Comparison

SpectrumView vs TD Snap®

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

Head to head
About

SpectrumView

This app provides real-time audio analysis with a dynamic spectrogram and spectrum analyzer. Visualize audible and inaudible frequencies, measure tones, get feedback on speech, identify sounds, and calibrate instruments. Access recordings and snapshots easily.

Highlights
  • Real-time spectrogram and spectrum analyzer
  • Configurable sample rate and frequency resolution
  • Record, pause, and playback audio files
  • Generate snapshots of spectrum data
  • Web file transfer
  • Tap data cursor for precise frequency and level
  • Musical notes or frequency display on tap
Features
Read full description

SPECTRUMVIEW Visualise, in real time, the frequencies that you can hear around you and even those you cannot with SpectrumView, your dynamic audio companion for iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch. SpectrumView provides a high-quality, real-time spectrogram and spectrum analyser display, with a configurable sample rate and frequency resolution. You can use this application to measure the highest tones you can sing, obtain visual feedback of the frequencies in your speech, identify an annoying sound, calibrate musical instruments and all sorts of acoustic analysis. Here's what it can do for you: · Refresh Spectrogram. Allows users to refresh the spectrogram so that it clears the spectrogram that had already been displayed. · Change min and max scale. Allows users to set their own minimum and maximum scale value on the spectrogram and spectrum analyser view, in both linear and log scale. · Set Recording filename. Recording filenames are editable and the suffix can be set to have an incremental value or date/time. · Generate snapshot of the spectrum data from playback and live recordings. [IAP] · Access recordings and snapshots using the "Files" app. All the data can be easily accessible using the "Files" app that is available from iOS 11. · Web File Transfer. Allows you to access your files from another device using a web browser. [IAP] · Logarithmic scale. Allows you to set either linear or logarithmic frequency scales in the Spectrogram and Spectrum Analyser views. [IAP] · Peak hold. Allows you to freeze and hold the peaks of the frequency envelope (three holds in three distinct colours) in Spectrum Analyser mode. [IAP] · Save location. Never forget where a clip was recorded – uses the devices location services. · Auto lock disabled. During playback and recordings auto lock is disabled to prevent the device from automatically locking (if enabled), for uninterrupted recording/playback · Multiple selectable sample rates from 8,000 Hz to 48,000 Hz · High-frequency resolution with configurable signal analysis window lengths or Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) orders. · Sound intensity represented using a colour spectrum scale from -96 dBFS to 0 dBFS. · Frequency Pinch-to-Zoom. Allows you to zoom into the frequency space to look at a specific tone or frequency. [IAP] · Recording and Playback of Audio Files. Provides a fully functional audio recorder that allows you to record, pause and play back files in high-quality, uncompressed, wave format. · Tap Data Cursor. Allows taps on any part of the Spectrogram or Spectrum Analyser display to obtain the exact frequency in Hertz (Hz) and level in decibels (dB) at that point. · Musical Notes or Frequency Display on Tap. Selectable frequency or musical pitch notation to obtain the cent-accurate musical note e.g. A4 (22), when the display is tapped. · Live Spectrogram and Spectrum Analyser Views of Recorded Files. Files recorded can be played back and the Spectrogram and Spectrum Analyser modes can be used to review the audio. · Sharing Recorded Files by Email or iTunes File-sharing. · High Quality Screenshots. · *Improved* Soundcloud support. Audio files can be uploaded to or downloaded from Soundcloud as well as being able to post audio to Facebook. [IAP] · Playback from iTunes library. Files can now be analysed directly form the iTunes library. · *NEW* Import audio from videos in your device library. · Fullscreen mode. Hide the menu at the bottom of the screen to get even more of the screen dedicated to frequency analysis. · Selectable spectrogram colour scales. You can now select one of 7 colour scales for your spectrogram. · Selectable window functions. You can now see the window function options provided. · Apply gain. A maximum of 24dB gain can be applied to make ‘hard to see’ details easier to view. · Open In. Audio files can be directly opened in SpectrumView. View files sent by email directly in SpectrumView.

About

TD Snap®

This communication software assists individuals with speech and language disabilities by offering symbol-supported and text-based communication options. It features customizable page sets and editing tools, accessible via touch, eye gaze, and switch access. A subscription is required after a trial period.

