dB Meter & Spectrum Analyzer vs SoundMeter X
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.
SoundMeter X
Transform your device into a professional sound level meter, noise dosimeter, and spectrum analyzer. Log data, calibrate sensitivity, and analyze audio with advanced features. Offers a free trial for premium functionalities.
- Handheld data-logging sound level meter
- Data-logging noise dosimeter
- Real-time octave spectrum analyzer
- Multi-channel data recorder
- Stereo signal generator
- Sensitivity calibration
- Data logging in CSV, TXT, MAT, and PDF
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SoundMeter X turns your iPhone or iPad into a handheld data-logging sound level meter (SLM), data-logging noise dosimeter, stereo signal generator, multi-channel data recorder, and real-time whole or 1/3 octave band spectrum analyzer (subscription or perpetual license required for most features--14-day free trial available). Input signals can be acquired from any available audio input path. Sensitivity calibration can also be performed for any audio input device and/or input channel. Direct hardware support (automatic sensitivity calibration, based on factory-defined values) for The Modal Shop’s 2-channel 485B39 USB-ICP interface and miniDSP’s UMIK-1, UMIK-2, and EARS microphones. In addition to real-time sound level measurements, SoundMeter can stream raw sound data to audio files, and store acquired sound level data, including date, time, and location, in CSV or TXT (tab-delimited) files, MAT-files, or high-resolution PDF images for later retrieval from your device. SoundMeter may be downloaded for free from the App Store. Additional tools and features are offered via in-app purchase. The SoundMeter Pro subscription includes: - User-defined custom metadata in saved audio and data files - Level MeterLp, Leq, Lx sound levels -- Standard Flat, A, C frequency weighting -- Standard Fast, Slow, Impulse time weighting -- Data logging. Data can be logged as often as every 0.1 seconds for up to 8 hours, every second for up to 72 hours, or every 10 seconds for up to two weeks. -- Event notifications - Max Levels Meter -- Traffic-light-style meters make it easy to monitor 2 separate sound level thresholds in 2 independent user-defined frequency bands. -- Define lower (warning) and higher (limit) sound level thresholds for overall (full audio band) levels as well as for individual octave frequency bands. -- Store user-defined thresholds in files for later recall. - Noise Dosimeter -- 8-hour Noise Dose, Projected Dose, TWA calculations -- Criterion Levels: 80, 85, 90 dB -- Exchange Rates: 3, 4, 5 dB -- Data logging. Data can be logged as often as every 0.1 seconds for up to 8 hours, every second for up to 72 hours, or every 10 seconds for up to two weeks. - Real-time Octave Spectrum Analyzer (RTA) -- Lp, Leq, Lx sound levels -- Supports whole or 1/3-octave frequency bands -- Standard Flat, A, C frequency weighting -- Standard Fast, Slow, Impulse time weighting -- NC, RNC, and NR references curves, NC, SIL, and NR values -- Data logging. Data can be logged as often as every 0.1 seconds for up to 8 hours, every second for up to 72 hours, or every 10 seconds for up to two weeks. - Multi-channel Data Recorder -- Supports up to 8 channels -- Live monitoring of recorded data -- Metadata (including calibrated sensitivity) embedded in audio file (AIF, CAF, WAV), optionally saved in separate data file - Stereo Signal Generator -- Left and right outputs assigned to arbitrary hardware output channels -- Random and pseudorandom (periodic) noise sequences with white or pink spectrum -- Linear and logarithmic frequency sweeps -- Dual periodic waveforms with arbitrary frequency and phase difference - MultiTool -- Powerful data monitoring and project management (Add up to 6 subtools and save configurations for easy recall at a later time.) The SignalScope X Pro Tool Set subscription can be shared between SoundMeter X and SignalScope X. It unlocks all tools and features of the SoundMeter Pro subscription in SoundMeter X and all tools and features of the Pro Tool Set subscription in SignalScope X (iCloud login required). Learn more about SoundMeter X at FaberAcoustical.com. Subscription Terms: - https://www.faberacoustical.com/apps/subscriptions/terms.html Privacy Policy: - https://www.faberacoustical.com/about/privacy.html Terms and Conditions for FaberAcoustical.com: https://www.faberacoustical.com/about/terms.html
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: SoundMeter X at Free against dB Meter & Spectrum Analyzer's $29.99. SoundMeter X also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 4 months). dB Meter & Spectrum Analyzer's advantage is review sentiment (66% vs 23%) and rating (4.7 vs 3.6). On ads, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support 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
SoundMeter X is free to download; dB Meter & Spectrum Analyzer costs $29.99 up front. dB Meter & Spectrum Analyzer sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and SoundMeter X sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
dB Meter & Spectrum Analyzer holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: dB Meter & Spectrum Analyzer has 866 ratings behind it against 45, 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 23% of SoundMeter X's.
dB Meter & Spectrum Analyzer ships an update every 4 months, SoundMeter X every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | dB Meter & Spectrum Analyzer | SoundMeter X |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $29.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 4.7 (866 ratings) — better | 3.6 (45 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 65.5% of reviews — better | 22.6% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 866 — better | 45 |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — better | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch |
| Requires iOS | 11.3 — better | 18.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 88 MB | 18 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Vlad Polyanskiy | Faber Acoustical, LLC |
Customer experience
dB Meter & Spectrum Analyzer
SoundMeter X
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
SoundMeter X
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
dB Meter & Spectrum Analyzer
- Spectrum Analyzer Pro$14.99
SoundMeter X
- SoundMeter Pro, 1 Month14 Days trial$4.991 Month
- Pro Tool Set, 1 Month14 Days trial$24.991 Month
- SoundMeter Pro, 1 Year14 Days trial$49.991 Year
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- Pro Tool Set, 1 Year14 Days trial$249.991 Year
- 14-day Free Trial, SoundMeter ProFree
- SoundMeter Pro 2026 Upgrade$29.99
- SoundMeter Pro 2026$99.99
Questions
Is dB Meter & Spectrum Analyzer free?
Is SoundMeter X free?
Which has better reviews, dB Meter & Spectrum Analyzer or SoundMeter X?
Do dB Meter & Spectrum Analyzer or SoundMeter X have ads?
Which is updated more often, dB Meter & Spectrum Analyzer or SoundMeter X?
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