Questions
If something here is not answered, write to us and we will add it.
Using the app
What does Quietful cost?
Quietful is free on iPhone and iPad, with no premium tier.
Do I need an account?
No. Submissions are tied to a random device identity, with no name, email or account, used for history and abuse controls.
Is there an Android version?
Quietful is for iPhone and iPad; there is no Android version. Microphone behaviour varies more across Android hardware, and readings have to be comparable to be useful.
What if a venue is not on the map?
Add it while you are there. Take a reading, then on the review screen choose “Add a new venue”. Quietful uses your current location for it. Until a venue has three approved readings in the last 90 days, it shows “Limited data”.
When can I download Quietful?
There is no fixed date yet. Quietful is not on the App Store at the moment, and there is no mailing list to sign up for. Check back on this page for the latest.
Readings and accuracy
How accurate is a phone microphone?
Quietful provides indicative estimates from consumer phone microphones. It is not a calibrated sound-level meter and should not be used for occupational or legal noise assessment.
How long does a reading take?
Fifteen seconds at minimum, sixty at most. A longer window is less sensitive to a single brief sound, and the app records the range as well as the average.
Where do the four tiers come from?
Quiet is under 55 dBA, Moderate 55 to 68 dBA, Loud 68 to under 80 dBA, Very Loud 80 dBA and above. These are Quietful display bands, not clinical or legal thresholds.
Why does a venue show a range instead of one number?
Because one average is not enough to plan an evening. A room that reads 58 dBA at 2pm can run 74 dBA at 7pm. Venue pages show the overall quietest and loudest readings, plus a separate hour-by-hour average chart.
Can readings be wrong or gamed?
A single reading can be. Suspected outliers are held out of a venue’s displayed aggregate for review.
Sounds to avoid
Which sounds can I avoid?
A named source or quality of sound rather than a loudness: loud music or TV, an echoey room, cutlery and dishes, loud machines, lots of kids, and traffic. People report what they heard; the list is fixed so reports stay comparable.
What happens when I select one?
Venues where people often report that sound are hidden from your results. One stray report does not hide a venue. Turn the filter off to see them again; nothing is permanently removed.
Can a venue see which sounds I avoid?
No. Your list is saved on your phone and sent with each search to filter results; Quietful doesn’t store it, so no venue or other person can see who filtered for what.
Privacy
Does Quietful record audio?
No. The microphone runs only while you are taking a reading, and only the loudness is measured. No audio is recorded, stored or sent anywhere.
What location data is kept?
We keep the precise coordinate used to verify each reading for 48 hours, then coarsen it. We also keep the distance from the venue, the venue and timestamps. Location is used while the app is open to show what is nearby; there is no background tracking.
Are my readings public?
Approved readings contribute to a venue's aggregates and may also appear individually with their time, value and tags. Quietful does not display your name. Your history is stored on Quietful's servers under a random device identity, with no name, email or account.
For venues
Can I have a reading removed?
A reading can be flagged for review if it looks mistaken, taken at the wrong venue or taken during a private event. Readings are not removed for being unflattering.
Can I claim my venue?
Venue claiming is not available yet. Your venue’s page in the app shows the same readings, hourly pattern and reported sounds that customers see.