# SPL Meter vs Decibel Display

The clearest difference is price: Decibel Display at Free against SPL Meter's $0.99. Decibel Display also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1) and update cadence (every 5 weeks vs every 4 months). SPL Meter's advantage is review sentiment (73% vs 40%) and chart position (#113 vs unranked). On ratings volume, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

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

Decibel Display holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 4.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 28 and 11 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 73% of SPL Meter's written reviews are positive against 40% of Decibel Display's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

SPL Meter ships an update every 4 months, Decibel Display every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 18, 2026 and October 19, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SPL Meter | Decibel Display |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $0.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.1 (28 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spl-meter/id309206756/reviews) | **[4.3 (11 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/decibel-display/id1480358065/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **28** | 11 |
| Positive reviews | **72.9% of reviews** | 40.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Every 5 weeks** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#113** | — |
| Size | 36 MB | 12 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) | [Process Audio](https://appshunter.io/developer/1480358064) |

## What reviewers say

### SPL Meter

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

**Currently charting:** #113 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


### Decibel Display

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/decibel-display/id1480358065)

This companion app displays audio metering data from its desktop counterpart on your smartphone or tablet. Design custom multi-meter presets with various meter types, colors, and shapes for real-time audio analysis.

**Highlights:** Real-time audio metering, Customizable meter presets, VU Meter, LUFS, RMS, Spectrum Analyzer, Phase-scope, Modular design

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SPL Meter free?

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

### Is Decibel Display free?

Decibel Display is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, SPL Meter or Decibel Display?

Decibel Display is rated higher. SPL Meter averages 4.1 out of 5 from 28 ratings, while Decibel Display averages 4.3 from 11 ratings.

### Do SPL Meter or Decibel Display have ads?

Neither SPL Meter nor Decibel Display shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, SPL Meter or Decibel Display?

SPL Meter ships an update every 4 months, and Decibel Display every 5 weeks. Most recently, SPL Meter was updated on October 18, 2026 and Decibel Display on October 19, 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.*