# Decibel Meter vs Effect

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Effect at none against Decibel Meter's 3. Effect also leads on update cadence (every 4 days vs monthly) and iOS requirement (9.0 vs 16.0). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Decibel Meter sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days. Effect asks for nothing beyond the download.

Decibel Meter ships an update monthly, Effect every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Decibel Meter | Effect |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (54 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/decibel-meter-db-noise-level/id6744018521/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **54** | — |
| Positive reviews | 70.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 4 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 176 MB | 12 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **9.0** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [PaoApps](https://appshunter.io/developer/1746019535) | [GUANDDONG TIANPU TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO.,LTD.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1637560013) |

## What reviewers say

### Decibel Meter

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/decibel-meter-db-noise-level/id6744018521)

This tool transforms your iPhone into a real-time sound level meter. It measures and displays environmental noise in decibels, helping you monitor sound at home, work, or outdoors. Protect your hearing by detecting loud noises and staying aware of your sound environment.

**Highlights:** Real-time decibel measurement, Dynamic graph display, Min/Max/Average sound levels, Measuring timer, Pause and Reset buttons, Noise pollution checks

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly Access with Trial | $2.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly Access | $2.99 | per 7 days |
| Yearly Access | $17.99 | per year |


### Effect

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/effect/id6758289667)

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Decibel Meter free?

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

### Is Effect free?

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

### Do Decibel Meter or Effect have ads?

Neither Decibel Meter nor Effect shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Decibel Meter or Effect?

Decibel Meter ships an update monthly, and Effect every 4 days. Most recently, Decibel Meter was updated on October 21, 2026 and Effect on October 6, 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.*