Youlean Loudness Meter 2
Youlean · Free
Youlean Loudness Meter 2 is a free (with Pro upgrade) LUFS loudness meter for mix and master buses, with true peak, LRA, and streaming-oriented presets.
The free loudness meter of choice for streaming targets—clear LUFS/true-peak readouts that belong on every master bus.
Best for: Anyone preparing mixes and masters for Spotify, YouTube, Apple Music, or broadcast loudness specs.
Pros
- Free tier covers core LUFS, true peak, LRA, and histogram views
- Presets and standards tables for common streaming and broadcast targets
- Lightweight insert for daily master-bus checks
- Pro upgrade available when you need advanced history and extras
Cons
- Free version is intentionally limited versus Youlean Pro
- Metering only — no processing or auto-leveling
- Not a full spectrum/surround suite like Insight 2
Overview
Youlean Loudness Meter 2 is a free loudness meter built for the streaming era. Drop it on the master bus after your processing chain and read integrated loudness, short-term and momentary levels, loudness range, and true peak. That workflow answers the practical question producers actually have: will this mix get turned down (or up) by the platform?
It excels at clarity. The free meter keeps the essentials visible without forcing a paid trial countdown. Presets and standards tables map common delivery targets so you are not guessing LUFS numbers from memory. For bedroom-to-pro hybrid workflows, it is often the first serious loudness tool people install—and many never uninstall it.
The limitations are scope. Free Youlean is not a full Insight-class suite, and Pro features sit behind a paid upgrade. It will not fix a harsh mix or balance stems. Pair it with SPAN for spectrum, or with Ozone when you need processing plus metering in one ecosystem.
Choose free Youlean for everyday loudness discipline. Choose Insight 2 or Ozone's meters when you need a broader metering or mastering toolkit. Always download from the official Youlean site.
A practical habit is to leave Youlean last on the master, bounce a candidate master, then check integrated loudness and true peak against your target platform before upload. That single check prevents most “why is my track quieter on Spotify?” surprises.
Specifications
- Type
- Loudness / true-peak meter
- Price
- Free (Pro paid upgrade)
- Formats
- VST, AU, AAX
- Measurements
- LU, LUFS, LKFS, LRA, PLR, true peak
- Platforms
- macOS and Windows hosts supporting major plugin formats
- Official site
- youlean.co
Last verified 2026-07-16
FAQ
Is Youlean Loudness Meter 2 free?
Yes. Youlean offers a free loudness meter with a paid Pro upgrade for advanced features. Confirm current free vs Pro differences on youlean.co.
What loudness targets should I use for streaming?
Common integrated targets are around -14 LUFS for many streaming services, but platforms differ. Use Youlean's presets/standards as a guide and always check true peak.
Do I need Insight 2 if I already use Youlean?
Not necessarily. Youlean is enough for daily LUFS/true-peak checks. Insight 2 is broader for pro metering, reporting, and multi-tool analysis.
Direct competitors
Youlean Loudness Meter 2 vs — head-to-head specs, price, and Dubspot Score.