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Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
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Is it worth paying for

Voice Memos & Sound Recorder

30
Value score / 100 Worth paying? No Skip it

This app is generally not worth paying for due to numerous complaints about lost recordings, non-functional features like transcription, and aggressive monetization tactics, despite some users finding its basic recording function easy to use.

Free + in-app purchases seen up to $199.99 4.6★ lifetime (13,635) since 2020

Voice Memos & Sound Recorder receives a lifetime rating of 4.6, but recent reviews highlight significant issues with lost recordings, non-working transcription, and an aggressive paywall, making its paid features unreliable. While some users appreciate its simple recording, the high price and functional flaws outweigh the benefits for most.

Free vs paid

The app is advertised as free but quickly forces users to pay for a subscription to access recordings or continue using basic features R43. Many users report that features like transcription, which are often a paid offering, do not work even after purchase R6R12R14. Some users also report losing access to their existing recordings unless they subscribe R39R40.

Value complaints

  • The app is too expensive, with prices ranging up to $199.99, and many users complain about being charged fraudulently or unexpectedly after a 'free' trial.R1R12R33R35
  • Users are forced to pay for a subscription or in-app purchase to access basic recording features or their existing recordings, even after just one recording.R19R39R40R43
  • The transcription feature, often a key reason for purchase, is frequently reported as not working, inaccurate, or having limited functionality.R6R12R14R29
  • Recordings are frequently lost or disappear, especially after renaming, upgrading the phone, or due to saving issues, making the app unreliable.R1R2R13R15
  • The app incessantly asks for reviews, often interrupting recordings or playback, which is frustrating and detracts from the user experience.R5R8R9R24

Where it delivers

  • Some users find the app's basic recording function easy to use and appreciate the sound quality.R11R16R17R28
  • The app offers folders for organizing voice memos, a feature some users find lacking in the built-in iPhone app.R96
  • The transcription feature, when it works, is useful for journaling or creating lists, allowing users to copy and format text.R87R100R211
Worth paying if

It might be worth paying if you only need a very basic recording function and are willing to tolerate frequent review prompts and potential data loss, though the iPhone's built-in app is likely superior R10.

Skip / stay free if

Skip this app if you need reliable recording, functional transcription, or do not want to be constantly prompted for reviews or forced into a subscription R1R6R8R10.

Evidence note: The lifetime rating of 4.6 is significantly higher than what recent reviews suggest, which are heavily skewed negative due to monetization changes and functional issues. Many positive reviews are short and lack detail, or mention issues that contradict the high rating. The negative reviews are far more detailed and consistent in their complaints.

Frequently asked

Does Voice Memos & Sound Recorder offer a free trial?
Yes, the app offers a free trial, but users report being charged fraudulently or unexpectedly for subscriptions like $98.95 or $105.99 even after canceling or within minutes of starting the trial R10R33R35R36.
Can I transcribe recordings with this app?
While the app advertises a transcription feature, many users report that it either does not work at all, is inaccurate, or only transcribes a small portion of longer recordings R6R12R14R29.
Are my recordings safe in Voice Memos & Sound Recorder?
Many users report losing important recordings, with files disappearing after renaming, upgrading iPhones, or due to issues with the saving process R1R2R13R15.
Does this app have a time limit for recordings?
One user reported that the app stops recording at 45 minutes, which can be a limitation for longer events like college lectures or business meetings R98.

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 120 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

