# Oscilloscope vs Spectrum Analyzer

Oscilloscope and Spectrum Analyzer both sit at 4.1 stars, but that hides the real split: 72% of Oscilloscope's written reviews are positive against 5% of Spectrum Analyzer's. Oscilloscope also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 13) and ads (none vs shown). Spectrum Analyzer's advantage is price (Free vs $19.99) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 8 months). On rating, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Spectrum Analyzer is free to download; Oscilloscope costs $19.99 up front. Spectrum Analyzer sells 13 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Oscilloscope asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.1 for Oscilloscope against 4.2 for Spectrum Analyzer. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Spectrum Analyzer has 197 ratings behind it against 19, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 72% of Oscilloscope's written reviews are positive against 5% of Spectrum Analyzer's.

Oscilloscope ships an update every 8 months, Spectrum Analyzer fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Oscilloscope | Spectrum Analyzer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $19.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.1 (19 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/oscilloscope/id388636804/reviews) | **[4.2 (197 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spectrum-analyzer-spectrogram/id981810895/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 19 | **197** |
| Positive reviews | **71.7% of reviews** | 5.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 8 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Freemium** |
| Size | 8 MB | 132 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16 | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [ONYX Apps](https://appshunter.io/developer/356553882) | [Music Breath](https://appshunter.io/developer/1140008995) |

## What reviewers say

### Oscilloscope

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/oscilloscope/id388636804)

Analyze audio and analog signals with a portable oscilloscope. Features include waveform display, triggering controls, and a built-in signal generator for various waveforms. Supports external input for more advanced measurements.

**Highlights:** Real-time waveform display, Triggering modes, Signal measurement cursors, Built-in signal generator, Dual channel input support, Reference signal calibration, Export traces as text file

**In-app purchases:** none


### 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 Oscilloscope free?

Oscilloscope costs $19.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Spectrum Analyzer free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Oscilloscope or Spectrum Analyzer?

Spectrum Analyzer is rated higher. Oscilloscope averages 4.1 out of 5 from 19 ratings, while Spectrum Analyzer averages 4.2 from 197 ratings.

### Do Oscilloscope or Spectrum Analyzer have ads?

Spectrum Analyzer shows ads; Oscilloscope does not.

### Which is updated more often, Oscilloscope or Spectrum Analyzer?

Oscilloscope ships an update every 8 months, and Spectrum Analyzer fortnightly. Most recently, Oscilloscope 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.*