Highlights
  • Symbol-supported and text-based page sets
  • Customizable editing tools
  • Touch, eye gaze, and switch access
  • Picture Communication Symbols library
  • Visual schedules and timers
  • Cloud-based content syncing
Features
Read full description

TD Snap® is a flexible, robust communication software for people with speech and language disabilities such as autism, cerebral palsy and aphasia. Created by Tobii Dynavox, a leader in augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), TD Snap provides a choice of evidence-based, professionally developed page sets designed to meet different communication needs and preferences, with both symbol-supported and text-based options. TD Snap includes easy-to-use editing tools to create a personalized experience, and is accessible via touch, eye gaze and switch access methods. A monthly subscription is required to enable speech following a 1-month trial period. Tobii Dynavox offers complementary resources to help communicators, caregivers, and professionals succeed with TD Snap. These resources can be found by visiting myTobiiDynavox.com or tobiidynavox.com. Have you purchased a Tobii Dynavox device and looking to use your companion TD Snap license on an iOS device? Download this app and log into myTobiiDynavox in the start-up wizard. Customizable TD Snap Page Sets: • Core First: A symbol-supported page set enabling a path to literacy at any stage of language development, now also available in High contrast • Motor Plan: A symbol-supported page set enabling efficient language acquisition at any age, custom designed for both touch and eye gaze • Express: A symbol-supported page set to help people express themselves using theme-based phrases and words, now also available in bilingual Spanish/English • Text: A page set for those who are literate or transitioning from symbol supports to literacy • Scanning: A page set for those who use scanning as their primary access method, • Aphasia: A page set to help adults with aphasia communicate while also supporting language recovery , now also available in bilingual Spanish/English • PODD*: A page set based on the Pragmatic Organization Dynamic Display vocabulary strategy, developed by AAC expert Gayle Porter • Gateway*: A page set based on the Gateway vocabulary strategy, developed by Joan Bruno *Denotes in-app purchase of an additional monthly subscription per page or symbol set. Developed by a third party. Powerful Set of Integrated TD Snap Tools: • Editing: An intuitive editing tool to help customize buttons to meet a communicator’s unique needs • Diversity: A variety of diversity settings that let you customize skin tone, hair shades, and more • PCS: A built-in library of over 75,000 Picture Communication Symbols translated into over 25 languages • Search: A search bar to locate words and symbols with an easy and accessible path to find them • Visual Supports: A set of supports like visual schedules, timers, and scripts • Google Assistant: An integrated tool enabling symbol-supported access to Google Assistant • QuickFires: A set of commonly used pre-programmed phrases to make communication smoother • myTobiiDynavox: A cloud-based resource for backing up, sharing, and syncing customized content. How Subscriptions Work Following the 1-month free trial, your Apple ID payment method on file will automatically be charged monthly unless you cancel 24 hours before the trial ends. Subsequent monthly payments will be charged to your Apple ID payment method 24 hours before the end of each period. Your subscriptions are managed in account settings on the App Store. TD Snap® is a trademark and registered trademark of Tobii Dynavox AB. Tobii Dynavox cannot guarantee compatibility of TD Snap with any non-Tobii Dynavox brand of hardware and will not offer technical support for compatibility issues. All downloads are governed by TD Snap License Agreement for Download.

Screenshots

SpectrumView4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: TD Snap® at 4.2 against SpectrumView's 3.1. TD Snap® also leads on update cadence (every 2 months vs every 10 months) and ratings volume (810 vs 74). SpectrumView's advantage is monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription) and review sentiment (63% vs 30%). On price, ads and in-app purchases 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. SpectrumView sells 7 one-off in-app purchases and TD Snap® sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

TD Snap® holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 3.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: TD Snap® has 810 ratings behind it against 74, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 63% of SpectrumView's written reviews are positive against 30% of TD Snap®'s, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SpectrumView ships an update every 10 months, TD Snap® every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and September 26, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
SpectrumView versus TD Snap®: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSpectrumViewTD Snap®
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.1 (74 ratings)4.2 (810 ratings) — better
Positive reviews63.0% of reviews — better29.6% of reviews
Number of ratings74810 — better
Update frequencyEvery 10 monthsEvery 2 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterSubscription
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPad
Requires iOS9.0 — better13.0
Further details — not scored
Size17 MB3.4 GB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperOxford Wave Research Ltd.Tobii Dynavox LLC

