HowLoud – Decibel Meter · iOS · Legal

Privacy Policy

HowLoud – Decibel Meter is an iOS app for estimating ambient sound levels. It does not require an account and does not send your data anywhere. Everything the app produces — measurements, history, location tags, settings — stays on your device.

Effective date: May 9, 2026

Summary

HowLoud is built around a simple principle: no accounts, no servers, no tracking. Your microphone readings, session history, location tags and any preferences live only inside the app on your iPhone or iPad. Nothing is uploaded to us, and we do not maintain any backend that could store or process your data.

Information we do not collect

We do not collect, store or have access to:

Your name, email address, phone number or any account credentials.
Your microphone audio. The app reads the microphone signal in real time to compute decibel levels and never records or saves audio.
Your location, device identifiers or IP address.
App usage statistics, crash reports or analytics events of any kind.

Microphone access

HowLoud requests permission to use your device microphone so it can estimate the sound level (in dB) around you. The microphone signal is processed locally in real time. No audio is recorded, saved to disk, or transmitted off the device. Only the resulting decibel measurements are stored locally if you complete a measurement session and they are added to your local history.

Location access

If you grant location permission, HowLoud may attach your current location to a measurement session as a label so you can recognize the session later in your history (for example, "Library" or a place name). Location data is stored only on your device, only in association with sessions you create, and is never transmitted to us or to any third party. You can deny or revoke location permission at any time in iOS Settings; HowLoud will continue to work without it.

Local history and settings

Measurement sessions, statistics, charts, comparison data, calibration values and app preferences are stored locally on your device using standard iOS storage. This data is included in your iCloud or local device backups according to your iOS backup settings. Deleting the app from your device removes this data along with it.

In-app purchases

HowLoud offers a one-time in-app purchase to unlock Premium features (PDF reports and extended history). All purchases are processed by Apple through the App Store and StoreKit. We do not receive your payment details, your Apple ID or any personally identifying purchase information. Apple's handling of purchase data is governed by Apple's Privacy Policy. The Restore Purchases function in the app uses StoreKit to verify your past purchases against your Apple ID, again handled entirely by Apple.

Third-party services

HowLoud does not integrate any third-party analytics, advertising, crash-reporting, attribution or tracking SDKs. The only third party involved in the app is Apple, for the App Store distribution and in-app purchase flow described above.

Children

HowLoud is a general-purpose tool and is not directed at children under 13. Because the app does not collect personal information from any user, it does not knowingly collect personal information from children.

Changes to this policy

If this policy changes in the future, the updated version will be published at this URL with a new effective date. Material changes will be reflected in an updated app submission notes when applicable.

Contact

For privacy questions about HowLoud, contact ivan@lukichev.biz.