  1. [R1] 1/5 · US Horrible: Price is Too high. Didn’t use to be a price. Also… You deleted several of my very important meeting logs. Over a years worth.
  2. [R12] 1/5 · US VERY DISAPPOINTED: This app is very confusing I just paid $24.99 for something that does not work.. please help me
  3. [R33] 1/5 · US FRAUD: I was offered 2 days of free subscription and was charged $105.99 5 mins later- please help
  4. [R35] 1/5 · US Need Refund: Cancelled before Free Trial was over then was charged the $98.95 for Annual fee. No way to contact them for refund!!!
  5. [R19] 1/5 · US Subscription required: I’m not paying a subscription for this
  6. [R39] 1/5 · US Where did my recordings go?: I had this app since my first born in 2022 and had precious recordings from when he was a newborn to now. I opened the app today and now I have to have a subscription to access them? I really hope they’re still there or I’ll be devastated.
  7. [R40] 1/5 · US What happened to my recordings??: So I’ve had this app for a few years and had quite a few recordings. I just openedthe app to see them and now I have to pay? Where is my stuff?
  8. [R43] 4/5 · US Where did the free app go?: I loved the free part. I use it so infrequently that I can’t justify paying for the Voice Memo Pro. Now my only option is to click get started for a free trial. I had a few small recordings on there but can’t get to them. It may be time to look for a new app.
  9. [R6] 1/5 · US Rip off: This is a rip off , transcription isn’t working and it’s the main reason why I purchased it
  10. [R14] 1/5 · US Transcription not working for me which is what i bought it for: bummer! hoping for a refund
  11. [R29] 1/5 · US What am I paying for?: This app records well and that’s about it. Transcribe is iffy. Consistently asked the language, there should be a way to store it. App stalls skips transcription of large parts of a recording. This app needs work. Needs to be user friendly and way less clunky. Also stop asking me to rate the app every touch I make in it, super annoying.
  12. [R2] 5/5 · US 04.15.26 important recording: Shows recording of select board meeting. Recording disappeared when stopped and asked to listen to
  13. [R13] 1/5 · US Sucks: Does not save
  14. [R15] 2/5 · US None: Good except ability to retrieve accidental deletion of recording when leaving app to answer incoming calls.
  15. [R5] 3/5 · US Mehh…: It is not clear how to edit a recording to keep one part and discard the rest, even tho there is an « edit «  button. Also it is constantly asking for a review. Frustrating. I hate also being asked for a comment. bothersome.
  16. [R8] 1/5 · US Incessantly Begging for Reviews: Looking for an easy app to use for recording voice memos, this app’s UX is currently designed around the team’s desire to flash the “usefulness” of their app. At launch, the app will display a collage of high user ratings. Then, as you click through the app, pop-ups soliciting for reviews will come up time and again. This is a visually noisy app and you’re better o
  17. [R9] 2/5 · US Incessantly Asks For Rating: Too aggressive about ratings.
  18. [R24] 4/5 · US Interruption: So far I like it, but, when I am trying to work (record) it keeps asking me, how do you like it? I’m doing this review to hopefully stop this prompt and finish a project. The settings can be a bit more intuitive. But that is more of a whine than an actual complaint that affects my experience. If the prompts stop most likely I will have have a 5 star review.
  19. [R11] 4/5 · US A Helping Assistant: I am a singer/songwriter/musician. Often a melody will start to play in my head, and this is a great place to capture it! Once I start playing or humming the tune that the Universe Divine has presented me with to write a new song, I find the iPhone, open up Voice Memo and Sound Recorder and hit record. There it is saved and I don’t lose a new melody or idea for a song. The re
  20. [R16] 5/5 · US Easy recording produced excellent sound!: 👍🏽
  21. [R17] 5/5 · US SOUND RECORDER.: QUALITY SOUND AND LESS FEED BACK
  22. [R28] 5/5 · US So Good!: Very easy to record! Every day!
  23. [R96] 5/5 · US Basic needs covered: Still learning this app but I really like it so far. So grateful to have folders for my voice memos. Shocking the built in app on the iPhone doesn’t have such a simple feature. This is a must have because the regular memo app is lacking tbh.
  24. [R87] 5/5 · US Great for Journaling: I spend a lot of time writing things down so I can better remember them later, and sometimes that takes up a large part of my day. I used to write by hand, but that easily became a mess as I journaled more and more. I switched to typing and it is a lot better, but still not exactly what I was looking for. I have been playing with the app and it already is great. I use the tra
  25. [R100] 4/5 · US Lists: As the new year approaches, I want to begin a habit of having a grocery list when I shop. I love that with this app I can dictate my list and transcribe it. Then I copy it onto the Notes tab and format it into a list. I gave this app a rating of 4 stars out of 5 because of the extra steps of copying and formatting it on the Notes tab. I am able to format it on the Transcribe tab but it doe
  26. [R211] 3/5 · US Simple Recording App: Easy to use recording app and the transcription feature works well. However once transcribed you can’t do anything with the text. There is no way to share or even copy it so it’s useless. It’s basically the Voice Memos app with a cute voice to text add on, but it’s no more useful.
  27. [R10] 1/5 · US Why does app even exist?: I can’t see a single feature this app does better than the built in app. Why would anyone want or develop this? And cation - the 3-day trial ending auto-subscribes you for a year!
  28. [R36] 1/5 · US DO NO SIGN UP FOR FREE TRIAL!!!! Terrible app and fraudulent billing!!!: I signed up for a three day free trial. I only really had two days to cancel. I signed up for the regular service, but was charged for premium. And I was not given any options for refund no matter who I spoke to. Do not get this app you will be billed fraudulently!
  29. [R98] 4/5 · US Useful: This app appears to be useful for the short period of time I have used it. However, it stops recording at 45 minutes, which does pose some limitations, such as college lectures or business meetings. Increasing the recording time to at least an hour would be nice and provide complete coverage in most cases.

Synthesized from 120 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store