Comparison

RTA vs Audio Spectrum Analyzer Pro

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

Head to head
About

RTA

Analyze audio frequencies, test speakers, and tune rooms with this professional-grade acoustical analysis tool. It offers octave and 1/3 octave modes, peak hold, and averaging, with automatic microphone compensation for accurate results.

Highlights
  • Real-time acoustical analysis
  • Octave and 1/3 Octave modes
  • Peak Hold and Average modes
  • Automatic microphone compensation
  • Save, recall, and export graphs
  • Interactive touch GUI
  • Noise curve overlays
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

A Real Time Analyzer for the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch. Test your speakers, tune your room, do acoustical analysis work or just have a better understanding of audio frequencies. RTA is a professional-grade acoustical analysis tool. All filters meet or exceed ANSI and IEC Class 1 specifications. Includes Octave and 1/3 Octave modes, with selectable decay times, as well as Peak Hold and true linear Average mode. *** iOS Microphones We have analyzied every iOS device, including all of the iPads, all iPhones, and iPod touches, and have created microphone compensation files that are applied automatically. You can trust the results you are getting, often within just a few dB of a far more expensive analyzer. Calibration is updated regularly, automatically, from our cloud-based calibration database. Upgrade to our iTestMic or iAudioInterface2 to bring your system up to full professional specs. *** Save and Recall Graphs You can save and recall graphs, marked with the GPS location, date & time, and your comment, as well as store the image to your photo roll. Export the data as an XLS formatted file to your computer for inclusion in reports or further analysis. *** Max and Min Bars You can also turn on resettable Max/Min bars (see image #4) to capture peaks. Double-tap to reset the bars. *** Specifications and Devices The internal iPhone mic has a noise floor near 30 dB, and if your are running iOS 6, clips around 120 dB. *** Touch GUI Fully interactive touch GUI features includes scroll up/down, pinch to zoom or compress the vertical dB scale, or swipe horizontally to get a cursor that reads out the exact dB level and frequency across the screen. To make the cursor disappear, swipe it off the graph to the left. The landscape-mode display flips 180 degrees so that you can face the internal mic in either direction. *** Overlay Curves Also included are optional noise curve overlays, in NCB, RC, PNC, NC, X-Curve and NR mode. See picture #2 for an example. Use this feature to get a quick reading on the noise levels in a room. Also includes the cinema large-room X-curve overlay. *** Calibration RTA can be fully calibrated, whether you are using it with the internal iOS microphone, or one of our professional test & measurement mic solutions. And, if you are using iTestMic, the mic calibration is transmitted directly to the app, so you are always calibrated. *** RTA or FFT? If you are wondering if you should download this app or our FFT app, check out our website, we have a page devoted to this topic. See our other acoustics and audio apps, including AudioTools.

About

Audio Spectrum Analyzer Pro

Analyze sound frequencies in real-time with this powerful tool. It offers detailed octave band analysis, FFT plots, and various measurement scales. Supports multiple microphones and noise analysis features for accurate audio insights.

Highlights
  • Octave Band Real Time Analyzer
  • FFT Plot (Fast Fourier Transform)
  • Sound level meter (dB meter)
  • Noise Rating and Noise Criterion support
  • Support for external microphones
  • Pre-calibrated mic profiles
Features
Read full description

Audio Spectrum Analyzer is a powerful real-time audio analysis app. Full of features yet very simple to use. Sound level meter (db meter a-weighted, noise rating, noise criterion) included. Feature Highlights: • Octave Band Real Time Analyzer • FFT Plot (Fast Fourier Transform) • Linear and logarithm scales • Up to 16384 FFT size • A lot of available window functions • Tracking for max value • Max and Min for any selected frequency • Stunned graphics • Reliable measurement accuracy with pre-calibrated profiles for 3 device-integrated mics • Additional precision with integrated support and pre-calibrated profiles for AirPods, AirPods Pro • Safer measurements using the Airpods Pro noise cancellation feature • Support for external microphones (wired or via Bluetooth) • Noise Rating and Noise Criterion support And many many more... Terms of Use: https://www.iubenda.com/terms-and-conditions/94359518

Screenshots

RTA4 screens
Audio Spectrum Analyzer Pro4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Audio Spectrum Analyzer Pro at Free against RTA's $4.99. Audio Spectrum Analyzer Pro also leads on rating (4.4 vs 4.0) and ratings volume (239 vs 27). RTA's advantage is chart position (#66 vs unranked) and update cadence (every 3 months vs every 7 months). On review sentiment, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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

Audio Spectrum Analyzer Pro is free to download; RTA costs $4.99 up front. RTA sells 2 one-off in-app purchases and Audio Spectrum Analyzer Pro sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $19.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Audio Spectrum Analyzer Pro holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Audio Spectrum Analyzer Pro has 239 ratings behind it against 27, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 61% of RTA's written reviews are positive against 57% of Audio Spectrum Analyzer Pro's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

