dB Meter & Spectrum Analyzer vs Low Frequency Detector
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
dB Meter & Spectrum Analyzer
Measure ambient noise levels with professional-quality accuracy. This app offers a spectrum analyzer, hearing test, and the ability to save and share measurements with location data. It's a powerful, cost-effective tool for personal sound monitoring.
- Professional-quality sound level measurement
- Integrated spectrum analyzer
- Noise dosimeter (NIOSH/OSHA)
- Photo & video with noise overlay
- Hearing test
- Save and export measurements (CSV/Audio)
- Health App integration
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"The best way to meter sound levels" - AppAdvice Decibel Meter is full of features sound level meter with exclusive accuracy of measurements and integrated spectrum analyzer. Calibrated with professional dB meter. The world is a noisy place: cars, power tools, crowds, machinery, and other common sources produce amounts of noise that can, with continued exposure, lead to permanent hearing loss. Sound level meters are useful for anyone who wants to avoid exposing their ears to harmful noise levels, but who wants to spend hundreds of dollars on one? dB Meter is free app which provides professional-quality measurement results, calibrated using an actual Nor140 high-precision decibel meter. With dB Meter, you can measure ambient noise levels, save your measurements and their locations, and share your measurements with others. dB Meter couples utility with stylish design and a polished user experience: a powerful tool in a sleek package, and at a tiny fraction of the cost of professional sound level meters. (Please note that dB Meter soundmeter app is not a replacement for professional devices and should be used for personal purposes only.) FEATURES: ● Health App integration. Export measured noise levels and audiogram directly to Health app. ● Noise dosimeter regarding NIOSH and OSHA standards ● Photo & video with the noise overlay ● Powerful hearing test ● Saves location data for each measurement. ● Save measurements with custom names and rename existing measurements. ● Export measurements in CSV or Audio format. ● Allows you to save, export and play back recorded measurements. ● Highly accurate measurements. ● Integrated Fully Functional Spectrum Analyzer ● Octave Band Real Time Analyzer ● FFT Plot (Fast Fourier Transform) ● Spectrogram ● Linear and logarithm scales ● Up to 16384 FFT size ● A lot of available window functions ● Tracking for max value ● Max and Min for any selected frequency ● Stunned graphics You can enable or disable noise levels data exporting to Health app in dB Meter Pro app settings. Have any questions or suggestions? Write to us: support@dbmeterpro.com DB Chart 150-160 dB = Eardrum rupture 140 decibel = Aircraft carrier deck. 130 dB = Jet take-off (100 meters), gun blast at close range. 120 dB= Human pain threshold, loud rock concert. 110 decibel = Serious hearing damage if sustained for more than 1 hour. 100 dB = Serious hearing damage if sustained for more than 8 hours. 90 decibel = Likely hearing damage if sustained for more than 8 hours. 80 decibel = Potential but unlikely hearing damage if sustained for more than 8 hours. 70 dB = Just annoying, but probably safe. 60 dB= Typical conversational volume. 50 dB = A quiet, library conversation. 40 decibel = A whisper. 30 dB= Barely audible sound. 20 decibel= Threshold of human hearing.
Low Frequency Detector
This tool measures and analyzes low-frequency sounds that are difficult for the human ear to detect. It helps identify potential noise pollution from sources like construction or factories, providing detailed reports on frequency components and sound levels.
