

The clearest difference is price: NIOSH Sound Level Meter at Free against dBMeter Pro's $5.99. NIOSH Sound Level Meter also leads on ratings volume (17K vs 2) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.6). dBMeter Pro's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.7). On review sentiment, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

NIOSH Sound Level Meter is free to download; dBMeter Pro costs $5.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

dBMeter Pro holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: NIOSH Sound Level Meter has 17K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 57% of dBMeter Pro's written reviews are positive against 65% of NIOSH Sound Level Meter's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on October 27, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | dBMeter Pro | NIOSH Sound Level Meter |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $5.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dbmeter-pro/id296264086/reviews)** | [4.7 (17K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/niosh-sound-level-meter/id1096545820/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 2 | **17K** |
| Positive reviews | 56.7% of reviews | **64.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | Every 5 months |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free** |
| Size | 6 MB | 6 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Matthias Schorer](https://appshunter.io/developer/290579382) | [EA LAB](https://appshunter.io/developer/1005558529) |

## What reviewers say

### dBMeter Pro

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dbmeter-pro/id296264086)

This application transforms your iPhone into a sound level meter for analyzing ambient noise or testing audio equipment. It offers dual-input measurement, a contextual reference guide, and long-term data logging up to 12 hours. Data can be exported for further analysis.

**Highlights:** Dual-input measurement, Contextual reference guide, Long-term data logging, CSV data export, External microphone support

**In-app purchases:** none


### NIOSH Sound Level Meter

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/niosh-sound-level-meter/id1096545820)

This free app measures sound levels and noise exposure using your smartphone. Developed by acoustics experts, it provides professional-grade metrics and guidance on hearing protection and noise prevention.

**Highlights:** Sound level measurement, Noise dosimetry, Hearing hazard information, Hearing protector guidelines, Data reporting and sharing, Microphone calibration

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Free and ad-free
- 👍 Simple and intuitive interface
- ⚖️ Accurate and reliable measurements
- 💡 Useful for monitoring noise levels in various environments
- 🔍 Provides detailed noise data and exposure information

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional bugs and crashes
- 🔌 Issues with external microphone support
- 🔋 Can drain battery when running for extended periods
- 📱 Limited iPad optimization

**Reported bugs**

- Inconsistent or inaccurate readings in some cases
- Inability to properly connect and use external microphones
- Freezing or crashing when minimizing the app

**Requested features**

- Ability to save and export measurement sessions
- Option to run the app in the background while the screen is locked
- Integration with Apple Health for long-term noise exposure tracking
- Frequency-specific noise measurements (e.g., A-weighted, C-weighted)


## Frequently asked questions

### Is dBMeter Pro free?

dBMeter Pro costs $5.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is NIOSH Sound Level Meter free?

NIOSH Sound Level Meter is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, dBMeter Pro or NIOSH Sound Level Meter?

dBMeter Pro is rated higher. dBMeter Pro averages 5.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while NIOSH Sound Level Meter averages 4.7 from 17K ratings.

### Do dBMeter Pro or NIOSH Sound Level Meter have ads?

Neither dBMeter Pro nor NIOSH Sound Level Meter shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, dBMeter Pro or NIOSH Sound Level Meter?

dBMeter Pro ships an update every 5 months, and NIOSH Sound Level Meter every 5 months. Most recently, dBMeter Pro was updated on October 27, 2026 and NIOSH Sound Level Meter on October 29, 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.*