RTA ships an update every 3 months, Audio Spectrum Analyzer Pro every 7 months. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
RTA versus Audio Spectrum Analyzer Pro: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRTAAudio Spectrum Analyzer Pro
Price$4.99Free — better
Rating4.0 (27 ratings)4.4 (239 ratings) — better
Positive reviews61.0% of reviews — better57.4% of reviews
Number of ratings27239 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 months — betterEvery 7 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#66 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.013.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size30 MB40 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAndrew SmithVlad Polyanskiy

Customer experience

RTA

All ratings26 ratings
Positive73.1%
Neutral11.5%
Negative15.4%
Written reviews118 reviews
Positive61.0%
Neutral11.0%
Negative28.0%

Audio Spectrum Analyzer Pro

All ratings238 ratings
Positive85.3%
Neutral4.6%
Negative10.1%
Written reviews183 reviews
Positive57.4%
Neutral7.1%
Negative35.5%

User reviews

RTA

From 27 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Easy to use
  • 👍 Good for quick analysis
  • 👍 Accurate for price
  • 👍 Useful for tuning
  • 👍 Professional tool

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Crashes frequently
  • 🐛 Freezes often
  • 🐛 Incompatible with iOS updates
  • 🐛 Screen display issues
  • 🐛 Battery drain

Audio Spectrum Analyzer Pro

From 239 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Intuitive and easy-to-use interface
  • 💰 Completely free with no ads
  • 🎯 Accurate frequency and spectrum analysis
  • 📊 Multiple visualization modes (FFT, spectrograph, bar display)
  • 🔧 Professional-grade audio measurement tool

Room to improve

  • 💸 Aggressive subscription/paywall nags
  • 🔄 Frequent iOS compatibility issues after updates
  • 📉 Features moved behind paywall in recent updates
  • 🐛 App crashes on startup (especially iOS 16/26)
  • ⚠️ Misleading free trial that requires payment

Bugs and requests

RTA

Reported bugs

18 issues
  • App crashes after iOS updates (iOS 13, 15, 16, 17, 18)
  • App freezes or crashes on startup
  • App only displays half the screen
  • App does not save analysis readings to photo roll
  • App stops working on older iPads after updates
Show 13 more
  • Accessory found/removed loop with iTestMic 2
  • App continues to run in background, draining battery
  • Calibration not supported for specific iPad models
  • App not installing after purchase/update
  • App not opening on iPhone 4 after update
  • dB/input level is useless after update
  • Screen not expanding after updates
  • App not compatible with iOS 7
  • App crashes when saving screen
  • App not working with iMM-6 microphone
  • App overcompensates for low frequencies
  • App crashes on 3G S after update
  • Low frequency response cut due to voice recognition

Requested features

8 requests
  • Add German language support
  • Add NC and NR curves
  • Make background mode optional
  • Improve compatibility with newer iOS versions
  • Add option to overlay readings
Show 3 more
  • Add zoom functionality for frequencies
  • Improve calibration for external mics
  • Add pink noise output

Audio Spectrum Analyzer Pro

Reported bugs

11 issues
  • App crashes on iOS 16 and iOS 26 launches
  • FFT resolution not working after iOS updates
  • Graph display freezes or becomes unresponsive
  • Spectrograph mode too slow on newer iPhones
  • Frequency alignment issues with dynamic display
Show 6 more
  • App won't uninstall properly
  • Malware warnings appearing
  • Help links and support pages broken/dead
  • Incorrect dB level readings (off by ~20dB)
  • Recording functions non-functional
  • Half black screen in certain orientations

Requested features

11 requests
  • Audio file upload capability
  • White noise/test signal generator
  • Microphone calibration file support
  • Recording functionality with timestamp
  • Multiple frequency cursors for comparison
Show 6 more
  • Ability to compare before/after curves
  • Adjustable dB level zoom/scaling
  • Saved settings and personalizations
  • Audio Unit (AUV3) plugin support
  • Peak hold reset button
  • Time-domain recording in spectrograph mode

In-app purchases

2 purchases

RTA

One-time2
  • STC -- Transmission Loss$9.99
  • Reference Curve Files$9.99
2 purchases

Audio Spectrum Analyzer Pro

Subscriptions1
  • Premium Mode7 Days trial$19.991 Year
One-time1
  • Premium Pack$29.99

Questions

Is RTA free?
RTA costs $4.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is Audio Spectrum Analyzer Pro free?
Audio Spectrum Analyzer Pro is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, RTA or Audio Spectrum Analyzer Pro?
Audio Spectrum Analyzer Pro is rated higher. RTA averages 4.0 out of 5 from 27 ratings, while Audio Spectrum Analyzer Pro averages 4.4 from 239 ratings.
Do RTA or Audio Spectrum Analyzer Pro have ads?
Neither RTA nor Audio Spectrum Analyzer Pro shows ads.
Which is updated more often, RTA or Audio Spectrum Analyzer Pro?
RTA ships an update every 3 months, and Audio Spectrum Analyzer Pro every 7 months. Most recently, RTA was updated on October 23, 2026 and Audio Spectrum Analyzer Pro on October 24, 2026.

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