I want NYC DEP to see when and where noise clusters occur.
Use NYCNoise Monitor
A short reading contributes decibel, time, location, and source-type data to DEP's citywide analysis.
Read the NYC DEP descriptionTask-based comparison
Same microphone. Three different jobs.
NYCNoise Monitor contributes data to a citywide noise picture. NIOSH SLM measures occupational exposure. SilentProof keeps a tenant's recurring incidents together for private review and PDF export. The right choice depends on the record you need next.
Choose in 20 seconds
Match the app to the task
I need LAeq, TWA, peak, dose, or weighting options for workplace noise.
Use NIOSH SLM
CDC positions the app for evaluating occupational noise exposure and hearing-risk context.
Read the CDC/NIOSH specificationsI need a private timeline of recurring incidents to review or export.
Use SilentProof
It organizes time, duration, reference sound levels, notes, location context, audio, and a user-created PDF.
Read the SilentProof App Store listingProduct roles and limits
What each app actually produces
NYCNoise Monitor
New York City Department of Environmental Protection
Called “NYC Noise” in NYC DEP and NYC311 materials.
- Built for
- Collect short public-contribution readings so DEP can analyze noise levels, sources, timing, and city hotspots.
- Record or output
- A five-second reading; average and maximum decibel levels; date, duration, location, source type, and optional notes in a map/table history.
- Data path
- DEP says submitted measurements support citywide pattern analysis. The actual noise is not recorded, and the data is not used for a specific enforcement action.
- Boundary
- NYC311 states that the app is for data collection only and does not submit a noise complaint service request.
- Availability
- Free. NYC says iPhone and Android; the Apple listing also supports iPad.
NIOSH Sound Level Meter
NIOSH, developed with EA LAB
The Apple listing names EA LAB as developer; CDC documents NIOSH's role and validation.
- Built for
- Measure and characterize workplace noise exposure so workers and safety professionals can consider hearing risk.
- Record or output
- LAeq, TWA, maximum and peak levels, noise dose and projected dose, A/C/Z weighting, and calibration controls.
- Data path
- CDC says the app can report and share measurement data. It is not a city data feed or a tenant case-management system.
- Boundary
- CDC reports ±2 dBA under NIOSH laboratory validation and Type 2 requirements with a calibrated external microphone. NIOSH also says the app is not a replacement for a professional meter or dosimeter and is not for compliance use by itself.
- Availability
- Free. iOS only, according to CDC.
SilentProof: Noise Complaint
Borealbit Technology Limited
This comparison is published by the company that develops SilentProof.
- Built for
- Help a tenant keep recurring noise incidents together as a private chronology and export selected context as a PDF.
- Record or output
- Time, duration, reference sound levels, notes, location context, on-device audio, incident history, and PDF export.
- Data path
- The App Store listing says records stay on-device by default until the user exports them; Apple's privacy label reports the developer's declaration that app data is not collected.
- Boundary
- SilentProof is not a certified sound level meter, legal service, official inspection, or complaint portal. It does not submit a 311 request or establish a violation.
- Availability
- iPhone and iPad · iOS/iPadOS 16.0 or later. Free + one-time Pro upgrade ($9.99 in the U.S.; local App Store pricing may vary).
Side-by-side facts
One question, three different answers
This table reports intended use and stated limits. It does not rank the products or test acoustic performance across the three apps.
Scroll sideways to read all three columns.
