# SPL Meter vs Spectrum Analyzer

SPL Meter and Spectrum Analyzer both sit at 4.1 stars, but that hides the real split: 73% of SPL Meter's written reviews are positive against 5% of Spectrum Analyzer's. SPL Meter also leads on ads (none vs shown). Spectrum Analyzer's advantage is price (Free vs $0.99) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 4 months). On rating, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Spectrum Analyzer is free to download; SPL Meter costs $0.99 up front. SPL Meter sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Spectrum Analyzer sells 13 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.1 for SPL Meter against 4.2 for Spectrum Analyzer. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Spectrum Analyzer has 197 ratings behind it against 28, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 73% of SPL Meter's written reviews are positive against 5% of Spectrum Analyzer's.

SPL Meter ships an update every 4 months, Spectrum Analyzer fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SPL Meter | Spectrum Analyzer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $0.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.1 (28 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spl-meter/id309206756/reviews) | **[4.2 (197 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spectrum-analyzer-spectrogram/id981810895/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 28 | **197** |
| Positive reviews | **72.9% of reviews** | 5.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Freemium** |
| Size | 36 MB | 132 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Andrew Smith](https://appshunter.io/developer/291822462) | [Music Breath](https://appshunter.io/developer/1140008995) |

## What reviewers say

### SPL Meter

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

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


### Spectrum Analyzer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spectrum-analyzer-spectrogram/id981810895)

Visualize audio frequencies with real-time analysis. Features include a sound level meter, multichannel harmonic analysis, and adjustable graphical representations. Gain insights into your sound environment with advanced tools.

**Highlights:** Sound level meter, Multichannel harmonic analysis, Adjustable graphics, AI-powered sound source analyzer, Real-time analysis, FFT analysis

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (13)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pitch Finder: Audio Visualizer | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Pitch Finder: Audio Visualizer | $9.99 | per month |
| One Month Sale | $9.99 | per month |
| 1 Week Subscription | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| 1 Year Sub. with discount | $19.99 | per year |
| 1 Month Subscription | $19.99 | per month |
| 3 Month Subscription | $25.99 | per 3 months |
| 1 Year Subscription | $39.99 | per year |
| 2 months subscription | $39.99 | per 2 months |
| No Ads | $9.99 | one-time |
| Additional Settings Controls | $15.99 | one-time |
| Full Pack + No Ads | $19.99 | one-time |
| Get More | $19.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- ✅ Accurate frequency identification
- ✅ Clear and easy-to-read display
- ✅ Useful noise floor setup feature
- ✅ Works well when ads are removed

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Extremely aggressive monetization strategy
- 📢 Excessive and intrusive ads
- 🔊 Loud ads that ignore device mute settings
- 🚫 Requires subscription/payment to access core features
- 😤 Deceptive purchase practices and accidental charges

**Reported bugs**

- App becomes unusable after iOS 16 update
- Crashes immediately on iPhone 5 with iOS 7
- Cannot exit app on iPhone X without reboot
- App freezes when changing settings or views
- Inaccurate frequency readings

**Requested features**

- Audio file import functionality
- Customizable background colors for chroma key compatibility
- Ability to record audio instead of only analyzing
- Better documentation and help files
- Improved sensitivity for detecting soft sounds


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SPL Meter free?

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

### Is Spectrum Analyzer free?

Spectrum Analyzer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, SPL Meter or Spectrum Analyzer?

Spectrum Analyzer is rated higher. SPL Meter averages 4.1 out of 5 from 28 ratings, while Spectrum Analyzer averages 4.2 from 197 ratings.

### Do SPL Meter or Spectrum Analyzer have ads?

Spectrum Analyzer shows ads; SPL Meter does not.

### Which is updated more often, SPL Meter or Spectrum Analyzer?

SPL Meter ships an update every 4 months, and Spectrum Analyzer fortnightly. Most recently, SPL Meter was updated on September 22, 2026 and Spectrum Analyzer on September 24, 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.*