Top 10 Apps to Record Audio in 2023

In today’s fast-paced world, the ability to capture high-quality audio easily and efficiently is crucial for various scenarios, such as journalism, interviews, or personal use. With a plethora of voice recording apps available, how do you choose the best one to suit your unique needs? This blog post explores the top 10 apps to record audio in 2023, highlighting their key features and benefits to help you make an informed decision.

Snapshot of Top Audio Recording Apps

Voice recording apps come with a wide range of features and capabilities. Some excel in simplicity, while others provide advanced features like automated transcription or integrated recording on specific devices. We’re going to highlight the best voice recorder apps, each offering unique strengths to meet various user preferences and requirements.

Our Favorite Apps to Record Audio

1. Best for Simplicity: Easy Voice Recorder
2. Best for Automated Transcriptions: Otter
3. Best Built-in App for iOS Users: Voice Memos
4. Best for Multi-Purpose Use: Voice Recorder & Audio Editor
5. Best for Human Transcription Services: Rev Audio & Voice Recorder
6. A Unique Approach to Voice Recording: Alice
7. Best for Direct Home Screen Recording: Tape-a-Talk
8. Best for Integrated Voice Recording: iPhone 15
9. Best for Innovative Features: Google Pixel Phones
10. Best Standalone Device: Audio Recorder

Easy Voice Recorder: Best for Simplicity

Price: Free (with in-app purchases)

Specifications:

• Compatibility: iOS and Android
• Recording Formats: MP3, WAV, AAC
• Storage Options: Internal storage or cloud services

Pros:

• Clear sound quality
• User-friendly interface
• Versatile recording options

Cons:

• Intermittent playback issues
• Limited recording time
• Difficulty in sharing recordings

Easy Voice Recorder is a user-friendly app available for both iOS and Android, offering clear sound quality and versatile recording options. The app’s simplicity makes it particularly appealing to those seeking a no-nonsense voice recording solution. Adjustable sample rates, background recording, and a minimalist interface contribute to its ease of use. However, it’s worth noting that Easy Voice Recorder is exclusive to select Google Pixel devices. The free version of the app provides basic functionality, while the Pro version, priced at $4.99 for Android and $1.99 for iOS, offers additional features like background noise reduction and audio editing.

Despite its user-friendly design, Easy Voice Recorder isn’t without its drawbacks. Some users have reported the following issues:

• Intermittent playback issues
• Limited recording time
• Cumbersome process for sharing recordings, requiring multiple steps to export and share the audio file

If a simplistic, user-friendly voice recording app is what you’re searching for, Easy Voice Recorder comes as a strong contender.

Otter: Best for Automated Transcriptions

Price: Free (with premium subscription options)

Specifications:

• Compatibility: Android and iOS
• Transcription: Automated
• Subscription Options: Free with 600 minutes of transcription per month, Premium with over 6,000 minutes ranging from $12.99 to $129.99 per item

Pros:

• Real-time transcriptions
• Generous free plan
• Supports major video conferencing platforms

Cons:

• Poor accuracy score for complex audio test
• Below-average accuracy score for simple audio test
• Real-time transcription struggles to keep up with natural speech

Otter is an automated transcription service that offers:

• Real-time transcriptions for audio and video recordings
• A generous free plan that includes 600 minutes of transcription per month and easy-to-use mobile apps
• A reliable choice for simple transcription needs
• A premium subscription that offers over 6,000 minutes of transcription per month and additional features like PDF, DOCX, and SRT file exports, playback speeds from 0.5x to 3x, and unlimited conversation history

Unfortunately, it scored poorly in complex audio tests, and its real-time transcription has difficulty matching the pace of natural speech.

Although Otter’s automated transcription services aren’t flawless, they offer a practical solution for those requiring speedy, on-the-move transcriptions. Its free plan offers a substantial amount of transcription time, making it an attractive choice for users with occasional transcription needs. However, for more complex audio recordings or those requiring higher accuracy, you might want to consider other transcription services.

Voice Memos: Best Built-in App for iOS Users

Price: Free

Specifications:

• Compatibility: iOS devices (iPhone, iWatch, iPad)
• Recording Formats: Three recording modes with customizable settings

Pros:

• Built-in app for iOS devices
• Easy editing options
• Transcription capabilities

Cons:

• Limited codec support
• Only available on iOS devices

Apple’s Voice Memos app is a built-in iOS app for recording audio, offering an easy and convenient way for iPhone users to record voice memos without needing to download a separate app. With customizable settings, noise suppression, and echo cancellation, Voice Memos provides clear and high-quality audio recordings. It also offers easy editing options, allowing users to trim and edit recordings, add labels and tags, and share recordings via email or social media.

