© 2020, Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature. Abstract: We describe a versatile apparatus for measuring the permeability of porous materials using oscillatory flows. The permeabilities are measured by an original spectral analysis of the pressure and fluid-displacement signals. The measurements are shown to be in very good agreement with classical drainage experiments performed on the same device. Our apparatus and methodology will be useful if small fluid displacements are required, for example in reactive porous media. Graphic abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.].