# Decibel：Sound Meter vs SPL Meter

The clearest difference is rating: SPL Meter at 4.5 against Decibel：Sound Meter's 3.8. SPL Meter also leads on ads (none vs shown). Decibel：Sound Meter's advantage is update cadence (every 11 days vs every 5 weeks) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). On price, ratings volume, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Decibel：Sound Meter sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days and SPL Meter sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

SPL Meter holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 6 and 11 respectively.

Decibel：Sound Meter ships an update every 11 days, SPL Meter every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 3, 2026 and October 11, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Decibel：Sound Meter | SPL Meter |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.8 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/decibelsound-meter/id6473146362/reviews) | **[4.5 (11 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spl-meter-dbtracker/id6742470686/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 6 | **11** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 11 days** | Every 5 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 33 MB | 9 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [ZHHUALIUON INC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1686696259) | [金红 李](https://appshunter.io/developer/1781133144) |

## What reviewers say

### Decibel：Sound Meter

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/decibelsound-meter/id6473146362)

This application offers real-time decibel measurements with high precision. It provides detailed reports, location data, and the ability to share or export audio measurements. Users can also utilize a real-time decibel camera feature.

**Highlights:** Real-time decibel measurement, High precision, Location data, Decibel camera, Measurement reports, Data sharing, Audio data export

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly membership | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly membership | $4.99 | per month |
| Annual membership | $14.99 | per year |


### SPL Meter

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spl-meter-dbtracker/id6742470686)

This tool measures ambient noise levels in real-time, providing decibel readings to help you understand noise intensity and protect your hearing. It features an intuitive gauge, explanations of noise levels, and recording capabilities to track variations across locations and times.

**Highlights:** Real-time decibel measurement, Intuitive gauge display, Noise level explanations, Recording functionality, Track noise variations, Hearing protection guidance

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlimited access | $1.99 | per 7 days |
| Unlimited access | $9.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Decibel：Sound Meter free?

Decibel：Sound Meter is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is SPL Meter free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Decibel：Sound Meter or SPL Meter?

SPL Meter is rated higher. Decibel：Sound Meter averages 3.8 out of 5 from 6 ratings, while SPL Meter averages 4.5 from 11 ratings.

### Do Decibel：Sound Meter or SPL Meter have ads?

Decibel：Sound Meter shows ads; SPL Meter does not.

### Which is updated more often, Decibel：Sound Meter or SPL Meter?

Decibel：Sound Meter ships an update every 11 days, and SPL Meter every 5 weeks. Most recently, Decibel：Sound Meter was updated on October 3, 2026 and SPL Meter on October 11, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*