Comparison

dBMeter Pro vs Decibel X

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

Head to head
About

dBMeter Pro

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
Read full description

Transform your iPhone into a powerful sound level meter with dBMeter Pro. Whether you are analyzing ambient noise, testing audio equipment, or simply curious about your environment, dBMeter Pro delivers accurate decibel readings with an intuitive interface. Key Capabilities: - Dual-Input Measurement: Seamlessly switch between the iPhone’s built-in microphone for quick checks or connect external measuring microphones for enhanced precision. - Contextual Reference Guide: Don’t just read numbers—understand them. Our visual reference view compares current noise levels to real-world examples (like a library, traffic, or a rock concert) for instant context. - Long-Term Data Logging: Need to monitor noise over time? Record up to 12 hours of continuous samples. - Data Export: Easily export your sessions as CSV files for deep-dive analytics and archiving. Important Note: While dBMeter Pro has been calibrated using professional-grade equipment to ensure high accuracy, it is intended for personal and educational use only. It should not be used as a substitute for certified industrial equipment for professional or legal measurements. The author assumes no liability for damages arising from the use of this software.

About

Decibel X

This tool transforms your device into a professional sound level meter, offering precise measurements of ambient noise. It features advanced calibration, frequency analysis, and data management for various applications, from personal curiosity to professional use.

Highlights
  • Pre-calibrated sound pressure level (SPL) measurements
  • Frequency weighting filters (dBA, dBC, ITU-R 468)
  • Apple Watch and Health App integration
  • History data management with export options
  • Dosimeter with NIOSH, OSHA standards
  • FFT and BAR graphs for real-time frequency analysis
  • InstaDecibel for sharing dB reports on photos
Features
Read full description

"Decibel X" is one of very few noise meter apps on the market that has highly reliable, pre-calibrated measurements and supports dBA, dBC. It turns your iOS device into a professional sound level meter, precisely measures the sound pressure level (SPL) all around you. This extremely useful and beautiful tool will not only be a great tool for many uses but also bring you a lot of fun. Have you wondered how quiet is your room or how loud is a rock concert or sport event? "Decibel X" will help you answer all of those. WHAT MAKE IT GREAT AND STAND OUT FROM OTHER APPS: - Trusted accuracy: the app is tested and pre calibrated for all Apple devices. The precision is matching with real SPL devices - Apple Watch support: see noise level right from your wrist - Health App integration: export noise levels directly into Health app - Frequency weighting filters: ITU-R 468, A, B, C, Z - Powerful, smart history data management: + Recording data can be saved into a list of history records for future access and analysis + Each record can be exported as hi-res PNG graph or CSV text via sharing services + iCloud support which synchronize all history records across your Apple devices + Fullscreen mode to give overview the whole history of an record - Dosimeter with NIOSH, OSHA standards - Powerful calibration: Linear, Octave 1/1, 1/3, Load/save profile - FFT and BAR graphs to display real time FFT. Those are very useful for frequency analysis and musical tests. Real time predominant frequency is also displayed. - InstaDecibel to capture your dB report overlaid on photos and easily shared via popular social networks (Facebook, Instagram, Messages, etc.). - Support Live Activity, Dynamic Island - Support both Portrait and Landscape layouts - Beautiful, intuitive and carefully crafted UI design. Themes: LIGHT, DARK and CLASSIC OTHER GREAT FEATURES: - Standard time weightings (Response Time): SLOW (500 milliseconds), FAST (200 milliseconds) AND IMPULSE (50 milliseconds) - MIC Gain Offset from -50 dB to 50 dB - Standard measurement range from 30 dBA up to 130 dBA - HISTO graph for plotted history of the recorded values - WAVE graph with 2 display modes: Rolling & Buffer - SPECTROGRAPH - Real time scale level chart - Display Current, Average/Leq, and Max values with both nice and clear digital and analog layouts - Quick reference text to help you compare with real-life examples NOTES: - Please do not expect a quiet room reading will be 0 dBA. The range 30-130 dBA is the standard usable range and an average quiet room will be about 30 dBA. - Although all devices are pre-calibrated, custom calibration is suggested for serious purposes requiring higher precision and accuracy. You will need a real external device or calibrated sound meter as a reference, then adjust the trimming calibration until the reading matches with the reference. * Privacy Policy: http://www.skypaw.com/decibelx/privacy_policy.html * EULA: http://www.skypaw.com/decibelx/terms.html

Screenshots

dBMeter Pro4 screens
Decibel X4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Decibel X at Free against dBMeter Pro's $5.99. Decibel X also leads on ratings volume (164K vs 2) and review sentiment (66% vs 57%). dBMeter Pro's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 5) and rating (5.0 vs 4.6). On update cadence, ads 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

Decibel X is free to download; dBMeter Pro costs $5.99 up front. Decibel X sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days. dBMeter Pro asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

dBMeter Pro holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Decibel X has 164K 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 66% of Decibel X's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

dBMeter Pro ships an update every 5 months, Decibel X every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and November 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
dBMeter Pro versus Decibel X: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterdBMeter ProDecibel X
Price$5.99Free — better
Rating5.0 (2 ratings) — better4.6 (164K ratings)
Positive reviews56.7% of reviews66.3% of reviews — better
Number of ratings2164K — better
Update frequencyEvery 5 monthsEvery 3 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFreemium — better
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — better
Requires iOS17.617.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size6 MB90 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMatthias SchorerSkyPaw Co., Limited

Customer experience

dBMeter Pro

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews60 reviews
Positive56.7%
Neutral16.7%
Negative26.7%

Decibel X

All ratings163,488 ratings
Positive92.2%
Neutral3.5%
Negative4.3%
Written reviews1,925 reviews
Positive66.3%
Neutral5.5%
Negative28.2%

Bugs and requests

dBMeter Pro

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Decibel X

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • App crashes when deleting recordings
  • Microphone issues on certain devices
  • Saved files not accessible after updates

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add GPS coordinates to recordings
  • Improve reporting and data export
  • Provide more weighting options
  • Extend frequency range
  • Allow music playback while using the app

In-app purchases

None

dBMeter Pro

No in-app purchases

5 purchases

Decibel X

Subscriptions3
  • Weekly Membership$1.997 Days
  • Monthly Membership$5.991 Month
  • Annual Membership3 Days trial$49.991 Year
One-time2
  • ITU-R 468, A, B, C Weightings$1.99
  • Data Export$2.99

Questions

Is dBMeter Pro free?
dBMeter Pro costs $5.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Decibel X free?
Decibel X is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, dBMeter Pro or Decibel X?
dBMeter Pro is rated higher. dBMeter Pro averages 5.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while Decibel X averages 4.6 from 164K ratings.
Do dBMeter Pro or Decibel X have ads?
Neither dBMeter Pro nor Decibel X shows ads.
Which is updated more often, dBMeter Pro or Decibel X?
dBMeter Pro ships an update every 5 months, and Decibel X every 3 months. Most recently, dBMeter Pro was updated on October 31, 2026 and Decibel X on November 7, 2026.

Other comparisons