The Best Phone Call Recording Apps: A Comprehensive Guide
Phone call recording has come a long way from its early days. Before digital recording, people had no practical way to capture conversations. Telegraphs were recorded with Morse code, and it was not until 1877 that the phonograph made voice recording possible.
Now, modern call recording software lets you record calls with just one click. You can also choose which contacts to include or exclude, making the process simple and efficient.
This article explores the best phone recording apps available today. Before diving into the top choices, let's understand how call recording software works and its benefits.
What Is Call Recording Software?
Call recording software is a tool that lets you save phone calls as audio files. Businesses use these tools for training, quality control, recordkeeping, and customer service.
- Record both inbound and outbound calls.
- Save calls as digital audio files for easy access.
- Use recordings for business, marketing, security, and compliance.
Most call recording software works over Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) or Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) connections. There are two main recording methods:
- Trunk side recording: Records calls before they enter the phone system, capturing all external communications.
- Extension side recording: Records calls after the PBX system, allowing capture of both incoming and outgoing calls.
Why Record Phone Calls?
People and businesses record phone calls for various reasons. Here are the top benefits:
- Fact verification: Useful in finance and banking to confirm customers' identities.
- Dispute resolution: Helps settle disagreements with accurate records of conversations.
- Recordkeeping: Stores important customer details for enhanced service and follow-up.
Call recording is popular across industries including finance, retail, healthcare, and customer service. According to a 2023 study, over 60% of businesses use call recording to improve quality assurance and customer experience.
Top Apps for Recording Phone Calls
Rev Call Recorder
- Free app for iPhones.
- Unlimited recording and high-quality audio playback.
- Share recordings easily via email or cloud storage.
- Requires a U.S. phone number as of 2022.
- Offers transcription services for your calls, making it ideal for business use (2022).
Call Recording by NoNotes
- Cloud-based storage for calls, available since 2007.
- Free plan allows up to 20 minutes of recording monthly.
- Transcription features through the NoNotes platform.
- Share recordings via email or messenger.
TapeACall Pro
- Works on both iPhone and Android.
- No limits on recording duration or storage.
- Records incoming, outgoing, and even ongoing calls.
- Uploads recordings to other apps or social media.
- Supports mobile Zoom call recording.
MSpy
- Known as a monitoring or "spy" app.
- Records up to five minutes per call.
- Tracks and manages data remotely.
- Accesses messages and recordings remotely, often without user knowledge.
Automatic Call Recorder
- Available on Android devices.
- Records both incoming and outgoing calls.
- Lets users set preferences for which calls to record.
Phone by Google
- Easy-to-use call recording included in Google's default phone app.
- Not available in all regions due to local laws.
Cube Call Recorder
- Advanced call recorder for Android.
- Supports recording from phone calls and apps like WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Skype, Viber, and more.
- Offers lists to exclude specific contacts.
- Premium version adds features like cloud backup and pin lock.
Call Recorder Lite (CRL)
- iPhone app that records both microphone and speaker output.
- Manual controls for starting and stopping recordings.
- Free version limits playback to the first minute; premium unlocks full access ($6.99/month with a 3-day free trial).
Blackbox Recorder
- Automatic call recording for Android.
- Features include security locks, cloud backup, and auto-cleanup of old files.
iRec Call Recorder
- Available for iOS, supports both manual and automatic recording.
- Offers file management options like format selection, storage location, and audio encoding.
- Includes features such as search and record deletion.
Important Considerations When Choosing a Call Recorder
- Check local laws before recording calls. Some states and countries have strict regulations.
- Look for cloud storage options for easy access and sharing.
- Transcription features can save time and improve recordkeeping. Services like GoTranscript's transcription services offer quick turnarounds.
- Consider automated solutions for bulk work using automated transcription or AI transcription subscription.
- Compare prices using reliable resources for transcription pricing or captioning services pricing.
How to Get the Most Out of Your Call Recordings
- Use transcription proofreading services for error-free transcripts.
- Enhance accessibility with closed caption services or subtitling services for video calls.
- Reach a global audience with text translation services and audio translation options.
Conclusion
Choosing the best phone call recording app depends on your phone type, legal requirements, and planned use. For many users, apps like Rev Call Recorder and Call Recording by NoNotes offer free recording with helpful options like transcription. Remember to use these tools responsibly and check if your region allows call recording.
For added value, services like GoTranscript offer expert transcription, captioning, and translation—even for your call recordings. To get started, you can order transcription or order captions to make your recorded calls even more accessible and useful.