Comparison

SPL Meter vs Open Sound Meter

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

Head to head
About

SPL Meter

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
Currently charting
Read full description

SPL Meter is a professional-grade sound level meter, also known as a decibel or dB meter, for your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch. Modeled after a traditional analog SPL meter, we have faithfully reproduced all the characteristics and qualities found in those meters, including the ballistics, ranges, filters, and decay rates. Under the hood we have advanced DSP-based algorithms that meet or exceed ANSI / IEC Type 1 standards. And starting with iOS 6, we can disable the mic filters and limiters, to get the real world performance of a hand-held SPL meter. And now, upgrade SPL Meter with iTestMic, our pro-grade test & measurement mic, made specifically for iOS devices. Using iTestMic with SPL Meter, you get a calibrated, accurate SPL Meter, that meets industry standards for Type 2 performance. See our website for more information. But don't compare us to a Radio Shack meter, ours is much more accurate! We have also included a digital LCD display, as shown in the image, to make this the best SPL meter available for iPhone or iPad. And this is something that the old analog meters never had! The screen will flip when you flip the phone over, so that you can point the iPhone mic directly at the sound source. (iPhone X does not support upside down mode) SPL Meter is a universal app -- buy once, and use on all of your iOS devices. SPL Meter is built by the same team that created the other great professional audio and acoustics apps on the store, Studio Six Digital. Built on the engine of our more expensive "SPL" app, SPL Meter's filters and decay rates meet or exceed ANSI type 1. This app is not a toy or a game. SPL Meter is the one audio app that everyone who works in audio must have on their phone! Not only have we made the best one, but we've priced it so you can't afford not to get it. *** FEATURES: FILTERS -- A and C weighting filters are provided. DECAY -- Choose ANSI Fast or Slow. RANGES -- 40dB to 120dB in 9 ranges. CALIBRATION -- Comes pre-calibrated for the typical iPhone or iPad built-in and headset mic, but you can adjust the calibration if you have a professional, calibrated meter to compare it to. Accesses our cloud-based iOS device calibration database, which we updates as new devices are released. INTERNAL / EXTERNAL MIC -- Select Internal to activate the included compensation filter, which is designed to flatten the frequency response of the built-in or headset mic. External will work with our iPhone Measurement Mic, to be released later this summer. See our website for more details. SPL Meter is bargain-priced to make it easy for anyone to check out one of our professional, accurate apps. Studio Six Digital is dedicated to making the iPhone and Touch a professional audio and acoustics test device. Check out our full line of professional-grade audio and acoustics apps: SPL, the professional digital iPhone sound level meter, SPL Graph, for recording SPL over time, RTA, a 1/3 octave real-time analyzer, FFT, for detailed acoustic analysis, ETC, the energy-time curve function, RT60, for automated octave-band decay time measurement, Speaker Pop, to test speaker polarity, and Generator, the iPhone signal generator. Also, if you are looking for more great acoustical and audio test apps, have a look at AudioTools, our premier app for audio professionals.

About

Open Sound Meter

This application allows real-time tuning and control of audio systems. It provides comprehensive measurement and analysis tools for various audio parameters, with options to store, adjust, and average results. Calibration files and direct console connections enhance measurement accuracy.

Highlights
  • Real-time audio system tuning
  • Spectrum, SPL, Magnitude, Phase analysis
  • Store, adjust, and average measurements
  • Apply calibration files for microphones
  • Direct connection to mixing consoles
  • Project saving to device or iCloud
Features
Read full description

Open Sound Meter is an application for tuning and controlling audio systems in real-time. Allows to measure and analyze: - Spectrum - SPL (RMS, Leq) - Magnitude - Phase - Group delay - Phase delay - Coherence - Impulse - Step - Spectrogram - Impedance - Nyquist plot - Crest factor You can store any result. Stored measurement can be adjusted by gain, delay and polarity, adjusted with filters, equalization. Math function gives you a possibility to average your measurements, virtually join them and predict how they will sound together. For better results, you can apply calibration files for your microphones. For the measurement, you can use any iOS compatible audio interface or connect to your mixing console. Save the project on the device or in iCloud. Direct connection works with Behringer X32, Midas M32, Allen&Heath Qu, DiGiCo S21/S31/SD12/UB-MADI, Yamaha TF and other consoles that have audio over USB. For Yamaha CL/QL you can use Dante AVIO adapter.

Screenshots

SPL Meter3 screens
Open Sound Meter1 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: SPL Meter at $0.99 against Open Sound Meter's $69.99. SPL Meter also leads on chart position (#200 vs unranked) and ratings volume (28 vs 5). Open Sound Meter's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.1) and in-app purchases (none vs 1). On ads, monetization model and device support 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

SPL Meter costs $0.99 and Open Sound Meter $69.99 up front. SPL Meter sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Open Sound Meter asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Open Sound Meter holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SPL Meter has 28 ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 73% of SPL Meter's written reviews are positive against 100% of Open Sound Meter's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SPL Meter ships an update every 4 months, Open Sound Meter every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and September 11, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 3 level
SPL Meter versus Open Sound Meter: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSPL MeterOpen Sound Meter
Price$0.99 — better$69.99
Rating4.1 (28 ratings)5.0 (5 ratings) — better
Positive reviews72.9% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings28 — better5
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsEvery 2 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationPaidPaid
Best chart rank#200 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.012.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size36 MB45 MB
Age rating4++4
DeveloperAndrew SmithPavel Smokotnin

Customer experience

SPL Meter

All ratings28 ratings
Positive78.6%
Neutral3.6%
Negative17.9%
Written reviews170 reviews
Positive72.9%
Neutral10.6%
Negative16.5%

Open Sound Meter

All ratings5 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

SPL Meter

Reported bugs

11 issues
  • 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
Show 6 more
  • Blurry UI and low resolution after updates
  • App fails to respond or shows 999dB reading
  • Incompatibility with iOS 8 and iOS 10.3.2
  • Screen only fills bottom-left corner of display
  • Microphone not responding with external mics
  • Feedback/screeching with certain external microphones

Requested features

12 requests
  • 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
Show 7 more
  • Lighter display theme for outdoor readability
  • Larger digital numbers for better visibility
  • Data capture and note-tagging functionality
  • Three-point calibration system
  • Octave band analysis
  • Automatic range selection
  • Improved knob/dial controls (less touchy)

Open Sound Meter

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

1 purchases

SPL Meter

One-time1
  • Controls & Ad-Free$0.99
None

Open Sound Meter

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is SPL Meter free?
SPL Meter costs $0.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is Open Sound Meter free?
Open Sound Meter costs $69.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, SPL Meter or Open Sound Meter?
Open Sound Meter is rated higher. SPL Meter averages 4.1 out of 5 from 28 ratings, while Open Sound Meter averages 5.0 from 5 ratings.
Do SPL Meter or Open Sound Meter have ads?
Neither SPL Meter nor Open Sound Meter shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SPL Meter or Open Sound Meter?
SPL Meter ships an update every 4 months, and Open Sound Meter every 2 months. Most recently, SPL Meter was updated on September 22, 2026 and Open Sound Meter on September 11, 2026.

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