# SPL Meter vs Avid Control

The clearest difference is price: Avid Control at Free against SPL Meter's $0.99. Avid Control also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). SPL Meter's advantage is rating (4.0 vs 2.7) and review sentiment (73% vs 34%). On ratings volume, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Avid Control is free to download; SPL Meter costs $0.99 up front. SPL Meter sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Avid Control asks for nothing beyond the download.

SPL Meter holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 2.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 29 and 72 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 73% of SPL Meter's written reviews are positive against 34% of Avid Control's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 1, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SPL Meter | Avid Control |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $0.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[4.0 (29 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spl-meter/id309206756/reviews)** | [2.7 (72 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/avid-control/id1017075761/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 29 | **72** |
| Positive reviews | **72.9% of reviews** | 33.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#88** | — |
| Size | 36 MB | 47 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | +4 |
| Developer | [Andrew Smith](https://appshunter.io/developer/291822462) | [Avid®](https://appshunter.io/developer/436394595) |

## What reviewers say

### SPL Meter

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spl-meter/id309206756)

**Currently charting:** #88 Top Paid · Music (US App Store)

This application functions as a professional-grade sound level meter, measuring decibels (dB) with advanced DSP algorithms. It offers adjustable filters, decay rates, and ranges, and can be calibrated for accuracy. It supports both internal and external microphones for versatile sound measurement.

**Highlights:** A and C weighting filters, ANSI Fast or Slow decay, 40dB to 120dB ranges, Adjustable calibration, Internal/External mic support, Universal app

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Controls & Ad-Free | $0.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- ✅ Accurate sound level measurements when calibrated
- 💰 Excellent value at $0.99 price point
- 📱 Works across multiple Apple devices (iPhone, iPad, iPod)
- 🎯 Simple and intuitive user interface
- 🔧 Analog meter design looks professional and authentic

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Inconsistent and unstable meter readings
- 💳 Pricing discrepancies (advertised as $0.99 but charged $6.99)
- 📐 UI scaling issues on various screen sizes and orientations
- 🔍 Text and meter display too small to read easily
- 🖼️ Outdated retro interface design

**Reported bugs**

- Meter readings change completely and are not stable
- App crashes on iPhone 6s Plus with jumbled screen display
- Screen scaling issues on iPad models
- Display glitches when rotating device between portrait and landscape
- Greyed out settings after installation

**Requested features**

- Larger meter display in landscape mode
- Digital-only display option without analog meter face
- Peak hold and min/max reading indicators
- Time-based decibel graph visualization
- Linear response visual option in addition to logarithmic


### Avid Control

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/avid-control/id1017075761)

Control your audio and video software wirelessly from your iPad. This app offers deep, multi-touch control for recording, mixing, and navigating complex projects, enhancing efficiency and flexibility beyond traditional mouse and keyboard input.

**Highlights:** Wireless control of audio/video software, Multi-touch mixing and recording, Access hundreds of software commands, Track and fader control, Visual feedback and metering, Customizable layouts and macros

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Works well with Cubase
- 👍 Definitely a pro level addition to ProTools
- 🚀 Fast and reliable control surface
- 👍 Easy and Powerful
- 👍 Unbelievably Useful

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Version mismatch
- 🐛 Impossible to connect
- 🐛 App just stopped working
- 🐛 Buggy as Can be
- 🐛 Completely broken on iPad OS 18

**Reported bugs**

- Version mismatch
- Can't get pass registration screen
- Meters don't work
- Faders are sticking
- Connectivity issues

**Requested features**

- Pls Make Avid Control into some type of AUV3 Effect Plugin for mixing and mastering purposes
- 120hz support for iPad Pro please!!
- larger soft keys (or even better, adjustable)


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SPL Meter free?

SPL Meter costs $0.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Is Avid Control free?

Avid Control is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, SPL Meter or Avid Control?

SPL Meter is rated higher. SPL Meter averages 4.0 out of 5 from 29 ratings, while Avid Control averages 2.7 from 72 ratings.

### Do SPL Meter or Avid Control have ads?

Neither SPL Meter nor Avid Control shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, SPL Meter or Avid Control?

SPL Meter ships an update every 3 months, and Avid Control every 3 months. Most recently, SPL Meter was updated on November 6, 2026 and Avid Control on November 1, 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.*