# SPL Meter vs Decibel meter for personal use

The clearest difference is price: Decibel meter for personal use at Free against SPL Meter's $0.99. Decibel meter for personal use also leads on rating (4.5 vs 4.0) and review sentiment (100% vs 73%). SPL Meter's advantage is chart position (#44 vs unranked). On ratings volume, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Decibel meter for personal use is free to download; SPL Meter costs $0.99 up front. SPL Meter sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Decibel meter for personal use sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $9.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Decibel meter for personal use holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 29 and 28 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 73% of SPL Meter's written reviews are positive against 100% of Decibel meter for personal use's.

SPL Meter ships an update every 3 months, Decibel meter for personal use monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SPL Meter | Decibel meter for personal use |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $0.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.0 (29 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spl-meter/id309206756/reviews) | **[4.5 (28 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/decibel-meter-for-personal-use/id6448749318/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **29** | 28 |
| Positive reviews | 72.9% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Freemium** |
| Best chart rank | **#44** | — |
| Size | 36 MB | 23 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Andrew Smith](https://appshunter.io/developer/291822462) | [Svetlana Rabosh](https://appshunter.io/developer/1614133369) |

## What reviewers say

### SPL Meter

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

**Currently charting:** #44 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 meter for personal use

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/decibel-meter-for-personal-use/id6448749318)

This app measures ambient noise levels and offers features to suppress unwanted sounds like traffic and conversations. It provides real-time analysis, background operation, and historical data for a comprehensive understanding of your sound environment.

**Highlights:** Noise level measurement, Background noise suppression, Background measurement operation, Peak and average noise level calculation, Spectral noise analysis, Measurement history access, UI design for beginners and pros

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Decibel Meter+ | $9.99 | per month |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SPL Meter free?

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

### Is Decibel meter for personal use free?

Decibel meter for personal use is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, SPL Meter or Decibel meter for personal use?

Decibel meter for personal use is rated higher. SPL Meter averages 4.0 out of 5 from 29 ratings, while Decibel meter for personal use averages 4.5 from 28 ratings.

### Do SPL Meter or Decibel meter for personal use have ads?

Neither SPL Meter nor Decibel meter for personal use shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, SPL Meter or Decibel meter for personal use?

SPL Meter ships an update every 3 months, and Decibel meter for personal use monthly. Most recently, SPL Meter was updated on October 31, 2026 and Decibel meter for personal use on October 25, 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.*