Comparison

FFT Plot vs Smaart RTA

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

Head to head
About

FFT Plot

This real-time audio analysis app provides precision sound measurement and visualization. It's ideal for detecting sound issues, room tuning, and speaker calibration, offering detailed frequency analysis for musicians and audio professionals.

Highlights
  • Real-time audio analysis
  • Frequency detection
  • Averaging options
  • Window functions
  • Linear and logarithmic scales
  • Weighting options
  • Draggable cursors
Read full description

***** "I use this app to detect sound feedback problems on live show and it became helpful and practic." FFT Plot is a powerful real-time audio analysis app. Designed with musicians and recording engineers in mind, it can also be used by anyone interested in the world of sound. Ideal for room tuning or speaker tuning, the app enables portable, precision audio measurement and visualization. Feature Highlights: ● FFT Size (2048 to 16384 points) ● Fast, Slow and Infinite Averaging ● Window function (Hamming, Hann, Rect) ● Peak Frequency detection ● Linear and Logarithmic scale ● Toggle between Flat, A and C weighting ● Pan to adjust visible dB range ● Draggable cursors ● iPhone X ready Audio credits: "Evening Birdsong" and "Cuckoo" by Benboncan

About

Smaart RTA

Analyze audio in real time with professional-grade tools. Visualize frequency content, manage feedback, and monitor sound pressure levels with precision and ease, all from your mobile device.

Highlights
  • Professional RTA graph with averaging options
  • Spectrograph for feedback and frequency management
  • SPL meter with A & C weighting
  • Adjustable RTA graph settings
  • Plot calibrated levels
  • Target curves
Read full description

Professionals and enthusiasts alike can now access Smaart’s Real Time Analyzer, beautifully rendered Spectrograph, and crystal clear SPL meter without needing to set up a dedicated personal computer to run a desktop version of Smaart*. Smaart RTA is capable of the same accuracy, precision, and ease of use enjoyed by live sound engineers and FOH professionals across the world using the same underlying algorithms as its desktop siblings*, trusted by sound engineers to deliver accurate and actionable data in real time. *PLEASE READ Smaart RTA creates single channel measurements only. It does not support the dual channel transfer function measurements or impulse response measurements used for system alignment and optimization, including time alignment. -- SMAART RTA INCLUDES -- -PROFESSIONAL STANDARD RTA (REAL TIME ANALYZER) GRAPH- The RTA display helps engineers ensure an audio mix or playback balance aligns with the desired tonal response for a specific artist, performance, or specification – providing real-time analysis of frequency content and confidence that you are hearing what you are seeing. Features include: Fast, Slow, None averaging options for graph response ballistics. 1/48, 1/24, 1/12, 1/6, 1/3, 1oct Banding for precision frequency resolution. 1/3 octave x-axis frequency scale for intuitively identifying center frequencies and trends. -BEATIFULLY RENDERED SPECTROGRAPH- The Spectrograph is essential for managing and controlling feedback and identifying problem frequencies, allowing engineers to quickly visualize and address potential issues before they interfere with a performance. Features include: Adjustable dynamic thresholds to customize the amplitude levels represented by the spectrograph. 1000 slices in history, allowing you to ‘rewind’ the display to view events that already happened. Intuitive color palette to represent amplitude level (dark to bright, quiet to loud). -CLEAR SPL DISPLAY WITH DB LEVEL METER- The SPL view helps you ensure audio levels remain consistent from one show to the next or check levels for uniformity across various locations within a venue. Features include: Standard SPL metrics of A & C weighting, with fast and slow response times. NIOSH and OSHA exposure percentages correspond with nationally accepted U.S. recommendations and occupational health and safety guidelines. Large Level Meter display for distant viewing. The default settings for all functions in Smaart RTA mirror those in the desktop version of Smaart v9’s real time single channel measurements. -- ADDITIONAL SMAART RTA PRO FEATURES -- Smaart RTA Pro includes the functionality of Smaart RTA and unlocks all settings and advanced features, including: Adjustable RTA Graph Settings (frequency scaling, bars/lines, line thickness, grid interval, etc) Plot Calibrated Levels to view the RTA graph relative to SPL, rather than Full Scale level only. Target Curves (Cinema X Curves included, or import your own). Capture and store RTA data traces, allowing you to compare multiple responses across different locations or venues. Average multiple stored RTA data traces to view a spatially averaged frequency response. Adjustable RTA graph Y-offsets to apply a visual dB offset to live or captured data. Import/Export RTA files (.srf) to and from Smaart desktop. Additional SPL Traffic Light display for staying within venue SPL Limits. Internal and external microphone calibration for SPL. Due to Apple's distribution policies, free trials require a subscription selection. If you would like to try Smaart RTA before you buy, start with a subscription, then cancel it to avoid billing. Smaart RTA is $1.99p/m, $19.99p/y, or $59.99 Lifetime Smaart RTA Pro is $4.99p/m, $49.99p/y or $149 Lifetime Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://www.rationalacoustics.com/pages/smaart-mobile-apps-privacy-policy-terms-condtions

