Noise app comparison
NYC Noise, NIOSH SLM, and SilentProof all touch sound levels. They should not be judged as the same product: one maps city noise, one measures occupational exposure, and one helps tenants document recurring complaints.
Recommended for tenants
Why it stands out
Noise complaint record, not just a meter.
SilentProof turns repeat incidents into a timeline with notes, reference dB, location context, and PDF export for landlord or 311 follow-up.
PDF-ready
Built for follow-up, not one-off readings.
Timeline
Incidents
Context
Notes + dB
Export
City hotspot signal
Measurement depth
Tenant record
City noise map input
Department of Environmental Protection
Platform
iPhone + Android
Price
Free
Occupational sound meter
EA LAB d.o.o.
Platform
iOS
Price
Free
Tenant complaint documentation
Borealbit Technology Limited
Platform
iOS 17+
Price
Free + one-time Pro
Benchmark-style matrix
Like a product benchmark, the recommended column is visually lifted. NYC Noise and NIOSH SLM are useful tools, but SilentProof owns the landlord / 311 follow-up workflow.
Scroll the matrix sideways to compare all three apps.
Use case
SilentProof
Recommended
NYC Noise
City data
NIOSH SLM
Measurement reference
Tenant complaint workflow
Landlord / property manager / 311 follow-up
Best fit
Timeline, notes, reference dB, and PDF export.
Limited
Data collection only.
No
Measurement app, not a complaint workflow.
Repeat incident history
Pattern over days or weeks
Strong
Organizes repeat incidents into a case history.
Public signal
Useful for aggregated city patterns.
Session data
Useful for measurement sessions.
PDF evidence export
Readable packet you can send
Best fit
Timeline, notes, reference dB, and PDF export.
No
NYC 311 says it does not submit service requests.
No
Measurement-focused, not escalation-focused.
Occupational measurement
Weighted levels, dose, calibration context
Reference
Designed for pattern documentation, not certification.
Basic
Useful for civic signal and source category.
Best fit
Weighted levels, averages, dose, peak, calibration.
City noise contribution
Anonymous data for DEP hotspot analysis
No
Private documentation, not DEP mapping.
Best fit
Built for NYC civic noise data collection.
No
Not a city reporting tool.
Private tenant record
Data you control and choose to share
Local-first
Records stay on-device unless exported or shared.
Anonymous data
NYC says the app does not record the noise itself.
Measurement app
Review CDC/NIOSH and App Store details before use.
Evidence workflow
A single reading rarely solves a tenant problem. The useful artifact is the pattern: when it happens, how often it repeats, what it sounds like, what you already tried, and what you can send next.
SilentProof tenant workflow
Use SilentProof
You need repeat incidents, notes, timestamps, and a PDF that a landlord can review.
NYC Noise civic data
Use NYC Noise
You need civic data collection, not a private evidence packet.
NIOSH SLM measurement
Use NIOSH SLM
You need measurement depth: weighted levels, averages, peak, dose, and calibration context.
SilentProof tenant workflow
Use SilentProof
A structured timeline is easier to review than scattered screenshots or voice memos.
Quality target
Information structure
Answer first, details second
4.6/5
HIG / product feel
Touch-sized cards, clear hierarchy, iOS screenshot context
4.5/5
Contrast
Darker text, stronger headers, less low-contrast body copy
4.6/5
Aesthetics
Visual comparison cockpit, cleaner cards, calmer rhythm
4.5/5
Scan efficiency
Short labels, winner states, scenario cards
4.6/5
Official sources
Sources were checked on July 1, 2026. SilentProof is a documentation tool and not legal advice. SilentProof is a documentation product, not a certified acoustic meter.
Start recording incidents as they happen, then export a PDF when the pattern is clear enough to send.
