# Spectre vs Spectrum Analyzer

The clearest difference is price: Spectrum Analyzer at Free against Spectre's $0.99. Spectrum Analyzer also leads on rating (4.2 vs 3.0) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 96 months). Spectre's advantage is review sentiment (40% vs 5%) and in-app purchases (none vs 13). On device support there is nothing between them.

Spectrum Analyzer is free to download; Spectre costs $0.99 up front. Spectrum Analyzer sells 13 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Spectre asks for nothing beyond the download.

Spectrum Analyzer holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Spectrum Analyzer has 197 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 40% of Spectre's written reviews are positive against 5% of Spectrum Analyzer's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Spectre ships an update every 96 months, Spectrum Analyzer fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 6, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Spectre | Spectrum Analyzer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $0.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [3.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spectre/id913027939/reviews) | **[4.2 (197 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spectrum-analyzer-spectrogram/id981810895/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 2 | **197** |
| Positive reviews | **40.0% of reviews** | 5.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 96 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Freemium** |
| Size | 46 MB | 132 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Michael Hand](https://appshunter.io/developer/854186096) | [Music Breath](https://appshunter.io/developer/1140008995) |

## What reviewers say

### Spectre

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spectre/id913027939)

This audio analysis utility provides real-time FFT and oscilloscope views for sound input. Customize waveform display, control sample rates, and zoom in for detailed analysis on iOS devices.

**Highlights:** FFT Analysis, Oscilloscope, Customizable Waveform, Linear & Logarithmic Forms, Pause/Play Controls, Zoom Functionality

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Spectrum Analyzer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spectrum-analyzer-spectrogram/id981810895)

Visualize audio frequencies with real-time analysis. Features include a sound level meter, multichannel harmonic analysis, and adjustable graphical representations. Gain insights into your sound environment with advanced tools.

**Highlights:** Sound level meter, Multichannel harmonic analysis, Adjustable graphics, AI-powered sound source analyzer, Real-time analysis, FFT analysis

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (13)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pitch Finder: Audio Visualizer | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Pitch Finder: Audio Visualizer | $9.99 | per month |
| One Month Sale | $9.99 | per month |
| 1 Week Subscription | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| 1 Year Sub. with discount | $19.99 | per year |
| 1 Month Subscription | $19.99 | per month |
| 3 Month Subscription | $25.99 | per 3 months |
| 1 Year Subscription | $39.99 | per year |
| 2 months subscription | $39.99 | per 2 months |
| No Ads | $9.99 | one-time |
| Additional Settings Controls | $15.99 | one-time |
| Full Pack + No Ads | $19.99 | one-time |
| Get More | $19.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- ✅ Accurate frequency identification
- ✅ Clear and easy-to-read display
- ✅ Useful noise floor setup feature
- ✅ Works well when ads are removed

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Extremely aggressive monetization strategy
- 📢 Excessive and intrusive ads
- 🔊 Loud ads that ignore device mute settings
- 🚫 Requires subscription/payment to access core features
- 😤 Deceptive purchase practices and accidental charges

**Reported bugs**

- App becomes unusable after iOS 16 update
- Crashes immediately on iPhone 5 with iOS 7
- Cannot exit app on iPhone X without reboot
- App freezes when changing settings or views
- Inaccurate frequency readings

**Requested features**

- Audio file import functionality
- Customizable background colors for chroma key compatibility
- Ability to record audio instead of only analyzing
- Better documentation and help files
- Improved sensitivity for detecting soft sounds


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Spectre free?

Spectre costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Spectrum Analyzer free?

Spectrum Analyzer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Spectre or Spectrum Analyzer?

Spectrum Analyzer is rated higher. Spectre averages 3.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while Spectrum Analyzer averages 4.2 from 197 ratings.

### Do Spectre or Spectrum Analyzer have ads?

Spectrum Analyzer shows ads; Spectre does not.

### Which is updated more often, Spectre or Spectrum Analyzer?

Spectre ships an update every 96 months, and Spectrum Analyzer fortnightly. Most recently, Spectre was updated on September 6, 2026 and Spectrum Analyzer on September 24, 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.*