logSPL vs Ham Listening
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
logSPL
This app functions as a sophisticated sound level meter, offering both basic and advanced features for measuring noise. It allows users to adjust update rates, select weighting types, and view historical data and real-time histograms. Calibration is recommended for optimal accuracy.
- Sound level measurement
- Adjustable update rates (fast/slow)
- Weighting options (A, C, Z)
- Min/max value monitoring
- Average value computation (Leq)
- Historical curve with grid
- Real-time histogram
- Dosemetering capabilities
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This App is a full featured sound level meter, designed by a signal processing expert. It is iPhone/iPod/iPad compatible and adapts itself to the actual screen resolutions ("HD", "retina"). It consists in two parts: half top for basic features, half bottom for advanced ones (L95, %D, ...). Half top was thus designed to be extremely easy to use. Only two settings are requested: * select 'fast' or 'slow' update rate, which corresponds to 2 different integration periods * select the type of weighting: A or C or Z (Z meaning roughly: no filtering) These settings are saved when exiting the App. Some tips for weighting: * select A to evaluate the feeling of a person against a noise * select Z to balance an audio system Supports upside-down orientation. The min and max values are monitored and displayed in green in the upper view. An average value (Leq, LAeq, ...) is computed on top of this: the green triangle. Take care that this latter corresponds to the logarithm of the average power and not to the average of logarithm values, which is completely different. Integration time for this average value is: all time since start-up of the App or last reset. To reset these extreme and average values, touch the text named RESET. Bottom view is used to display an historical curve. A grid is visible, with lines every 10dB vertical and 10s horizontal. Half bottom now: * a real-time histogram is displayed on left side * it can compute L%: L95, L50, ... * it can make some dosemetering: for this you need to set threshold, criterion and exchange values. This is for advanced users due to the complexity of underlying concepts As for all sound-meter (at any price, hardware or software), you should calibrate it against a reference in order to achieve best accuracy. For this go to Mic. tab to add or remove a fixed offset to the measured values. Any question ? Click on the Facebook icon !
Ham Listening
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Ham Listening turns your phone into a window on the world's radio. Browse hundreds of public KiwiSDR receivers around the globe and tune the shortwave and amateur bands live — no radio, no antenna and no licence required. LISTEN ANYWHERE • Browse hundreds of public KiwiSDR receivers hosted by operators worldwide • Pick a receiver by country, then by source — or let "Best available" jump to the strongest open one • Receivers near your grid are sorted first once you enter your locator • Hear CW, SSB and distant broadcasters, and find out how the bands really sound from another continent • A bundled receiver list means the picker still works when the live directory is having a bad day TUNE LIKE A RADIO • A live waterfall with a fixed centre cursor — drag the waterfall under it to tune, pinch to zoom, tap to jump • AM, LSB, USB, CW and NFM demodulation, each with the right passband applied for you • A band-plan overlay showing what each part of the band is for, in IARU Region 1, 2 or 3 • An S-meter and a live audio-FFT spectrum for receivers that offer no wideband waterfall • Save frequency marks and jump straight back to them • Direct frequency entry, step keys and adjustable volume BUILT TO KEEP PLAYING • Audio keeps running when you switch apps or lock the screen • Reconnects gracefully on its own when a stream drops • Works over Wi-Fi or mobile data, and runs on modest data using compressed audio • Remembers the receiver, frequency and mode you were last on • Light and dark themes, adjustable font size, weekly tips and in-app version history • No account, no sign-up, no ads, no analytics and no tracking PERFECT FOR • Shortwave listeners and DXers with no antenna space • Licensed operators checking how their band sounds from the other side of the world • Anyone curious about radio who does not own a receiver • Travellers, apartment dwellers and anyone in a high-noise location • Teachers and clubs demonstrating HF propagation live PRIVACY • Your callsign, grid and email are stored only on your device. • No account, no sign-up, no ads, no analytics SDKs, no advertising ID and no tracking of any kind. 73 de A41UX Yousuf AL Balushi — Unixeer, Oman
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Ham Listening at Free against logSPL's $1.99. Ham Listening also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 4 months). On ads, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement 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
Ham Listening is free to download; logSPL costs $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
logSPL ships an update every 4 months, Ham Listening every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and September 29, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | logSPL | Ham Listening |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 1 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.2 | 15.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 1 MB | 22 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Fabien Lefebvre | Yousif AL Balushi |
In-app purchases
logSPL
No in-app purchases
Ham Listening
No in-app purchases





