AudioMap vs Open Sound Meter: Which Is Right For You?
Integrated measurement-and-tuning platform vs. free open-source FFT analyzer
The Quick Verdict
Open Sound Meter is a genuinely good piece of work — a free, open-source FFT analyzer that covers the core measurement bases (RTA, transfer function, impulse response, coherence, SPL) across macOS, Windows, Linux, and iPad. AudioMap layers a full tuning workflow on top of measurement: intelligent auto-EQ with target curves, spatial mapping for venue coverage, a VST3/AU plugin, and an integrated measure-to-correct flow. If you need free, cross-platform core analysis, OSM is a strong pick. If you want measurement and tuning in one tool on macOS, AudioMap is built for that.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | AudioMap | Open Sound Meter |
|---|---|---|
| Real-Time Analyzer (RTA) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Transfer Function / Dual FFT | ✓ | ✓ |
| Impulse Response Analysis | ✓ | ✓ |
| Coherence Display | ✓ | ✓ |
| Spectrogram | ✓ | ✓ |
| SPL Metering | ✓ | ✓ |
| Spatial Mapping / Heatmaps | ✓ | ✕ |
| Intelligent Auto-EQ with Target Curves | ✓ | ✕ |
| Real-Time Tuning Auditioning | ✓ | ✕ |
| DAW Plugin (VST3/AU) | ✓ | ✕ |
| Cross-Platform (macOS + Windows) | ✕macOS only | ✓macOS, Windows, Linux; paid iPad/iPhone app |
| Linux Support | ✕ | ✓ |
| iPad / iOS App | ✕ | ✓ |
| Open Source (GPL-3.0) | ✕ | ✓Desktop Community version |
| Live Sound Workflow | ✓ | ✓ |
Key Differences
Free and Open Source
The free Community desktop version is GPL-3.0, with source on GitHub; Ehrenaudio offers paid consulting and company support contracts. That's a real advantage if budget is tight, if you want to audit the code, or if you're on Linux. AudioMap is commercial software built around a tuning workflow.
Analyzer vs. Measure-to-Tune
OSM is focused on measurement and observation: see the transfer function, see the impulse, see the coherence. AudioMap is built around closing the loop — measure, then apply intelligent auto-EQ with target curves, audition the correction in real time, and route it through a VST3/AU plugin into your DAW or playback chain.
Spatial Mapping
AudioMap's spatial mapping visualizes how sound propagates across a venue with interactive heatmaps. OSM is a point-measurement analyzer — you see what the mic at one location is hearing, not the coverage picture across the room.
Platform Coverage
OSM runs on macOS, Windows and Linux, with a paid app for iPad and iPhone — the only tool in this comparison with both Linux and iOS builds. AudioMap runs on macOS only. If cross-platform is a hard requirement, OSM wins this one outright.
DAW Plugin Integration
AudioMap ships a VST3/AU plugin so the measurement and the correction both live inside your DAW or playback chain. OSM is a standalone analyzer — applying corrections means a separate processor, console, or plugin from somewhere else.
Pricing
AudioMap
Free (Lite), $99 (Essentials), $399 (Standard), or $799 (Professional)
Lite is free forever for one source and one receiver; paid tiers are a one-time purchase with a 21-day free trial
Open Sound Meter
Free (desktop Community); iPad/iPhone app $69.99
Ehrenaudio's terms also define paid Desktop Pro and Pro + Cloud tiers.
Both tools have a free entry point — OSM's desktop Community version is free (the iPad/iPhone app is a paid purchase), and AudioMap's Lite tier is free forever for full measurement and analysis on one source and one receiver. The paid AudioMap tiers add what OSM doesn't aim to do: intelligent auto-EQ with target curves, spatial mapping, real-time tuning auditioning, a VST3/AU plugin, and commercial support. If you only need core analysis, both are free options. If you want measurement plus tuning in one workflow, AudioMap's paid tiers cover that ground.
Who Should Use Which?
Choose AudioMap if you...
- ✓Engineers who want measurement and correction in one workflow
- ✓Anyone who needs spatial mapping or venue coverage analysis
- ✓Pros who use auto-EQ with target curves day-to-day
- ✓DAW users who need plugin-based correction
- ✓macOS users who want a commercially supported tool
Choose Open Sound Meter if you...
- ✓Budget-conscious engineers who only need core analysis
- ✓Linux users (no AudioMap option today)
- ✓iPad users who want measurement on a tablet
- ✓Open-source advocates and anyone who wants to audit the code
- ✓Anyone whose correction workflow already lives elsewhere
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Open Sound Meter as accurate as AudioMap?
For the measurements both tools share — transfer function, impulse response, coherence, RTA — both use FFT-based analysis and rely on your measurement mic and audio interface for the accuracy of the raw data. The difference isn't accuracy; it's what each tool does with the measurement after you take it.
Does AudioMap have a free or open-source version?
AudioMap has a free tier (Lite) — not open source, but free forever with full measurement and analysis for one source and one receiver. Paid tiers (Essentials, Standard, Professional) add tuning, auto-EQ, multi-source workflows, and spatial mapping. OSM's desktop Community version is free and open source under GPL-3.0 (the iPad/iPhone app is paid); if you need source-code access or a Linux build, OSM is the option that fits.
Can OSM do everything AudioMap does?
No — and OSM doesn't try to. It's a focused FFT analyzer. Capabilities AudioMap has that OSM does not include spatial mapping, intelligent auto-EQ with target curves, real-time tuning auditioning, and a VST3/AU plugin. Conversely, OSM runs on Linux and iPad and AudioMap does not.
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Open Sound Meter is a trademark of its respective owner. AudioMap is not affiliated with or endorsed by it. Competitor details checked October 2026.