Customer experience

SpectrumView

All ratings74 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral8.1%
Negative41.9%
Written reviews162 reviews
Positive63.0%
Neutral9.9%
Negative27.2%

TD Snap®

All ratings810 ratings
Positive77.5%
Neutral6.0%
Negative16.4%
Written reviews142 reviews
Positive29.6%
Neutral6.3%
Negative64.1%

User reviews

SpectrumView

From 74 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Accurate and reliable spectrogram visualization
  • 🎯 Highly configurable FFT and sampling settings
  • 🎨 Beautiful and intuitive user interface
  • 📊 Excellent for analyzing speech, music, and animal sounds
  • ⚙️ Useful for professional audio calibration and research

Room to improve

  • 💰 Aggressive in-app purchase model for basic features
  • 🔐 Unexplained location permission requests
  • 📉 Linear frequency scale wastes screen space
  • ⏱️ Slow app startup times
  • 🎯 Limited frequency range (8kHz cap in recent versions)

TD Snap®

From 810 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Easy to use
  • 👍 Customizable
  • 🚀 Intuitive navigation
  • 👍 Helpful supports and features
  • 🚀 Flexible and robust

Room to improve

  • 🔒 Subscription model for voice
  • 🐛 Voice issues after updates
  • 💰 Expensive subscription
  • 🔒 Removing previously paid features
  • 🐛 Crashes and bugs

Bugs and requests

SpectrumView

Reported bugs

11 issues
  • App crashes on startup after updates
  • Crashes when attempting to zoom on spectrograms
  • Crashes when playing files from iTunes library
  • Microphone hijacking error messages
  • Pinch-to-zoom and pan features not functioning properly
Show 6 more
  • App freezes when backgrounded
  • Spectrogram resets when rotating device orientation
  • Audio plays through speaker instead of headphones
  • Blank screen with no display output
  • Incompatibility with older iOS versions
  • Requires in-app purchase prompts for all features after iCloud restore

Requested features

13 requests
  • Logarithmic frequency scale for audio analysis
  • Adjustable time scale/window for spectrograms
  • Ability to analyze audio from music library/iTunes
  • Longer-term averaging for spectrum analyzer
  • A-weighting frequency selection
Show 8 more
  • Batch delete option for recordings
  • Real-time audio input from playing songs
  • Metadata storage (timestamp, location) in WAV files
  • SPL meter functionality
  • 3D display option
  • Adjustable color range for spectrogram
  • Auto-readout of highest amplitude frequency
  • Higher frequency range support (above 20kHz)

TD Snap®

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Voice disappearing after updates
  • Crashes on launch
  • Incompatibility with iPad Pro
  • Inability to restore purchased content

Requested features

5 requests
  • Ability to change undo symbol
  • Link to ACCIL image database
  • Ability to set user age for appropriate vocabulary
  • More robust core vocabulary
  • Easier grammar modeling

In-app purchases

7 purchases

SpectrumView

One-time7
  • Enable peak hold$0.99
  • Access iTunes and SoundCould$0.99
  • Generate data snapshot$0.99
Show 4 more
  • Enable Log Scale$1.99
  • Disable recording length limit$1.99
  • Enable pinch to zoom$1.99
  • Enable Web File Transfer$1.99
10 purchases

TD Snap®

Subscriptions4
  • Gateway Monthly1 Month trial$4.991 Month
  • PODD Monthly1 Month trial$4.991 Month
  • Metacom Monthly1 Month trial$4.991 Month
Show 1 more
  • Speaking Upgrade Monthly1 Month trial$9.991 Month
One-time6
  • Acapela Voices$39.99
  • Nuance Voices$39.99
  • Speaking Upgrade$49.99
Show 3 more
  • METACOM Symbols$49.99
  • PODD Page Sets$149.99
  • Gateway Page Sets$149.99

Questions

Is SpectrumView free?
SpectrumView is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is TD Snap® free?
TD Snap® is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, SpectrumView or TD Snap®?
TD Snap® is rated higher. SpectrumView averages 3.1 out of 5 from 74 ratings, while TD Snap® averages 4.2 from 810 ratings.
Do SpectrumView or TD Snap® have ads?
Neither SpectrumView nor TD Snap® shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SpectrumView or TD Snap®?
SpectrumView ships an update every 10 months, and TD Snap® every 2 months. Most recently, SpectrumView was updated on September 21, 2026 and TD Snap® on September 26, 2026.

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