Comparison

HushStep vs SpecWave

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

Head to head
About

HushStep

Features
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Keep your favorite volume and brightness settings one tap away. Every feature is free. No ads, subscriptions, or account required. FINE MEDIA VOLUME CONTROL Adjust iPhone and iPad media volume with a slider, numeric input, and step buttons. Enter precise values and see system readback; the available precision depends on iOS and the current output device. UNLIMITED PRESETS AND SCENE GROUPS Save as many volume presets as you need, optionally including screen brightness. Organize them into groups for reading, working, bedtime, and more. Removing a group keeps its presets. INDEPENDENT WIDGET CONFIGURATION Existing preset widgets remain available. Each new Custom Scenes widget can independently display a group or up to four selected presets. Interactive widgets require iOS 17 or later and open HushStep to apply settings. BRIGHTNESS CONTROL Attach brightness to a preset and optionally reapply it when returning to HushStep. iOS restores system brightness after the screen locks. HushStep does not lock brightness in the background or disable automatic brightness. LOCAL STORAGE Your presets, groups, and preferences stay on your device. No account is needed. Requires iOS 16 or later.

About

SpecWave

Features
Read full description

Key Features Real-time Spectrum Analysis (See Your Sound) - Instant Visualization: Captures ambient sound via microphone and presents it in beautiful "Line" or "Bar" chart styles, making pitch and volume crystal clear. - Key Data Capture: Displays the current peak frequency and total decibel level in real time, while automatically logging the maximum and minimum decibels for your session. - One-Tap Display Freeze: Tap the spectrum chart anytime to freeze the current frame, allowing you to observe and compare sound details at your own pace. - Multi-Source & Parameter Toggles: Switch between built-in and external microphones with a single tap, and toggle between log/linear frequency axes to suit your needs. - Microphone Gain Control: Easily adjust input sensitivity to your liking. *(Note: This app outputs raw relative values only; for high-precision acoustic measurement, please calibrate with a sound level meter first)* Audio Signal Generation (A Fun Health Check for Headphones & Speakers) - 3 Classic Waveforms: Built-in sine, square, and triangle wave audio signals to instantly turn your phone into a versatile sound transmitter. - Fun Dynamic Frequency Sweeps: Supports fixed frequency playback alongside single, loop, or round-trip dynamic sweep modes. Easily test speaker bass depth or fine-tune audio gear. - Precise Gesture Tuning: Use smooth swipe gestures for silky, precise micro-adjustments to both output frequency and volume gain. Common Use Cases - Measure room insulation or ambient noise decibels at home or in the office. - Test newly purchased headphones or speakers to see if the bass is deep enough and the treble is crisp. - Assist with instrument tuning by viewing the exact sound pitch and frequency. - Explore fun acoustics by playing curious sweep tones with the signal generator.

Screenshots

HushStep2 screens
SpecWave2 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: SpecWave at none against HushStep's 1. SpecWave also leads on update cadence (every 6 days vs every 3 weeks). HushStep's advantage is device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (16 vs 26.0). On price and ads there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price ยท Rating ยท Positive reviews ยท Number of ratings ยท Update frequency ยท Ads ยท In-app purchases ยท Monetization ยท Best chart rank ยท Devices ยท Requires iOS

CostPrice ยท In-app purchases ยท Ads ยท Monetization

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

UpkeepUpdate frequency

HushStep ships an update every 3 weeks, SpecWave every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences ยท 2 level
HushStep versus SpecWave: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHushStepSpecWave
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 6 days โ€” better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo โ€” better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod โ€” betteriPhone
Requires iOS16 โ€” better26.0
Further details โ€” not scored
Size4 MB8 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developerๆœ‰ไผŸ ่‘ฃๆ™“็Žฎ ้ƒญ

In-app purchases

1 purchases

HushStep

One-time1
  • HushStep Pro$0.99
None

SpecWave

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is HushStep free?
HushStep is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is SpecWave free?
SpecWave is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do HushStep or SpecWave have ads?
Neither HushStep nor SpecWave shows ads.
Which is updated more often, HushStep or SpecWave?
HushStep ships an update every 3 weeks, and SpecWave every 6 days. Most recently, HushStep was updated on October 25, 2026 and SpecWave on October 21, 2026.

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