The downside, however, is that Voice Memos is an iOS-only app, leaving Android users without access. Additionally, the app supports a limited range of codecs, which may affect compatibility with certain audio players or editing software. Despite these hurdles, Voice Memos remains a superb option for iOS users in need of a straightforward, built-in avenue for high-quality audio capture.

Voice Recorder & Audio Editor: Best for Multi-Purpose Use

Price: Free (with in-app purchases)

Specifications:

• Compatibility: iOS
• Recording Formats: MP3, WAV, AAC
• Additional Features: Automatic transcription, audio trimming, notes

Pros:

• Multi-purpose app with a retro look
• Basic features for free
• $5 upgrade for extras like transcription and audio trimming

Cons:

• Not available for Android devices

Voice Recorder & Audio Editor is a multi-purpose voice recorder app with a retro look, offering basic features for free and a $5 upgrade for extras like transcription and audio trimming. The app provides:

• High-quality audio recording
• Support for multiple audio formats
• Ability to add notes to individual recordings
• Upload recordings to cloud storage services like iCloud Drive, Dropbox, GoogleDrive, and more
• Share recordings via email, messages, social media, and other platforms
• Call recording feature that allows you to record incoming and outgoing phone calls

Even though Voice Recorder & Audio Editor isn’t available for Android devices, its versatility and feature-rich design make it a compelling option for diverse use on iOS platforms. Whether you need to record lectures, interviews, or personal memos, this app offers a comprehensive solution for all your audio recording needs.

Rev Audio & Voice Recorder: Best for Human Transcription Services

Price: Free

Specifications:

• Compatibility: iOS and Android
• Transcription Services: Human-powered
• Additional Features: High-quality audio recording, editing tools, cloud storage, sharing options

Pros:

• Human-powered transcription services
• Simple interface
• Cloud upload capabilities

Cons:

• No dedicated audio recording app

Rev Audio & Voice Recorder is a free app that offers human-powered transcription services as an added paid service, with a simple interface and cloud upload capabilities. The app provides:

• High-quality audio recording
• Easy sending of voice recordings, including phone calls, for transcription at a rate of $1.50 per minute
• A promise of a 12-hour turnaround time for transcriptions

Rev Audio & Voice Recorder, a voice record pro solution, is a convenient and efficient option for those who need professional transcription services.

The app, however, lacks a dedicated audio recording feature, compelling users seeking a more comprehensive recording and transcription solution to explore other alternatives. Despite this shortcoming, Rev Audio & Voice Recorder remains a superior option for those needing human transcription services, owing to its rapid, accurate transcriptions offered at a competitive rate.

Alice: A Unique Approach to Voice Recording

Price: Free

Specifications:

• Compatibility: iOS
• Unique Features: Creative interface, high-quality audio, various editing tools

Pros:

• Unique voice recording app with a creative interface
• High-quality audio
• Offers various editing tools for a personalized experience

Cons:

• Limited compatibility with other devices

Alice is a unique voice recording app with a creative interface, offering high-quality audio and various editing tools for a personalized experience. Its features include:

• Innovative design
• User-friendly interface
• High-quality audio recording
• Various editing tools

These qualities make Alice an appealing choice for users who want a fresh and distinctive approach to voice recording.

The downside is that Alice caters exclusively to iOS devices, limiting its compatibility and potentially leaving Android users out of its unique offerings. Despite this limitation, Alice is an excellent option for those looking for a one-of-a-kind voice recording app with a distinctive design and high-quality audio capabilities.

Tape-a-Talk: Best for Direct Home Screen Recording

Price: Free (with in-app purchases)

Specifications:

• Compatibility: Android
• Unique Features: Direct home screen recording, unlimited background recordings, customizable settings

Pros:

• Direct home screen recording
• Unlimited background recordings
• High-quality audio up to 44.1 kHz PCM with excellent recording quality

Cons:

• Not available for iOS devices

Tape-a-Talk is a direct home screen recording app with unlimited background recordings, customizable settings, and high-quality audio up to 44.1 kHz PCM. Its unique direct home screen recording feature makes it the ideal app for users who need quick and easy access to voice recording functions, including those who want to record phone calls and trim recordings.

