# dBMeter Pro vs Decibel X

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.

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.

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | dBMeter Pro | Decibel X |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $5.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dbmeter-pro/id296264086/reviews)** | [4.6 (164K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/decibel-xdb-sound-level-meter/id448155923/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 2 | **164K** |
| Positive reviews | 56.7% of reviews | **66.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | **Every 3 months** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Freemium** |
| Size | 6 MB | 90 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | **17.0** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Matthias Schorer](https://appshunter.io/developer/290579382) | [SkyPaw Co., Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1842040687) |

## 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


### Decibel X

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/decibel-xdb-sound-level-meter/id448155923)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support, iPhone Duo support

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly Membership | $1.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly Membership | $5.99 | per month |
| Annual Membership | $49.99 | per year |
| ITU-R 468, A, B, C Weightings | $1.99 | one-time |
| Data Export | $2.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- ⭐ Excellent app
- 👍 Easy to use and understand
- 🔍 Useful for various applications
- 🎓 Helpful for hearing protection
- 🔧 Accurate and reliable

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Expensive subscription model
- 🔒 Misleading free trial
- 📢 Intrusive ads
- 🤖 Inaccurate readings compared to professional meters
- 🤔 Confusing interface

**Reported bugs**

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

**Requested features**

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


## Frequently asked 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.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*