NIOSH Sound Level Meter Reviews

by Jane Weidland

I have tried now on multiple separate phones with the software freshly installed. I cannot get the program to recognize any external mics I plug-in to have better accuracy than the in accurate internal mic. I would like to put a mic and they can actually placed on a calibrator.

I’ve sent a message to the Company that has developed the software and I will be looking forward to hearing back how one can properly connect an external microphone to the software.

It is completely ineffective to use the internal Apple microphone so that is no option at all for any real use of this software.

by Yochiii

I can’t tell what the play or pause does as when I click on either one, the noise measurement continues to respond. Then, sometimes NIOSHSoundLevelMeter would freeze and not record any measurements whether I clicked on play or pause. I also gotten situations were NIOSHSoundLevelMeter is responding to sound and updating the metrics in the stat below but the main display where it displays the instantaneously levels just shows —.

by Diray Acosta

I was using it to try out the free version and when I installed it and opened NIOSHSoundLevelMeter for the first time; it showed me readings that were very untrue like 120dB. I know this isn’t right because I was lying in my bed with no electronics on next to me or anything loud at all. I don’t know what the problem is since there’s so many positive comments but it no work :(

EDIT: I thought there could be a free version and a paid version but I guess I was wrong. This review is not for a different app by the way, it was just what NIOSHSoundLevelMeter was showing me. But I do not have a professional microphone attached to my iPad so if you want to say it was that I guess it could be 🤔 yet I doubt it. I will change my review to 4 stars because I am only testing this against 3 other decibal meters and not a profesional machine or a sound that is supposed to be at a specific level.

by Robert_3rd

Great app to use if you don't have an Apple Watch or can't afford one. It will keep the screen on and drain the battery, but I don't use my iPhone as my main phone. I use it as a portable media player and now also as a decibel meter at work. I run NIOSHSoundLevelMeter while I'm working --with the phone in my pocket, with the mic up and sticking out of my back pocket-- my warehouse job. I save the data to the Health app to make sure my job isn't causing me irreversible hearing damage over time.

I'll also run it in public places such as grocery stores, and in the car while driving.

by Orca688

I work in broadcast engineering for a faith based, global TV network.
When live music is played in the studio, it is often so loud it hurts; which tells me it is hazardous noise. This application is the most scientific sound measuring tool available for cellular phone use; only commercial grade dB measuring rigs are better.

by XxxsomeguyxxX

Great app. Upon opening it provides instructions on use. It’s fairly simple with only a few options to choose from with no annoying ads of any kind. It was also the only app I’ve used that makes calibrating an add on mic easy and accurate. Great use of tax money.

by JuniorDank

Used it and it made “correct seeming” readings it went up with noise and back down. I wouldn’t trust it for professional work(school). But this is FREE no subscription required before it starts. 100% recommend it

Disclaimer: Original post written after 3 app starts and 20 min spent on app.

by Ygiiop

Don’t bother downloading the other apps that come up in search. Almost all those require you to sign up with credit card before you can even use them. Garbage

NIOSHSoundLevelMeter is by far the best and easiest to use. Don’t hesitate and just get this one.

by Sandiagold

Update seems to have fixed something, app is working great thank you.

While I won’t pay a monthly fee I would pay for NIOSHSoundLevelMeter if it consistently worked. Unfortunately you never know when it will or won’t work.

by Sarah-Double O Three

I downloaded a few apps before this one and of course, they wanted a subscription after a few-day trial.
I’ve completed a few different sound tests on my iPhone and the results are legit. Although I did notuse an external mic, I still had great results! Thanks! NIOSHSoundLevelMeter is awesome!

by Beibin79

This is the best sound meter app I tried so far.

Thanks so much for NIH developing and funding NIOSHSoundLevelMeter.

