Comparison

Decibel X vs EarDial

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

Head to head
About

Decibel X

This tool transforms your device into a professional sound level meter, offering precise measurements of ambient noise. It features advanced calibration, frequency analysis, and data management for various applications, from personal curiosity to professional use.

Highlights
  • Pre-calibrated sound pressure level (SPL) measurements
  • Frequency weighting filters (dBA, dBC, ITU-R 468)
  • Apple Watch and Health App integration
  • History data management with export options
  • Dosimeter with NIOSH, OSHA standards
  • FFT and BAR graphs for real-time frequency analysis
  • InstaDecibel for sharing dB reports on photos
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

"Decibel X" is one of very few noise meter apps on the market that has highly reliable, pre-calibrated measurements and supports dBA, dBC. It turns your iOS device into a professional sound level meter, precisely measures the sound pressure level (SPL) all around you. This extremely useful and beautiful tool will not only be a great tool for many uses but also bring you a lot of fun. Have you wondered how quiet is your room or how loud is a rock concert or sport event? "Decibel X" will help you answer all of those. WHAT MAKE IT GREAT AND STAND OUT FROM OTHER APPS: - Trusted accuracy: the app is tested and pre calibrated for all Apple devices. The precision is matching with real SPL devices - Apple Watch support: see noise level right from your wrist - Health App integration: export noise levels directly into Health app - Frequency weighting filters: ITU-R 468, A, B, C, Z - Powerful, smart history data management: + Recording data can be saved into a list of history records for future access and analysis + Each record can be exported as hi-res PNG graph or CSV text via sharing services + iCloud support which synchronize all history records across your Apple devices + Fullscreen mode to give overview the whole history of an record - Dosimeter with NIOSH, OSHA standards - Powerful calibration: Linear, Octave 1/1, 1/3, Load/save profile - FFT and BAR graphs to display real time FFT. Those are very useful for frequency analysis and musical tests. Real time predominant frequency is also displayed. - InstaDecibel to capture your dB report overlaid on photos and easily shared via popular social networks (Facebook, Instagram, Messages, etc.). - Support Live Activity, Dynamic Island - Support both Portrait and Landscape layouts - Beautiful, intuitive and carefully crafted UI design. Themes: LIGHT, DARK and CLASSIC OTHER GREAT FEATURES: - Standard time weightings (Response Time): SLOW (500 milliseconds), FAST (200 milliseconds) AND IMPULSE (50 milliseconds) - MIC Gain Offset from -50 dB to 50 dB - Standard measurement range from 30 dBA up to 130 dBA - HISTO graph for plotted history of the recorded values - WAVE graph with 2 display modes: Rolling & Buffer - SPECTROGRAPH - Real time scale level chart - Display Current, Average/Leq, and Max values with both nice and clear digital and analog layouts - Quick reference text to help you compare with real-life examples NOTES: - Please do not expect a quiet room reading will be 0 dBA. The range 30-130 dBA is the standard usable range and an average quiet room will be about 30 dBA. - Although all devices are pre-calibrated, custom calibration is suggested for serious purposes requiring higher precision and accuracy. You will need a real external device or calibrated sound meter as a reference, then adjust the trimming calibration until the reading matches with the reference. * Privacy Policy: http://www.skypaw.com/decibelx/privacy_policy.html * EULA: http://www.skypaw.com/decibelx/terms.html

About

EarDial

This app measures the sound level around you and estimates how long you can safely stay exposed before risking hearing loss. It provides educational information on decibels and noise exposure, and can adjust calculations if you are wearing compatible earplugs.

Highlights
  • Measures ambient sound levels
  • Calculates safe exposure time
  • Provides decibel scale information
  • Explains noise dose formula
  • Adjusts for earplug attenuation
  • Device calibration
Features
Read full description

Know the sound level around you, and how long you can stay safely. This app will tell you the approximate sound level pressure you are currently exposed to, and it will tell you how long you can stay at that level without risk of hearing loss. You can find inside more information about the decibel scale, the noise dose formula, attenuation standards, and more. This app was developed as a free companion for EarDial HiFi Earplugs - Invisible High Fidelity Hearing Protection, but it is useful even if you are not an owner of EarDial earplugs. You can compare the results if you are wearing EarDial earplugs or not. When you activate the EarDial switch, it will adjust the calculations based on the EarDial attenuation levels. You will be able to calibrate the app to your specific device if necessary. More information how to do that inside.

Screenshots

Decibel X4 screens
EarDial2 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Decibel X at 4.6 against EarDial's 3.9. Decibel X also leads on ratings volume (164K vs 9) and chart position (#204 vs unranked). EarDial's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 5) and iOS requirement (13.4 vs 17.0). On price, update cadence, 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

Both are free to download. Decibel X sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days. EarDial asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Decibel X holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Decibel X has 164K ratings behind it against 9, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 66% of Decibel X's written reviews are positive against 57% of EarDial's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Decibel X ships an update every 3 months, EarDial every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 26, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
Decibel X versus EarDial: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDecibel XEarDial
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (164K ratings) — better3.9 (9 ratings)
Positive reviews66.3% of reviews — better57.1% of reviews
Number of ratings164K — better9
Update frequencyEvery 3 months — betterEvery 5 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFreemiumFree — better
Best chart rank#204 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple WatchiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS17.013.4 — better
Further details — not scored
Size90 MB15 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSkyPaw Co., LimitedBitien

Customer experience

Decibel X

All ratings163,488 ratings
Positive92.2%
Neutral3.5%
Negative4.3%
Written reviews1,925 reviews
Positive66.3%
Neutral5.5%
Negative28.2%

EarDial

All ratings9 ratings
Positive66.7%
Neutral11.1%
Negative22.2%
Written reviews7 reviews
Positive57.1%
Neutral14.3%
Negative28.6%

Bugs and requests

Decibel X

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • App crashes when deleting recordings
  • Microphone issues on certain devices
  • Saved files not accessible after updates

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add GPS coordinates to recordings
  • Improve reporting and data export
  • Provide more weighting options
  • Extend frequency range
  • Allow music playback while using the app

EarDial

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

5 purchases

Decibel X

Subscriptions3
  • Weekly Membership$1.997 Days
  • Monthly Membership$5.991 Month
  • Annual Membership3 Days trial$49.991 Year
One-time2
  • ITU-R 468, A, B, C Weightings$1.99
  • Data Export$2.99
None

EarDial

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Decibel X free?
Decibel X is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is EarDial free?
EarDial is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Decibel X or EarDial?
Decibel X is rated higher. Decibel X averages 4.6 out of 5 from 164K ratings, while EarDial averages 3.9 from 9 ratings.
Do Decibel X or EarDial have ads?
Neither Decibel X nor EarDial shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Decibel X or EarDial?
Decibel X ships an update every 3 months, and EarDial every 5 months. Most recently, Decibel X was updated on November 1, 2026 and EarDial on October 26, 2026.

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