- Low-frequency power level measurement (<100Hz)
- Audible band power level measurement (Leq)
- 1/3 octave band analysis (OCT)
- FFT analysis (FFT)
- Time course graph (TIME)
- Measurement report generation
- Calibration function
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"Low Frequency Detector" is an acoustic measurement tool for detecting low-frequency sounds that is hard to hear in normal situation. The human ear is not sensitive enough to low-frequency sounds. If you are exposed to noise from nearby construction or factories without realizing it, you may feel discomfort or a sense of pressure. In such cases, you can use this app to check what kind of low-frequency noise is present. Generally, low-frequency sounds is a sound wave ranging from 1Hz to 100Hz. Depending on its frequency component and sound level, the degree of influence on the human body and the noise sensation is different. This app allows you to examine the frequency component of low-frequency sounds by 1/3 octave band analysis and FFT analysis. Features: - Low-frequency power level measurement less than 100Hz (LF Level): Flat characteristic, Updating indication of measurement period 1 sec. - Power level measurement in the audible band (Leq): Flat characteristic, Updating indication of measurement period 200ms. - 1/3 octave band analysis (OCT) - FFT analysis (FFT) - Time course graph (TIME) - Snapshot (Snap) on the measurement display screen. - Report function (Report): Analysis report of a peak LF Level with TIME, OCT and FFT. - Measurement time: up to 60 sec Functions: The measurement analysis is performed in the following step. Be sure to set the measurement conditions in Step-1 once before starting the sound measurement. 1) Calibration (Calibrate): The reference signal (1kHz sine wave) is output to determine the reference noise level for the low-frequency component. If the volume level of iPhone is set to about 20-50%, the calibration will automatically adjust it to the optimum volume level for the reference signal. 2) Measurement (Measure): Analyze a power level of low-frequency sounds. - LF Level (dB): Low-frequency power level less than 100Hz. - Leq (dB): Sound power level with the frequency weight characteristic Z (Flat) of the audible band. 3) Measurement display: It can select either 1/3 octave band frequency analysis, FFT analysis or Time course graph. They are updated in real time. 4) Report: Measurement result report. It is effective when measuring for 10 seconds or more. # Time course graph: TIME - Low-frequency (LF) Level (dB): Time course graph with peak level noise level judgment (RED-very noisy, YELLOW-noisy, GREEN-normal) at the peak level. - LF max (dB): maximum dB value of low frequency. # Frequency response graph: OCT, FFT - OCT Band LF max (dB): maximum dB value in 1/3 octave band at LF max observation. - Max Level Frequency (Hz): peak frequency at LF max observation. Notes: - The sound measurement of the low-frequency range is a level difference with respect to the reference signal, which indicates the relative power level. - The reference signal is output during calibration and sound level measurement. - Do not change the volume level of iPhone after the calibration. - White line in the OCT and FFT modes indicates frequency characteristics in frequency weight correction of G characteristics. - Since iPhone's built-in microphone has a lower sensitivity on the very low frequency range, it is not recommended to measure a huge volume sound near a very loud noise source. - Since it takes a while for the observation value to stabilize immediately after the start of measurement, the maximum value is calculated from about 2 seconds later. - In the case high power of 1kHz component is included in the measured noise source, the precision of measured value by this app largely decreases. - Sudden noise or impulsive sounds are not low frequency noises in general. - The previous calibration information can be maintained internally. - The analysis results may vary due to individual differences in iPhone devices. - The authorization to access built-in microphone and Photos will be confirmed by iOS system at first access. Please visit our iOS app support page for more information.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Low Frequency Detector at $9.99 against dB Meter & Spectrum Analyzer's $29.99. Low Frequency Detector also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1). dB Meter & Spectrum Analyzer's advantage is rating (4.7 vs 2.8) and ratings volume (865 vs 6). On ads 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
dB Meter & Spectrum Analyzer costs $29.99 and Low Frequency Detector $9.99 up front. dB Meter & Spectrum Analyzer sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Low Frequency Detector asks for nothing beyond the download.
dB Meter & Spectrum Analyzer holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 2.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: dB Meter & Spectrum Analyzer has 865 ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 66% of dB Meter & Spectrum Analyzer's written reviews are positive against 50% of Low Frequency Detector's.
dB Meter & Spectrum Analyzer ships an update every 4 months, Low Frequency Detector every 9 months. The most recent releases landed on October 18, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | dB Meter & Spectrum Analyzer | Low Frequency Detector |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $29.99 | $9.99 — better |
| Rating | 4.7 (865 ratings) — better | 2.8 (6 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 65.8% of reviews — better | 50.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 865 — better | 6 |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months — better | Every 9 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases — better | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 11.3 — better | 26.2 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 88 MB | 1 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Vlad Polyanskiy | TOON,LLC |
Customer experience
dB Meter & Spectrum Analyzer
Low Frequency Detector
Bugs and requests
dB Meter & Spectrum Analyzer
Reported bugs
7 issues- Crash with iOS 26
- App failed to open on iPad Pro 11
- Will not run
- Video is recorded without sound
- Failing to restore purchase
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- Incompatible with iOS 11
- Filters don't make sense
Requested features
4 requests- Dark mode option
- Advanced analytics dashboard
- Ability to export recorded audio clips
- Frequency display on RTA bar
Low Frequency Detector
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
dB Meter & Spectrum Analyzer
- Spectrum Analyzer Pro$14.99
Low Frequency Detector
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is dB Meter & Spectrum Analyzer free?
Is Low Frequency Detector free?
Which has better reviews, dB Meter & Spectrum Analyzer or Low Frequency Detector?
Do dB Meter & Spectrum Analyzer or Low Frequency Detector have ads?
Which is updated more often, dB Meter & Spectrum Analyzer or Low Frequency Detector?
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