It’s a lame that NIOSHSoundLevelMeter is not recommended when I search for “sound meter”. Apple should make this tool *STAND OUT” when people are searching relevant apps. The deci**** X and other apps should de-prioritized.

by Indiegrrl2367

Well made, well designed, free and without ads or other annoying BS. As or more accurate than the inexpensive handheld sound meter I have. The only feature I wish it had was the ability to auto save sessions - I often forget to press the save button and then it’s gone forever! Besides that, great job NIOSH.

by Jonanderson335

this game is so much fun! I would give it 10 stars if I could. my high score is 132.2 dB. Let me know if anyone is able to beat it. this game is a family favorite and will be sure to have the entire group laughing. my family loves to play this game as we wait to be seated at restaurants. It is also a lot of fun to play on long car rides and flights!!

by Ryanollie08

I have used NIOSHSoundLevelMeter for a very long time now for the laeq functionality to find long term (30ish minute) average volume. I also spot check consistently to watch for short term exposure levels.

NIOSHSoundLevelMeter is surprisingly close to my calibrated dB meter! Usually within .5 dBA, as long as the room volume is under approximately 95dBA.

I foresee myself using this for a long time to gauge live music volumes.

by Smileitspaul

NIOSHSoundLevelMeter developers really deserve praise for creating a completely free app that doesn’t blast me with ads, beg me to upgrade, and generally distract me with BS when I try to use it. The interface is clean and easy to navigate. It seems very accurate, especially for what I need which is basically just comparing noise levels relative to one another. It never glitches or quits unexpectedly. I’ll stay loyal to NIOSHSoundLevelMeter, it is exactly what I needed.

by Ebsound

As a researcher in the field I have been following the scientific literature on noise apps for the past five years and more. This one has been tested and reviewed and shown to perform with good accuracy. I have also worked with it in my own laboratory to verify its performance. It continues to be updated, the latest update including calibration for the iPhone SE and iPhone 12 series of phones. Thank you NIOSH for an excellent tool.

by PhilTheAppUser

I download NIOSHSoundLevelMeter and within 15 minutes it was for using it and fully understanding I had a couple of tech-support questions I emailed the company in Netherlands I believe and they answered within a day and they answered more than satisfactory with links and pictures and graphics.

The application, the developers, and the tech-support are WONDERFUL!!! I can’t recommend this more highly — it’s the best dB sound meter that I have used. As I understand it if you buy one of the external microphones with your calibrated to NIOSHSoundLevelMeter and then you calibrate the dB Meter following their procedures, the results are legal, and from what I understand, admissible in court or other type of legal proceedings. Please don’t quote me on that part, but that’s my understanding.

Thank you!
Phil, Colorado

by AcousticsProf

No ads, no in-app purchases, no hassle to upgrade every 10 seconds, fully-featured unlike the other top apps that entice you with a single feature but force you buy an upgrade to get the rest of the functionality of NIOSHSoundLevelMeter .

Developed for professional users who are serious about acoustics by the top hearing lab in the country, if not the world. I use a Larson-Davis 831 for my daily work and have compared many apps to my SLM and though I was always skeptical about apps, this one is the most accurate out there.

by Disgruntled Albatraoz

I have been using NIOSHSoundLevelMeter for over a year and through several updates. It has always worked well and accurately. It has been a useful tool for monitoring the noise exposure and deciding where and when I need to wear earplugs. The only feature it lacks (in my opinion) is the ability to run as a background process with the phone asleep (similar to the way you can play music), which would allow to have the screen off and use less battery when monitoring for long periods of time. Aside from that personal preference, NIOSHSoundLevelMeter has been reliable and helpful. I would highly recommend it.

by Ethan Proulx

I use NIOSHSoundLevelMeter all the time when I go to concerts and I love it. It does exactly what I need it to do. My dad knows a lot about safety in the workplace and other environments so I like to show him how loud it is when I go to certain events.

Little Bug: When swiping to delete and not letting go but swiping back as to cancel the action NIOSHSoundLevelMeter crashes. Just a little bug I found!

by TheNoiseGuy

So aside from being free, totally and completely free (no ads and no sneaky upsells or hidden subscription fees), NIOSHSoundLevelMeter which comes from a reputable govt research agency does not collect ANY data on you. None. Zero. Nada.

Since Apple’s new privacy policy took effect recently, all developers must disclose what kind of data they collect from their apps on their users. Check out each app you download to see what kind of data it collects, every other app I tried collects some sort of usage data or personal identifiers, every single one. But not this one, BRAVO NIOSH!