How can we
help?
Honest Decibel is built and supported by a small team. We read every email and reply within a few business days.
Common questions
Why is my reading different from another app?
Different apps apply different smoothing, calibration offsets, and weighting curves. Honest Decibel uses A-weighted dBA by default, the standard NIOSH and OSHA use for hearing-safety guidance. If you have a reference SPL meter you trust, the optional pro tier lets you set a calibration offset to match it.
Will my readings be accurate enough for legal or workplace decisions?
No. Your iPhone's microphone was built for voice calls, not laboratory acoustics. Honest Decibel is excellent for understanding your environment, quiet room, busy room, hearing-damage range, but for legal or occupational measurements you need a certified Class 1 or Class 2 sound level meter.
I bought the pro tier on another iPhone. How do I restore?
Open Settings inside Honest Decibel and tap "Restore purchase." This re-checks your Apple ID purchase history and unlocks the pro features again at no charge.
Why doesn't the mic indicator stay on after I leave the app?
That's by design. The microphone stops the moment Honest Decibel moves to the background. There is no background listening. If you want a continuous reading, leave the app foregrounded.
Do you have an Android version?
Not at this time. Honest Decibel is iOS-only.
Refunds
Purchase refunds are handled by Apple, not by us. To request one, visit reportaproblem.apple.com and select your Honest Decibel purchase. We have no ability to issue refunds directly because we never receive your payment information.
Reporting a bug
If something is broken, email [email protected] with: your iPhone model, iOS version, app version (Settings → Version), and a short description of what happened. Screenshots help.