Regrettably, Tape-a-Talk doesn’t cater to iOS devices, restricting its compatibility and possibly leaving iPhone users without access to its novel features. Nevertheless, for Android users seeking a fast and efficient solution for direct home screen recording, Tape-a-Talk is a top choice.

iPhone 15: Best for Integrated Voice Recording

Price: Starting at $799 at the Apple Store

Specifications:

• Improved performance
• Better cameras
• USB-C charging

Pros:

• Integrated voice recording
• Improved performance and cameras
• USB-C charging for faster charging times

Cons:

• Limited to iPhone users

iPhone 15 offers integrated voice recording with improved performance, better cameras, and USB-C charging, making it a top choice for Apple users. Its built-in voice recording capabilities provide an easy and convenient way for iPhone users to capture high-quality audio without needing to download a separate app.

The drawback, however, is that iPhone 15’s built-in voice recording features cater only to iPhone users, potentially leaving Android users without access to its advanced offerings. Despite this limitation, iPhone 15 is an excellent option for Apple users seeking a device with top-notch performance, cameras, and integrated voice recording features.

Google Pixel Phones: Best for Innovative Features

Price: $499

Specifications:

• Built-in Recorder app exclusive to Pixel devices
• Accurate AI transcription
• Real-time audio-to-text conversion

Pros:

• Innovative features
• Exclusive Recorder app for Pixel devices
• Accurate AI transcription

Cons:

• Recorder app not available on other Android devices

Google Pixel Phones are known for their innovative features, including a built-in Recorder app that can transcribe and search recordings, exclusive to Pixel devices. This Recorder app offers accurate AI transcription and real-time audio-to-text conversion, even without an internet connection.

The downside is that the Recorder app is exclusive to Pixel devices, which might exclude other Android users from utilizing its advanced features. Despite this limitation, Google Pixel Phones are an excellent choice for users seeking a device with innovative features and exclusive access to the built-in Recorder app.

Audio Recorder: Best Standalone Device

Price: $155

Specifications:

• Professional audio quality
• Ample storage space
• Long battery life

Pros:

• Standalone device for professional audio recording
• Ample storage space for extensive recordings
• Long battery life for extended use

Cons:

• Bulky and heavy compared to mobile devices
• Some models may require a separate microphone purchase

Audio Recorder is a standalone device offering professional audio quality, ample storage space, and long battery life, ideal for those who prefer a dedicated device to record audio. With its exceptional sound quality and extensive storage capacity, Audio Recorder is perfect for capturing high-quality audio in various settings, such as interviews, meetings, or music performances.

The downside is that the Audio Recorder might be bulkier and heavier than mobile devices, making it a less convenient option for impromptu recording sessions. Additionally, some models may require a separate microphone purchase for optimal audio quality. Despite these hurdles, Audio Recorder remains a top pick for those in search of a professional, standalone device to capture high-quality audio.

Selecting the Right Audio Recording App for You

Choosing the best audio recording app for your needs can be a daunting task with so many options available. To help you make an informed decision, consider factors such as:

• Your device compatibility
• The level of audio quality you require
• The specific features you need, such as transcription services or editing capabilities.

Ultimately, the right audio recording app for you will depend on your unique preferences and requirements. By weighing the pros and cons of each app and considering your unique requirements, you can confidently choose the best audio recording app that suits your needs for capturing superior audio in any setting.

Summary

In conclusion, the top 10 apps to record audio in 2023 offer a diverse range of features and capabilities to suit various needs and preferences. From simple and user-friendly options like Easy Voice Recorder to innovative and exclusive offerings like Google Pixel Phones’ Recorder app, there is an audio recording app for everyone. By considering your specific requirements and device compatibility, you can find the perfect app to capture high-quality audio recordings in any setting.

Frequently Asked Questions

What apps can you use to record audio?

You can use Easy Voice Recorder, Voice Memos, Recorder, Rev Voice Recorder, and Smart Recorder to record audio conveniently. These apps offer great features like 16-bit PCM recording, intuitive UI, advanced audio transcription, cross-platform compatibility, and wave/PCM encoding.

Is there a free audio recording app?

Yes, there is a free audio recording app – Free Sound Recorder. It can capture audio both internally and externally for Windows and Mac systems.

Is there an app to secretly record conversations?

Yes, there is an app that can secretly record conversations – Hoverwatch provides hidden call recording features and Private Recorder allows you to record audio/videos in a secret place inside the app.

What are the key features to look for in a voice recording app?

When selecting a voice recording app, look for audio quality, device compatibility, transcription capabilities, and editing options.

What is the difference between automated and human transcription services?

Automated transcription services rely on AI to convert audio into text, whereas human transcription services use professional transcribers to do the job manually. This gives human transcription a more accurate and reliable result.