# dB vs SoundTrace

The clearest difference is review sentiment: SoundTrace at 100% against dB's 39%. SoundTrace also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 5 months). dB's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and iOS requirement (16.0 vs 18.0). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. SoundTrace sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. dB asks for nothing beyond the download.

dB ships an update every 5 months, SoundTrace every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 19, 2026 and October 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | dB | SoundTrace |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/soundtrace-decibel-meter-db/id6746351315/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **2** |
| Positive reviews | 39.4% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 6 MB | 2 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 18.0 |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad** |
| Age rating | 4+ | +4 |
| Developer | [Kurenz Music GbR](https://appshunter.io/developer/544695186) | [Tapronix](https://appshunter.io/developer/1814479334) |

## What reviewers say

### dB

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/db-meter/id635309215)

This application measures sound pressure levels in decibels using a retro-style design. It displays both average and peak levels in real-time, with digital readouts alongside analog meters.

**Highlights:** Measures sound pressure in decibels (dB), Retro-style analog display, Real-time average and peak level readings, Digital value readout, High-frequency sampling (44.1 kHz)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### SoundTrace

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/soundtrace-decibel-meter-db/id6746351315)

Measure, visualize, and record ambient sound levels with clear decibel readings. This tool offers real-time monitoring, session logging with timestamped graphs, and the ability to export detailed reports. It's designed for various environments, from home to professional settings.

**Highlights:** Live decibel meter, Internal/external mic selection, Waveform and line graph visualization, Session logging with stats, Microphone calibration, PDF export of session reports

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro Version Upgrade | $2.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is dB free?

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

### Is SoundTrace free?

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

### Do dB or SoundTrace have ads?

Neither dB nor SoundTrace shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, dB or SoundTrace?

dB ships an update every 5 months, and SoundTrace every 3 weeks. Most recently, dB was updated on October 19, 2026 and SoundTrace on October 5, 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.*