# dB Volume vs Spectrum Analyzer The clearest difference is review sentiment: dB Volume at 44% against Spectrum Analyzer's 5%. dB Volume also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 13) and ads (none vs shown). Spectrum Analyzer's advantage is rating (4.2 vs 3.8) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 2 months). On price and device support there is nothing between them. Both are free to download. Spectrum Analyzer sells 13 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. dB Volume asks for nothing beyond the download. Spectrum Analyzer holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Spectrum Analyzer has 197 ratings behind it against 13, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 44% of dB Volume's written reviews are positive against 5% of Spectrum Analyzer's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about. dB Volume ships an update every 2 months, Spectrum Analyzer fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on August 28, 2026 and September 26, 2026 respectively. ## The numbers | Metric | dB Volume | Spectrum Analyzer | | --- | --- | --- | | Price | Free | Free | | Rating | [3.8 (13 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/db-volume/id457245262/reviews) | **[4.2 (197 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spectrum-analyzer-spectrogram/id981810895/reviews)** | | Number of ratings | 13 | **197** | | Positive reviews | **44.2% of reviews** | 5.0% of reviews | | In-app purchases | **No** | Yes | | Ads | **No** | Yes | | Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Fortnightly** | | Monetization | **Free** | Freemium | | Size | 19 MB | 132 MB | | Requires iOS | **12.4** | 16.0 | | Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad | | Age rating | 4+ | 4+ | | Developer | [DSP Mobile](https://appshunter.io/developer/454225356) | [Music Breath](https://appshunter.io/developer/1140008995) | ## What reviewers say ### dB Volume [App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/db-volume/id457245262) 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:** Vision Pro support **In-app purchases:** none **What reviewers like** - 👍 Easy to use - 💰 Free to use - 📏 Accurate readings (historically) - 🔊 Useful for volume adjustment - 💡 Good for quick dB rating **What reviewers complain about** - 🐛 Stopped working (frequently) - ❌ Incompatible with newer iOS/devices - 📉 Readings often inaccurate/low - ⚠️ Technical for novices - 💰 Expensive pro version **Reported bugs** - Does not open anymore - No audio signal - Shows "0db" - Freezes every time - Non responsive **Requested features** - Update for newer iOS versions - Improve accuracy - Add calibration feature - Explain settings/buttons - Improve user interface ### 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 dB Volume free? dB Volume is free to download, with no in-app purchases. ### Is Spectrum Analyzer free? Spectrum Analyzer is free to download, with in-app purchases available. ### Which has better reviews, dB Volume or Spectrum Analyzer? Spectrum Analyzer is rated higher. dB Volume averages 3.8 out of 5 from 13 ratings, while Spectrum Analyzer averages 4.2 from 197 ratings. ### Do dB Volume or Spectrum Analyzer have ads? Spectrum Analyzer shows ads; dB Volume does not. ### Which is updated more often, dB Volume or Spectrum Analyzer? dB Volume ships an update every 2 months, and Spectrum Analyzer fortnightly. Most recently, dB Volume was updated on August 28, 2026 and Spectrum Analyzer on September 26, 2026. --- *Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*