WLM Plus Loudness Meter vs Smaart

WLM Plus Loudness Meter9.0Visit Smaart8.9Visit

Higher score WLM Plus Loudness Meter #2 in Audio Analysis Software 9.0/10 Paid ✓ 3 of 3 features Visit Waves Audio

vs

Smaart #3 in Audio Analysis Software 8.9/10 30-day trial Free trial✓ 1 of 3 features Visit Smaart

• WLM Plus Loudness Meter fits best

  Loudness compliance across many DAWs

• Smaart fits best

  Professional live sound measurement

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Side by side

Feature	WLM Plus Loudness Meter 9.0/10 Visit ↗	Smaart 8.9/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	9.0	8.9
Ranking	#2 in Audio Analysis Software	#3 in Audio Analysis Software
Best for	Loudness compliance across many DAWs	Professional live sound measurement
Pricing model	Paid	Paid
Starting price	—	$159/yr
Free plan	—	—
Free trial	—	30 days
Deployment	Desktop	Desktop, Mobile
Platforms	Windows, macOS	Windows, macOS, iOS, Android
Support	Docs	Email, Phone, Docs
Integrations	12 integrations	2 integrations
Built for	Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise	Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features WLM Plus Loudness Meter 3/3 · Smaart 1/3
Real-time analysis	✓	✓
Offline file analysis	✓ (best)	Not checked yet
Loudness standards	✓ (best)	Not checked yet
Specs
Maximum channels	6 channels	Not checked yet
Plugin support	Aax	None
Analysis views	momentary, short-term, long-term, loudness range, true peak, gain reduction	RTA, spectrograph, magnitude, coherence, phase, live impulse response, linear, logarithmic, energy time curve, frequency, histogram, SPL history
Our review
Pros	Supports ITU, EBU and ATSC loudness measurement standards Provides real-time and offline CSV logging Works across mono, stereo and multichannel workflows	Broad real-time, transfer-function, impulse-response, and SPL analysis Desktop support for Windows and macOS, plus iOS and Android apps Signal generation, calibration, reporting, alarms, and remote SPL viewing
Cons	Paid product without a free plan Channel capacity is limited to mono, stereo and 5.0 or 5.1 workflows Advanced metering may be more than needed for simple level checks	No free plan; the demo is limited to 30 days Advanced capabilities require higher-priced editions No plugin support is listed
Our verdict	WLM Plus Loudness Meter is an audio plug-in for measuring and controlling loudness in music, podcasts, video, broadcast, movie trailers, games and other media. It is designed for producers, engineers and post-production teams working… Read the review →	Smaart is an acoustic test and measurement platform from Rational Acoustics for audio engineers, system designers, installers, and acoustical consultants. Its desktop editions run on Windows and macOS, while Smaart RTA mobile apps for iOS… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• WLM Plus Loudness Meter — where it wins

  • Supports ITU, EBU and ATSC loudness measurement standards
  • Provides real-time and offline CSV logging
  • Works across mono, stereo and multichannel workflows

  Where it doesn't

  • Paid product without a free plan
  • Channel capacity is limited to mono, stereo and 5.0 or 5.1 workflows
  • Advanced metering may be more than needed for simple level checks

• Smaart — where it wins

  • Broad real-time, transfer-function, impulse-response, and SPL analysis
  • Desktop support for Windows and macOS, plus iOS and Android apps
  • Signal generation, calibration, reporting, alarms, and remote SPL viewing

  Where it doesn't

  • No free plan; the demo is limited to 30 days
  • Advanced capabilities require higher-priced editions
  • No plugin support is listed

• WLM Plus Loudness Meter9.0/10 · Paid

  A standards-focused loudness plugin for production across major DAWs.

  Visit Waves AudioFull verdict →
• Smaart8.9/10 · 30-day trial

  A broad measurement suite for live sound, acoustics, and SPL monitoring.

  Visit SmaartFull verdict →