Comparison

AudioTools, dB, Sound & Audio vs dB Volume

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

Head to head
About

AudioTools, dB, Sound & Audio

This professional audio analysis app offers a comprehensive suite of tools for acoustic measurements, including SPL, RTA, and FFT. It calibrates device microphones for accurate results and allows for the addition of powerful optional modules for advanced analysis.

Highlights
  • SPL Meter with A/C weighting
  • Real Time Analyzer (RTA)
  • Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) analysis
  • Speaker Polarity Test
  • Audio Oscilloscope
  • Signal Generator
  • Audio Recorder
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

AudioTools from Studio Six Digital is a suite of professional-grade audio and acoustic analysis apps. Included in the price of this app is a great collection of professional tools -- SPL, RTA, FFT, Speaker Polarity Test, Generator, Audio Scope, CLF Viewer, and Recorder, and the framework to add more powerful modules as you need them. Customize AudioTools for your needs by buying any of the additional optional modules, like Smaart Tools I, SPL Graph, or Impulse Response, at any time right from your iOS device. We test every iOS device and calibrate the microphone level and frequency response for the best results. We have the ability to turn off the Apple low frequency filters, and on many devices we can measure up to 120 dB SPL. Add iTestMic, iPrecisionMic, or iAudioInterface2 for a complete professional audio and acoustic test and measurement platform. Actual reviews: “...AudioTools is a “how did I ever live without it” app”. “I think this application is the best I EVER purchased.” “I have used many thousands of dollars of complicated test equipment that doesn’t measure up to this app suite.” ***** Included in the app price ***** * SPL Meter A faithful reproduction of a classic analog SPL meter. Includes A and C weighting, and Fast and Slow ANSI decay modes. All filters meet or exceed ANSI type 1. * RTA A 1/3 and octave band Real Time Analyzer. Includes touch-GUI range control, a cursor, max/min bars, and noise curve overlays. * FFT Detailed acoustic analysis, up to 32876 points. View full detail or smooth to 1/24, 1/6, 1/3 or octave. Includes cursor, scalable graphics, and peak tracking. * Polarity Speaker polarity checker. Route the test signal to a speaker, and read the polarity of the speaker on the screen. * CLF Viewer Show loudspeaker data, including plots for impedance, axial response, sensitivity, polar response, and 6dB coverage, and a 3D color balloon plot. * Delay Finder Measures the time it takes for a pulse to return from a speaker. * Generator Generates sine waves, square waves, white and pink noise. * Line Level Tests A line level measurement function and frequency counter. * Audio Scope A dual-channel audio oscilloscope that includes auto-triggering, variable gain and sweep rate, and storage of scope images. * Recorder A mono/stereo audio recorder with WAV and compressed formats and 8k-48k sample rate. Transfer files via WIFI. * File transfer of results via wifi to PC / Mac. * Audio Calculators ***** Optional modules available for purchase from within AudioTools ***** * SoundScope VR - FFT-based audio analyzer with VR. The powerful acoustical analysis module. Includes RTA graphs to 1/48th octave and Spectrograph, and can display VR. * Transfer Function -- Requires 2-channel interface. Two-channel FFT-based measurement. Allows you to analyze sound system performance with music or pink noise as the signal source. * ETC Energy Time Curve. Plot decay of an impulse over time, and compute RT60 time. Internal or External trigger. * Impulse Response Record and analyze an impulse or sine sweep, compute octave and 1/3 octave ETC, T30, C50, C80, CT, Definition. * LARSA Fast and accurate sine-sweep measurement of loudspeakers and rooms. * SPL Pro Digital SPL meter with ANSI Slow, Fast, Peak, and Impulse mode, along with LEQ. Includes A and C weighting, and all 10 octave band filters. * SPL Graph Plot second-by-second SPL level for up to 24 hours, and optionally record the audio. Also, add the optional Octave Band Logging upgrade to elevate this tool to rival any professional logging SPL Meter. * SPL Traffic Light Monitor live sound levels SPL and Leq and see status in a simple green-yellow-red display. * STIPA Speech Intelligibility Meets the current NFPA code standards for testing evac systems and schools. * Speaker Distortion Measure THD+n of any driver. * THD+n (requires iAudioInterface) * Impedance Meter and Plot (requires iAudioInterface) * Phase Meter * Amplitude Sweep

About

dB Volume

Transform your iPhone into a Sound Pressure Level (SPL) meter. Measure environmental noises with adjustable weighting curves and response times, including Leq measurement. Ideal for understanding ambient sound levels.

Highlights
  • Sound Pressure Level (SPL) Meter
  • Adjustable weighting curves (A, B, C, Z)
  • Adjustable response times (Impulse, Slow, Fast)
  • Leq measurement
  • Peak hold function
Features
Read full description

With dB Volume you turn your iPhone into a Sound Pressure Level (SPL) Meter. You can choose between the industry standard weighting curves and response times. Use dB Volume for measuring environmental noises - it offers now Leq measurement! dB Volume features: - response time modes: impulse, slow, fast - weighting functions: A B C Z (unweighted) - peak hold function - Leq measurement We calibrated dB Volume as carefully as possible for all available devices. But: keep in mind, that due to manufacturing tolerances this calibration does not necessarily apply to your device – it’s still an iPhone and not a calibrated measuring instrument!

