# Decibel X vs Tailscale

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Tailscale at none against Decibel X's 5. Tailscale also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 3 months) and chart position (#56 vs unranked). Decibel X's advantage is ratings volume (164K vs 778) and rating (4.6 vs 4.4). On price, review sentiment, 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. Tailscale asks for nothing beyond the download.

Decibel X holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Decibel X has 164K ratings behind it against 778, 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 61% of Tailscale's.

Decibel X ships an update every 3 months, Tailscale fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on November 5, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Decibel X | Tailscale |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (164K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/decibel-xdb-sound-level-meter/id448155923/reviews)** | [4.4 (778 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tailscale/id1470499037/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **164K** | 778 |
| Positive reviews | **66.3% of reviews** | 60.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Freemium | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | — | **#56** |
| Size | 90 MB | 29 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **16.6** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, Apple TV |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [SkyPaw Co., Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1842040687) | [Tailscale Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1470499035) |

## What reviewers say

### Decibel X

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

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


### Tailscale

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tailscale/id1470499037)

**Currently charting:** #56 Top Free · Utilities (US App Store)

Securely connect devices, workloads, and users to any internet resource. This platform uses identity to control access, creating a modern mesh network that enhances security and performance. It's hardware-agnostic and integrates with numerous technologies.

**Highlights:** Identity-based access control, Mesh networking architecture, Zero Trust security, Hardware-agnostic deployment, Integrates with 100+ technologies, Supports multiple environments

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to set up and use
- 🔒 Secure remote access
- 👍 Convenient for accessing home network
- 👍 Seamless connectivity between devices
- 🚀 Powerful networking features

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔋 Significant battery drain
- 🐛 Connectivity issues and bugs
- 🐛 Unreliable performance
- 🐛 Broken functionality after updates

**Reported bugs**

- Inability to connect or authenticate
- Exit node feature not working as expected
- Inconsistent behavior when switching networks
- App getting stuck in a loading state

**Requested features**

- On-demand VPN connection
- Ability to switch between multiple accounts
- More granular control over exit nodes
- Integration with other networking tools
- Dark mode option


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Decibel X free?

Decibel X is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Tailscale free?

Tailscale is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Decibel X or Tailscale?

Decibel X is rated higher. Decibel X averages 4.6 out of 5 from 164K ratings, while Tailscale averages 4.4 from 778 ratings.

### Do Decibel X or Tailscale have ads?

Neither Decibel X nor Tailscale shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Decibel X or Tailscale?

Decibel X ships an update every 3 months, and Tailscale fortnightly. Most recently, Decibel X was updated on November 5, 2026 and Tailscale on November 3, 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.*