An iPhone can be one of the most convenient devices you can have in your pocket. It can do just about everything, from making calls and browsing social media to measuring the size of the rooms in your house. But an iPhone can't do everything.
Apple generally doesn't allow recording conversations out of respect for privacy laws and its users. That said, there are a few ways to record a phone call if you need to, just make sure you do it legally.
How to Record a Phone Call on Your iPhone (The Easy Way)
The easiest way to record a call on your iPhone is to use a standalone device. If that sounds primitive, you're right: it is. But while third-party apps can sometimes fail, this one works every time.
Here's how to use another device to record a call on your iPhone:
- Find a recording device: Grab another smartphone, tablet, or recording-capable device and place it near the iPhone speaker to capture the conversation.
- Experiment with placement: Where you place the device can affect the audio quality of your recording. Adjust the microphone distance and angle to find the best position to capture both voices clearly. This will take some experimentation, so be sure to make a few test calls before using this technique to find the optimal position for your equipment.
- Start recording: When you're ready, start the call and turn on speakerphone on your iPhone. When the person you're calling answers, ask for their consent to be recorded. If they agree, tap Record on your recording device. Make sure you comply with all applicable call recording laws where you live before you start recording.
Other ways to record a phone call on your iPhone
If using another device to record iPhone calls seems like too much hassle, I understand. There are other, easier ways to record your calls.
Download a call recording app
The App Store offers a variety of third-party call recording apps, which work by recording the call on their servers and giving you access to the files. One weakness of these apps is that they might not be available in all regions; it depends on Apple's privacy policy in your location. Some of these apps are free, and others require a subscription.
Free call recording apps
Free apps offer basic call recording features with limitations, such as the length of recorded calls and the number of recordings you can create. Some offer a free trial period for premium features with prompts to upgrade to paid accounts. Some free call recording apps are ad-supported; you may get full functionality for no charge, but you may see ads when using the app.
Paid apps to record calls
Paid apps often offer features like unlimited call recording, cloud storage, advanced organizational tools, and other capabilities like transcription services. Some apps offer annual or monthly subscriptions. Others require you to make a one-time purchase to permanently unlock all features. Prices for paid apps range from $5.99 per month to $29.99 per month.
Use a magnetic call recorder
Magnetic call recorders attach to your iPhone to record calls. They plug directly into your phone's audio input so you can record conversations without having to rely on your phone.
These devices are fairly simple to use. All you have to do is charge the magnetic call recorder, if necessary, and plug it into your iPhone's audio port. Some devices can record calls wirelessly, so you won't need a wired connection. Once you initiate or receive a call, it will automatically capture the conversation.
Magnetic call recorders use internal memory to store audio files. You can access them by connecting the device to your computer.
The advantage of these devices is that they offer high-quality recordings without relying on your iPhone's operating system or third-party software. The disadvantages are that they must be physically connected to your phone, which can be cumbersome, and they may only work with certain iPhone models.
Record calls with Google Voice
It seems like Google has a software for every purpose. Google Voice is their VoIP service for making and receiving phone calls over the Internet. You can link it to your phone number and use its recording features to record your calls.
Here we'll explain to you how to do it:
- Create a Google Voice account and link it to your phone number.
- Enable call recording in Google Voice settings.
- Press 4 on your phone keypad to start recording. Press 4 again to stop.
Google Voice does not include security measures to ensure compliance with call recording laws, so you should be aware of and comply with local privacy laws when using this software.
Use software for Mac or PC
Another way to record iPhone calls is to use recording software on your desktop or laptop.
There are a variety of apps available that allow you to connect your iPhone via USB and capture phone calls directly to your PC or Mac. These apps typically offer high recording quality and versatility for managing audio files on your computer.
But simply needing a computer with the right software installed presents challenges. Installing the software and making the recordings can also be tricky if you're not tech-savvy.
It's not practical to record tons of calls on an iPhone
While it is possible to record calls on your iPhone, it isn't very practical, especially if you're trying to capture phone recordings on a large scale. If you need to record a high volume of calls, a VoIP service is a much better option.
WATCH: Nextiva vs RingCentral (2024): Which is Better for Your Business?
The best VoIP platforms offer built-in tools that make call recording easy, even for a call center that has to record thousands of calls each week. Most VoIP systems are also designed to ensure you comply with privacy laws. Plus, a single VoIP line typically costs less than a cell phone plan.
Do your business priorities depend on the quality and quantity of iPhone calls you can record? If so, you don’t want to rely on a makeshift solution or app that might not work in some situations. A VoIP system is probably the best option to give you the scalable call recording capability to meet your goals.