Screenshots

AudioTools, dB, Sound & Audio4 screens
dB Volume1 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: dB Volume at Free against AudioTools, dB, Sound & Audio's $19.99. dB Volume also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 10) and iOS requirement (12.4 vs 15.0). AudioTools, dB, Sound & Audio's advantage is rating (4.8 vs 3.8) and review sentiment (75% vs 45%). On ads 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

dB Volume is free to download; AudioTools, dB, Sound & Audio costs $19.99 up front. AudioTools, dB, Sound & Audio sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. dB Volume asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

AudioTools, dB, Sound & Audio holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: AudioTools, dB, Sound & Audio has 5.1K ratings behind it against 13, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 75% of AudioTools, dB, Sound & Audio's written reviews are positive against 45% of dB Volume's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

AudioTools, dB, Sound & Audio ships an update fortnightly, dB Volume every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 1, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard9 real differences · 2 level
AudioTools, dB, Sound & Audio versus dB Volume: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAudioTools, dB, Sound & AudiodB Volume
Price$19.99Free — better
Rating4.8 (5.1K ratings) — better3.8 (13 ratings)
Positive reviews75.2% of reviews — better45.0% of reviews
Number of ratings5.1K — better13
Update frequencyFortnightly — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
Best chart rank#31 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS15.012.4 — better
Further details — not scored
Size96 MB19 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAndrew SmithDSP Mobile

Customer experience

AudioTools, dB, Sound & Audio

All ratings5,088 ratings
Positive95.7%
Neutral1.7%
Negative2.6%
Written reviews363 reviews
Positive75.2%
Neutral4.4%
Negative20.4%

dB Volume

All ratings13 ratings
Positive61.5%
Neutral15.4%
Negative23.1%
Written reviews140 reviews
Positive45.0%
Neutral6.4%
Negative48.6%

User reviews

AudioTools, dB, Sound & Audio

From 5.1K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Useful audio tools
  • 🚀 Regularly updated
  • 💡 Industry-standard features
  • 👍 Accurate measurements
  • 👍 Great support

Room to improve

  • 🔒 Many features locked behind paywall
  • 🐛 Buggy iOS port
  • 🔒 Expensive in-app purchases
  • 🐛 Inconsistent functionality
  • 🐛 Microphone issues

dB Volume

From 13 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Easy to use
  • 💰 Free to use
  • 📏 Accurate readings (historically)
  • 🔊 Useful for volume adjustment
  • 💡 Good for quick dB rating

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Stopped working (frequently)
  • ❌ Incompatible with newer iOS/devices
  • 📉 Readings often inaccurate/low
  • ⚠️ Technical for novices
  • 💰 Expensive pro version

Bugs and requests

AudioTools, dB, Sound & Audio

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Crashes on launch
  • Inaccurate SPL and frequency measurements
  • Compatibility issues with iOS updates

Requested features

4 requests
  • Add manual
  • Improve file export and sharing
  • Improve user interface
  • Add support for external microphones

dB Volume

Reported bugs

21 issues
  • Does not open anymore
  • No audio signal
  • Shows "0db"
  • Freezes every time
  • Non responsive
Show 16 more
  • Registers as zero
  • Doesn't receive any sound
  • Displays -2147
  • Starts in negative db
  • Locks up after a minute or two
  • App loads, gets one reading, then never updates
  • Fails to respond to sounds
  • No sound level registering
  • Does absolutely nothing
  • Reads 0db at a rock concert
  • Doesn't seem to work with iOS 9
  • Reads about 40db at silence
  • Inaccurate readings compared to professional meter
  • Tries to force in-app upgrade
  • Different readings on same device/room
  • Half the time does not open

Requested features

7 requests
  • Update for newer iOS versions
  • Improve accuracy
  • Add calibration feature
  • Explain settings/buttons
  • Improve user interface
Show 2 more
  • Add max or average values
  • Make pro version less expensive

In-app purchases

10 purchases

AudioTools, dB, Sound & Audio

Subscriptions1
  • All-In Module Access7 Days trial$9.991 Month
One-time9
  • VU Meter$2.99
  • Polarity Test Module$3.99
  • ETC Module$5.99
Show 6 more
  • Speaker Distortion$5.99
  • SPL Pro Module$7.99
  • SPL Graph Module$9.99
  • SPL Traffic Light$9.99
  • SoundScope VR$24.99
  • IR Module$49.99
None

dB Volume

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is AudioTools, dB, Sound & Audio free?
AudioTools, dB, Sound & Audio costs $19.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is dB Volume free?
dB Volume is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, AudioTools, dB, Sound & Audio or dB Volume?
AudioTools, dB, Sound & Audio is rated higher. AudioTools, dB, Sound & Audio averages 4.8 out of 5 from 5.1K ratings, while dB Volume averages 3.8 from 13 ratings.
Do AudioTools, dB, Sound & Audio or dB Volume have ads?
Neither AudioTools, dB, Sound & Audio nor dB Volume shows ads.
Which is updated more often, AudioTools, dB, Sound & Audio or dB Volume?
AudioTools, dB, Sound & Audio ships an update fortnightly, and dB Volume every 2 months. Most recently, AudioTools, dB, Sound & Audio was updated on November 6, 2026 and dB Volume on November 1, 2026.

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