Call recording can be a useful and even essential for recording an interview, keeping records of your communications, or just keeping logs of your phone calls for admin purposes.

While the basic premise of a call recorder is simple, many of these apps differ when it comes to ease of use, playback, and more. In addition, you’ll need to decide whether you’re willing to pay for a call recorder or whether you want free software with potentially fewer features.

Keep in mind that the laws around call recording vary between states and countries. If you’re planning to record a call, it’s always good practice to ask the person you’re talking to first.

With that, let’s take a look at the five best call recorder software options you can start using today.

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1. ACR Call Recorder

Best free call recorder for Android

Reasons to buy

+Automatic call recording toggle+Intuitive app interface+Search recordings by contact+Auto-delete old recordings

Reasons to avoid

-Manual recording requires upgrade-Doesn’t automatically back up recordings-Doesn’t record VoIP calls

For Android users, there are few free options better than ACR Call Recorder. This simple app features an on/off toggle switch that enables you to automatically record every call that takes place on your phone.

One of the best things about it is that it’s intuitive. You can search for recordings by contact names and easily share recordings right from the app. It also comes with an auto-delete option so that your phone’s storage doesn’t fill up with old recordings.

The only downside is that if you leave automatic recording off and want to manually start recording for a specific call, you’ll need to upgrade to the paid version.

2. Cube Call Recorder

Best Android app for recording VoIP calls

Reasons to buy

+Supports multiple apps+Record by contact+Start recording mid-call+Supports automatic backups

Reasons to avoid

-Security costs extra-Free version includes ads-Only backs up to Google Drive

Many call recording apps only work if your call takes place through your phone’s built-in dialing app, not if you use a voice over IP (VoIP) app. But Cube Call Recorder is capable of recording calls through Skype, Facebook, WhatsApp, Slack, and more on Android devices.

The free version of this app comes with ads, but it offers most of the essential recording features that users need. You can choose to record every call or list specific contacts for recording your conversations. Starting a manual recording mid-call is free, too.

The premium version adds automatic backup, file security, and automatic deletion. For backup, your recordings are synced to Google Drive as soon as your call ends.

3. Blackbox Call Recorder

Best call recorder for professionals

Reasons to buy

+Reliable recording software+Customizable file organization+On-screen widget for manual recording+Security using password or pin

Reasons to avoid

-Requires monthly subscription-Doesn’t support VoIP recording-No automatic backups to cloud

Blackbox Call Recorder bills itself as reliable recorder software made for professionals. It requires a small monthly subscription, but, it brings a number of advanced features together in one place that you won’t find elsewhere.

For example, you can lock Blackbox to prevent unauthorized access with a password or pin. You can also set up your own file directory to better organize your files, and sort recordings by date, time, or duration. The app also provides you with an on-screen widget that you can use to start or stop recording calls manually.

The biggest downside to this platform is that it doesn't work with VoIP calls. So, if you frequently talk over WhatsApp, Skype, or another app, Blackbox Call Recorder won’t be able to capture those conversations.

4. Just Press Record

Best call recorder for iOS

Reasons to buy

+Works with iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch+Record from AirPods+Automatic transcription+Edit audio files in the app

Reasons to avoid

-Backup only syncs with iCloud-Doesn’t support VoIP-Complex interface-Doesn’t support automatic call recording

Just Press Record is easily the best call recorder software for iPhones if you’re willing to pay a small fee. Part of what makes this app great, especially for Apple fans, is that it’s available for iPad and the Apple Watch as well. You can record from your device’s microphone or from AirPods.

This recorder also features automatic transcription in over 30 languages. You can edit transcripts in a notepad-like tool within the app to get your recordings just right. All of the text is searchable within the app, too.

What’s more, Just Press Record supports audio editing. You can view the waveform of your audio file and cut out parts you don’t need to save space on your device.

5. Rev Call Recorder

Best free call recorder for iOS

Reasons to buy

+Free to use+No ads+Share recordings easily+No time or contact restrictions

Reasons to avoid

-Doesn’t record VoIP calls-No automatic cloud backups-Doesn’t offer a security lock

Rev Call Recorder is completely free call recorder software for iPhones. There are no limits or in-app ads, but keep in mind you can only register for this app if you have a US phone number.

The app is somewhat simple, but gets the basic features right. It records high-quality audio and you can share the files via email, text, or cloud app.

That said, you can’t record VoIP calls with Rev, and the app won’t automatically backup your recordings to the cloud for safekeeping. There’s also no way to set the app to automatically record all incoming and outgoing calls.

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Michael Graw

Michael Graw is a freelance journalist and photographer based in Bellingham, Washington. His interests span a wide range from business technology to finance to creative media, with a focus on new technology and emerging trends. Michael's work has been published in TechRadar, Tom's Guide, Business Insider, Fast Company, Salon, and Harvard Business Review.