# Decibel X vs EarDial

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.

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.

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | Decibel X | EarDial |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (164K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/decibel-xdb-sound-level-meter/id448155923/reviews)** | [3.9 (9 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/eardial/id1194143337/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **164K** | 9 |
| Positive reviews | **66.3% of reviews** | 57.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 months** | Every 5 months |
| Monetization | Freemium | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#204** | — |
| Size | 90 MB | 15 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **13.4** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [SkyPaw Co., Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1842040687) | [Bitien](https://appshunter.io/developer/1100454154) |

## What reviewers say

### Decibel X

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/decibel-xdb-sound-level-meter/id448155923)

**Currently charting:** #204 Top Free · Utilities (US App Store)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support, iPhone Duo support

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly Membership | $1.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly Membership | $5.99 | per month |
| Annual Membership | $49.99 | per year |
| ITU-R 468, A, B, C Weightings | $1.99 | one-time |
| Data Export | $2.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- ⭐ Excellent app
- 👍 Easy to use and understand
- 🔍 Useful for various applications
- 🎓 Helpful for hearing protection
- 🔧 Accurate and reliable

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Expensive subscription model
- 🔒 Misleading free trial
- 📢 Intrusive ads
- 🤖 Inaccurate readings compared to professional meters
- 🤔 Confusing interface

**Reported bugs**

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

**Requested features**

- 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

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/eardial/id1194143337)

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:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked 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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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*