# PAcalculate vs SoundMeter X

The clearest difference is review sentiment: PAcalculate at 100% against SoundMeter X's 23%. PAcalculate also leads on rating (5.0 vs 3.6) and in-app purchases (none vs 7). SoundMeter X's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 4 months) and ratings volume (45 vs 7). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. SoundMeter X sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. PAcalculate asks for nothing beyond the download.

PAcalculate holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SoundMeter X has 45 ratings behind it against 7, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of PAcalculate's written reviews are positive against 23% of SoundMeter X's.

PAcalculate ships an update every 4 months, SoundMeter X every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 27, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PAcalculate | SoundMeter X |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pacalculate/id793460437/reviews)** | [3.6 (45 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/soundmeter-x/id1348050232/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 7 | **45** |
| Positive reviews | **100.0% of reviews** | 22.6% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 3 MB | 18 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 18.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Jose Brusi](https://appshunter.io/developer/793460440) | [Faber Acoustical, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/284781780) |

## What reviewers say

### PAcalculate

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pacalculate/id793460437)

This app provides 28 calculators and reference information for professional audio sound reinforcement and lighting. It covers acoustics, audio electronics, cabling, and lighting calculations, making it a valuable tool for audio and lighting professionals.

**Highlights:** 28 calculators for pro-audio and lighting, Acoustics calculations (SPL, air absorption), Audio electronics calculations (dBu/dBV, Q/B/W), Cabling calculations (speaker cable loss), Lighting calculations (DMX, RGB/CMY), Reference info (pinouts, graphs)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### SoundMeter X

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/soundmeter-x/id1348050232)

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.

**Highlights:** 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

**Features:** Family Sharing, Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| SoundMeter Pro, 1 Month | $4.99 | per month |
| Pro Tool Set, 1 Month | $24.99 | per month |
| SoundMeter Pro, 1 Year | $49.99 | per year |
| Pro Tool Set, 1 Year | $249.99 | per year |
| 14-day Free Trial, SoundMeter Pro | Free | one-time |
| SoundMeter Pro 2026 Upgrade | $29.99 | one-time |
| SoundMeter Pro 2026 | $99.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PAcalculate free?

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

### Is SoundMeter X free?

SoundMeter X is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, PAcalculate or SoundMeter X?

PAcalculate is rated higher. PAcalculate averages 5.0 out of 5 from 7 ratings, while SoundMeter X averages 3.6 from 45 ratings.

### Do PAcalculate or SoundMeter X have ads?

Neither PAcalculate nor SoundMeter X shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, PAcalculate or SoundMeter X?

PAcalculate ships an update every 4 months, and SoundMeter X every 3 weeks. Most recently, PAcalculate was updated on October 17, 2026 and SoundMeter X on October 27, 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.*