Screenshots

FFT Plot1 screens
Smaart RTA4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Smaart RTA at Free against FFT Plot's $9.99. Smaart RTA also leads on update cadence (every 2 months vs every 17 months) and ratings volume (429 vs 90). FFT Plot's advantage is review sentiment (84% vs 41%) and in-app purchases (none vs 6). On rating, ads and device support 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

Smaart RTA is free to download; FFT Plot costs $9.99 up front. Smaart RTA sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. FFT Plot asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for FFT Plot against 4.8 for Smaart RTA. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 90 and 429 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 84% of FFT Plot's written reviews are positive against 41% of Smaart RTA's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

FFT Plot ships an update every 17 months, Smaart RTA every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 19, 2026 and October 18, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
FFT Plot versus Smaart RTA: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFFT PlotSmaart RTA
Price$9.99Free — better
Rating4.8 (90 ratings)4.8 (429 ratings)
Positive reviews84.4% of reviews — better40.6% of reviews
Number of ratings90429 — better
Update frequencyEvery 17 monthsEvery 2 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS11.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size7 MB11 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperONYX AppsRational Acoustics LLC

Customer experience

FFT Plot

All ratings90 ratings
Positive93.3%
Neutral2.2%
Negative4.4%
Written reviews109 reviews
Positive84.4%
Neutral6.4%
Negative9.2%

Smaart RTA

All ratings429 ratings
Positive95.3%
Neutral1.4%
Negative3.3%
Written reviews32 reviews
Positive40.6%
Neutral15.6%
Negative43.8%

In-app purchases

None

FFT Plot

No in-app purchases

6 purchases

Smaart RTA

Subscriptions4
  • Smaart RTA - Monthly7 Days trial$1.991 Month
  • Smaart RTA Pro - Monthly7 Days trial$4.991 Month
  • Smaart RTA - Annual7 Days trial$19.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • Smaart RTA Pro - Annual7 Days trial$49.991 Year
One-time2
  • Smaart RTA - Lifetime$59.99
  • Smaart RTA Pro - Lifetime$149.99

Questions

Is FFT Plot free?
FFT Plot costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Smaart RTA free?
Smaart RTA is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, FFT Plot or Smaart RTA?
FFT Plot and Smaart RTA are both rated 4.8 out of 5 on the App Store, from 90 and 429 ratings respectively.
Do FFT Plot or Smaart RTA have ads?
Neither FFT Plot nor Smaart RTA shows ads.
Which is updated more often, FFT Plot or Smaart RTA?
FFT Plot ships an update every 17 months, and Smaart RTA every 2 months. Most recently, FFT Plot was updated on October 19, 2026 and Smaart RTA on October 18, 2026.

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