OpenMeters review
A free Linux meter with broad real-time analysis views, built around PipeWire.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
OpenMeters is a free, open-source desktop application for analyzing and visualizing audio on Linux. It captures audio through PipeWire from applications, devices or the default sink, then presents several real-time views for loudness, frequency, waveform, stereo and time-frequency analysis. The audience is Linux users who need desktop metering across multiple analysis modes without a paid plan. It supports both X11 and Wayland windows, with an optional Wayland bar mode, and is distributed under GPL-3.0-or-later.
Its strongest area is the breadth of its analysis display. OpenMeters includes BS.1770-5 LUFS loudness metering, true-peak and K-weighted RMS metering, an oscilloscope with stable and zero-crossing triggers, and a waveform display with channel selection. The spectrogram uses STFT and time-frequency reassignment, while the spectrum analyzer provides averaging and peak hold. A left/right stereometer adds phase correlation, giving the application a useful range for monitoring loudness, timing, frequency content and stereo behavior in one desktop interface.
The main trade-off is platform and ecosystem focus. OpenMeters is designed for Linux and integrates with PipeWire, with configurable refresh rates, pop-out visuals, editable JSON settings and user themes adding control over the desktop experience. That makes it a clear fit for PipeWire-based Linux monitoring, but less suitable for users seeking a cross-platform application or a broader audio workflow. Choose OpenMeters for free, real-time desktop metering with multiple visualizers; choose another category tool if your priority is a platform beyond Linux or a workflow centered on features outside PipeWire capture.
OpenMeters pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Free and open source under GPL-3.0-or-later
- Covers LUFS, true peak, waveform, spectrum, spectrogram and stereo views
- Supports PipeWire capture from applications, devices and the default sink
- Where it doesn't
- Linux-only desktop support
- Audio capture is built around PipeWire
- Focused on live capture rather than broader workflow features
OpenMeters fact sheet, pricing and score →
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