Terms of Use

Acceptance

By accessing or using SoundMeterOnline.com (the "Service"), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Use. If you do not agree with any part of these terms, you must discontinue use of the Service immediately. Your continued use of the website after any modifications to these terms constitutes acceptance of those changes. This is a free tool — nothing binds you to it, and you are free to stop using it at any time without obligation.

What we provide

SoundMeter Online is a browser-based sound measurement tool that uses your device's built-in microphone to display approximate decibel levels, frequency spectra, waveform visualizations, and session statistics. The tool also includes supplementary features such as background noise testing, microphone testing, frequency analysis, and educational content about acoustics and noise safety.

The Service is provided free of charge, without warranty of any kind, and without guarantee of accuracy. All audio processing occurs locally in your browser — no audio data is transmitted to our servers or any third party.

Account-Free Service

SoundMeter Online does not require account creation, registration, login, or subscription of any kind. There are no user accounts, no passwords, no payment information collected, and no user profiles stored on our systems. You can use the tool immediately upon visiting the website and granting microphone permission. We do not store your measurement data, audio recordings, or session history on our servers. All data remains in your browser session and is discarded when you close the page or navigate away.

Measurement accuracy

Readings from this tool are approximate and uncalibrated. They depend on your microphone hardware quality, browser implementation of the Web Audio API, environmental conditions, device orientation, and the inherent absence of traceable calibration. Do not use these readings for:

• OSHA workplace noise compliance documentation
• Legal noise disputes, court evidence, or regulatory filings
• Environmental noise impact assessments
• Medical assessments of hearing damage or loss
• Building acoustic certification or sound insulation testing
• Any purpose where measurement uncertainty has legal, financial, or health consequences

For such purposes, use a calibrated Class 1 or Class 2 sound level meter that meets IEC 61672 standards, operated by qualified personnel with current calibration certificates.

Acceptable Use

You may use SoundMeter Online for personal, educational, and non-commercial purposes including noise awareness, classroom demonstrations, relative sound comparisons, and general curiosity about your acoustic environment. The following uses are expressly prohibited:

• Scraping, crawling, or automated extraction of content, data, or functionality from the website
• Embedding, framing, or incorporating the tool (in whole or in part) into competing products or services without written permission
• Misrepresenting readings from this tool as certified, calibrated, or legally valid measurements
• Using the tool's output in official reports, certifications, or documentation that imply professional-grade accuracy
• Attempting to reverse-engineer, decompile, or extract the source code of the audio processing engine for commercial use
• Using the website to distribute malware, conduct phishing attacks, or engage in any unlawful activity
• Circumventing or disabling any security features, access controls, or usage limitations implemented on the website

We reserve the right to block access to the Service for any user who violates these acceptable use provisions.

Limitation of liability

SoundMeter Online is provided "as is" and "as available" without warranties of any kind, whether express, implied, statutory, or otherwise. We specifically disclaim all implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and non-infringement. We are not liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages arising from the use of or inability to use this tool, including but not limited to: inaccurate readings, hearing damage from reliance on readings, failed compliance assessments, equipment damage, lost data, or any decision made based on measurements from this tool.

In no event shall our total liability exceed zero dollars, as this is a free service with no financial transaction between the parties.

Your responsibilities

You are responsible for:

• Granting and managing microphone permissions in your browser
• Understanding the inherent limitations of browser-based audio measurement
• Seeking certified measurement equipment when accuracy has safety, legal, or health implications
• Ensuring your use of this tool complies with all applicable local, state, national, and international laws
• Maintaining the security of your own device and browser environment

Intellectual property

The SoundMeter Online name, logo, visual design, page layouts, and original written content (including blog articles, documentation, and educational materials) are our intellectual property and are protected by applicable copyright and trademark laws. You may not reproduce, distribute, or create derivative works from our content without written permission, except for brief quotations with attribution for review or educational purposes.

The underlying audio measurement algorithms (RMS calculation, FFT, dB conversion, A-weighting approximation) are standard mathematical and signal-processing operations not subject to proprietary claims.

Third-Party Links

Our website contains links to external resources including OSHA, WHO, NIOSH, EPA, and various educational institutions. These links are provided for informational convenience only. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or responsible for the content, accuracy, or availability of any third-party websites. The inclusion of a link does not imply our endorsement of the linked site or its contents. We have no control over third-party content and accept no liability for any loss or damage arising from your use of external websites.

Changes

We may modify these terms at any time without prior notice. Continued use of the Service after changes constitutes acceptance of the revised terms. Material changes will be reflected in the "Last updated" date at the top of this page. We encourage you to review these terms periodically to stay informed about your rights and obligations.

Governing Law

These Terms of Use shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of India, without regard to conflict of law principles. Any disputes arising from or relating to the use of this Service shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts located in India. By using this Service, you consent to the personal jurisdiction of such courts.

Severability

If any provision of these Terms of Use is found to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, that provision shall be modified to the minimum extent necessary to make it enforceable, or if modification is not possible, it shall be severed from these terms. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the remaining provisions, which shall continue in full force and effect.

Entire Agreement

These Terms of Use, together with our Privacy Policy and Disclaimer, constitute the entire agreement between you and SoundMeter Online regarding your use of the Service. These terms supersede all prior or contemporaneous communications, proposals, and representations, whether oral or written, with respect to the Service. No waiver of any term shall be deemed a further or continuing waiver of such term or any other term.

Contact

If you have questions about these Terms of Use, please contact us at: hello@onlinesoundmeter.com