This article was originally published in 2018 and was last updated and checked for accuracy in September 2023.
In the age of smartphones, audio recording apps have changed the way we record and share audio. From recording interviews and lectures to creating podcasts or music demos, these apps offer a diverse range of features. Join us as we dive into the world of audio recording apps, exploring the top contenders and their unique capabilities. Whether you’re a journalist, musician, or simply want to document precious moments, these apps can help you unleash your creativity and record high-quality audio effortlessly.
The best audio recording apps for Android
BandLab
Price: Free/In-App Purchases ($3.00 – $149.99 per item)
BandLab is an above average audio recorder. It is mostly for the whole band or musicians. It includes a 12-track mixer, a bunch of audio samples, a looper, a guitar tuner and, of course, the ability to record audio. It might be a little too much for a single artist or simple voice recordings. Regardless, individuals who want to explore audio recording and require multi-track support will find this option a good choice. There is also an element of social media that people seem to enjoy.
Dolby On is a shockingly good audio recording app. It is useful for both voices and instruments. Not only does it do the basics, like record audio, but you can mess with it in a number of ways. Features include EQ, surround sound, noise reduction, and even fade-in and fade-out effects. The thing is, it doesn’t take many words to describe this app, but it does a bunch of things. This was one of our picks for the best of 2020, despite being just an audio recorder. It’s so good. The only downside is that it’s hard to back up your files if you don’t export the audio, so make sure you do. The app is also free as of this writing.
A simple voice recorder
Price: Free
Easy Voice Recorder is what the name says. This is mostly for simple voice recordings. You press a button, record some sound and that’s it. It works great for recording lectures, interviews and other practical purposes. It also exports to MP3, so it’s also decent for the occasional acoustic guitar recording or something. The app also supports Wear OS and includes a dark theme. The free version contains ads, the premium version does not. The Pro version costs $4.99. This is a good, simple audio recorder.
FL Studio Mobile
Price: $14.99 /in-app purchase ($0.99 – $13.99 per item)
FL Studio Mobile is quite similar to Caustic 3. It has many tools for electronic music such as electronica, techno, hip-hop and similar music styles. This includes many effects, synthesizers and the ability to record live audio if needed. You can create, mix, master, etc. There are tools for all these things. It also includes support for plugins. The app started off a bit clunky, but it got better over time. The price is also a bit high. We definitely don’t recommend this for simple recording tasks. The app costs $14.99. In-app purchases are for additional add-ons and accessories.
Hi-Q MP3 recorder
Price: Free
Hi-Q is an above-average voice recorder. It is mainly for business and academic use, such as meetings, interviews, notes, lectures and similar things. It supports MP3, which makes it decent for the occasional guitar song or musical idea. The app also has support for Dropbox, widgets and a WiFi transfer function. The quality is also pretty decent, although a lot depends on your device’s microphone as well. The Pro version of the app costs $3.49 or you can get it for free with Google Play Pass.
Music Maker Jam
Price: Free/In-App Purchases ($0.99 – $49.99 per item)
Music Maker Jam is a fairly popular audio recording and mixing application. It includes tons of samples, tools, and various features for creating music. You can also record your own music and vocals. He leans towards electronic music and drum beats more than other genres. However, it should work for most people who don’t need anything super complicated. The application is free. There are in-app purchases for additional add-ons and other content.
Smart voice recorder
Price: Free/In-App Purchases ($1.99 per item)
Smart Voice Recorder is another above average voice recorder. It functions and records like most voice recorders. However, this one has a few fun and useful features. For example, you can skip the silences in the recording and listen only to the parts with sound. It also has external SD card support, background recording and more. Like most, the free version has advertising, while the premium version does not. It is a perfectly usable audio recording application. This app is also free with Google Play Pass.
Voice recorder
Price: Free/In-App Purchases ($4.89 per item)
Voice Recorder by Quality Apps has a lame name, but otherwise it’s pretty good. There are a number of features, but most of them just cover the basics. Fortunately, it handles the basics well. This includes background recording, MP3 support and more. The developers also have a call recording app in case you need one. This works perfectly for casual ideas, lectures, recording some basic instruments and more. The app is free with ads or $4.89 without ads.
Walk Band
Price: Free/In-App Purchases ($0.99 – $7.99 per item)
Walk Band is not your usual audio recording app. This one is strictly for instruments. It has a bunch of simulated instruments for some basic stuff. It also supports MIDI controllers to record music with. There are several instruments in the app, with more available if needed. It also allows you to import recordings for others. This is one of the more complicated audio recording apps on the list. This is definitely not recommended for simple things. This one is also free if you use Google Play Pass.
OEM recording applications
Price: Free
Most devices come with some kind of recording app. Most are nothing special. However, some devices have a special sauce that gives audio files extra quality. The LG G and V series devices are excellent examples. Additionally, OEM-specific recording apps are guaranteed to work with all microphones on the phone, something you might not see in third-party solutions. We recommend that you at least try your phone’s default recording app, if you have one. It might surprise you.