| Question | NYCNoise Monitor | NIOSH SLM | SilentProof |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary job | Contribute a reading to NYC's citywide noise dataset. | Measure occupational noise exposure and hearing-risk metrics. | Build a private recurring-incident timeline and PDF. |
| Typical output | Average/max dB, time, duration, location, source type, notes, and map/table history. | LAeq, TWA, max, peak, dose, projected dose, weighting, calibration, and shareable measurement data. | Incident history with reference dB, timing, context, optional local audio, and PDF export. |
| Where the record goes | Measurement data is sent to NYC DEP for aggregate analysis. | The user reviews, reports, or shares a measurement session. | Records stay on the device by default; the user chooses whether to export or share. |
| Recurring history | Map/table history supports the civic data task. | Measurement sessions support exposure assessment. | Multiple incidents form a tenant-focused chronology. |
| Submits an NYC311 complaint | No. NYC311 explicitly calls it data collection only. | No. It is a measurement app. | No. A PDF can be shared by the user, but the app does not file the request. |
| Certified or official finding | No specific enforcement finding; DEP says submitted data is not used for a specific enforcement action. | Validation has stated conditions; CDC says not to treat the app alone as a compliance instrument. | No. Phone readings are reference context, and the PDF does not prove a violation. |
| Choose it when | Your task is contributing to NYC hotspot and trend analysis. | Your task is workplace exposure measurement. | Your task is organizing recurring tenant incidents for your own follow-up. |
What none of them decides
A phone app does not determine a violation.
An ordinance may prescribe the source category, location, instrument, calibration, frequency weighting, duration, background conditions, and enforcement procedure. A city contribution, workplace measurement session, or tenant PDF does not replace those requirements.
Read the phone-measurement limitsSeparate action
Documentation and filing are different steps.
Use the official complaint channel for the jurisdiction and source. Keep only the context that channel requests. If audio can capture identifiable speech, verify consent and privacy law before recording or sharing it.
Sources and method
Verify the product role at the source
Sources reviewed August 13, 2026. Product features, compatibility, privacy labels, prices, and city procedures can change. Apple privacy labels are developer-provided; Apple states that it does not verify them. Follow the current official page before acting.
SilentProof is a documentation tool and not legal advice. This page is also not an acoustic certification or a hands-on laboratory comparison.
- 1NYC DEP: NYC Noise launch and intended citywide use
Hotspot analysis, five-second readings, app history, and the limit on specific enforcement use.
- 2NYC311: Noise from Neighbor / DEP NYC Noise App
States that NYC Noise is data collection only and does not submit service requests.
- 3CDC/NIOSH: Sound Level Meter App
Workplace purpose, supported metrics, validation statement, external-microphone condition, and iOS availability.
- 4CDC/NIOSH: New NIOSH Sound Level Meter App
Explains that the app is not a professional-meter replacement or a compliance instrument by itself.
- 5Apple: NYCNoise Monitor
Current Apple-distributed product listing, compatibility, developer, and privacy label.
- 6Apple: NIOSH Sound Level Meter
Current Apple-distributed product listing and developer information.
- 7Apple: SilentProof: Noise Complaint
Current listing for features, compatibility, price, developer, and developer-reported privacy label.
Frequently asked questions
Questions before choosing
Which app should I use to file an NYC noise complaint?
None of these three apps submits the complaint. NYC311 says NYCNoise Monitor is for data collection only; NIOSH SLM is a measurement app; and SilentProof creates a user-controlled incident record. Use the current NYC311 category or other official local channel to file.
Can NYCNoise Monitor replace a 311 service request?
No. NYC311 explicitly says the DEP app does not submit noise complaint service requests. Its measurements help DEP analyze noise levels, sources, patterns, and hotspots.
When is NIOSH SLM the relevant tool?
Use it when the task is workplace noise exposure or hearing-risk measurement. CDC lists LAeq, TWA, max, peak, dose, projected dose, A/C/Z weighting, and calibration features. Its validation and Type 2 statements have specific test and microphone conditions.
Is SilentProof a certified meter or an official complaint report?
No. SilentProof organizes tenant incidents and exports a PDF with reference sound levels and context. It is not a certified sound level meter, official inspection, legal opinion, proof of a violation, or a complaint-submission service.
Is this comparison independent?
No. It is published by Borealbit Technology Limited, the developer of SilentProof. The product roles and limits above are linked to NYC, CDC/NIOSH, and Apple sources so readers can verify them directly.
For the tenant-history task
Start a private incident timeline with SilentProof
Use it when your next artifact is a chronology you control: timestamps, duration, reference sound levels, notes, location context, and a PDF you choose to export. It does not file a complaint or certify a violation.
