Verithiathe honest score on any app
Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

Voice Memos & Sound Recorder vs Voice Recorder Lite

Voice Memos & Sound Recorder 4.6★ · Free + IAP 40
Winner Voice Recorder Lite
Voice Recorder Lite 4.6★ · Free + IAP 65

Voice Recorder Lite is a better choice for basic recording needs due to its more reliable core functionality and clearer free tier limitations, while Voice Memos & Sound Recorder struggles with reliability and a confusing payment model.

Full reviews: Voice Memos & Sound Recorder · Voice Recorder Lite

Voice Recorder Lite is generally more reliable for basic voice recording, despite its intrusive ads and limitations on sharing in the free version. Voice Memos & Sound Recorder offers transcription but is plagued by reliability issues, unexpected subscription demands, and poor user experience, making it a less dependable option.

Head to head

Features (Transcription, Organization, Playback) edge: Voice Memos & Sound RecorderR1R24R31R40
Voice Memos & Sound Recorder Voice Memos & Sound Recorder offers transcription, which some users find useful for journaling and creating lists, though it has significant usability issues like needing to select the language every time and losing formatting R31R40. It also provides folders for organization, a feature appreciated by users . However, some users report transcription not working at all R1 or having time limits R24.
Voice Recorder Lite Voice Recorder Lite's core features focus on recording and playback. Users appreciate the ability to change playback speeds, though some find the 1x and 2x options too far apart . It lacks advanced features like transcription but users find it good for basic recording and listening to their own voice .
Ease of Use tieR2R3R7R11
Voice Memos & Sound Recorder Users find Voice Memos & Sound Recorder generally easy to use for recording R3R11. However, many report significant problems with saving recordings, losing entire files if not explicitly saved, or if the app is cleared R7R16R32. Pop-up surveys and review requests are also a major annoyance R2R3.
Voice Recorder Lite Voice Recorder Lite is generally considered easy to use for its core function of recording . However, the free version is heavily criticized for intrusive and frequent ads that disrupt playback and recording, making it almost unusable for some R57R59R67.
Reliability edge: Voice Recorder LiteR7R10R16R32
Voice Memos & Sound Recorder Voice Memos & Sound Recorder has significant reliability issues. Users report the app failing to record, losing recordings, or not saving them correctly R7R10R16R32. Some also experience recordings stopping unexpectedly or the app not working at all R10.
Voice Recorder Lite Voice Recorder Lite generally records well with good sound quality . However, some users report issues with recordings not starting, not capturing sound, or stopping when messages come through .
Price/Value tieR1R4R10R13
Voice Memos & Sound Recorder Voice Memos & Sound Recorder is heavily criticized for its pricing model. Many users report it used to be free but now requires a subscription ($10/month) to record or use features, even after a 'free trial' that doesn't allow full testing R1R4R13R18. Some paying subscribers also report the app demanding payment again or failing to work despite an active subscription R10R20.
Voice Recorder Lite Voice Recorder Lite is free with in-app purchases, but the free version severely limits functionality. Users complain that they cannot save, share, or export recordings without upgrading to the 'Pro' version, effectively holding recordings hostage R51R54R68R69. The free version is also filled with frequent and disruptive ads R57R59R67.
Support tieR7R10R20R34
Voice Memos & Sound Recorder Reviews for Voice Memos & Sound Recorder do not directly mention user support, but the frequent issues with saving, subscriptions, and transcription suggest a lack of effective problem resolution or clear communication from the developers R7R10R20R34.
Voice Recorder Lite There is no direct feedback on customer support for Voice Recorder Lite. However, the consistent complaints about the free version's limitations and intrusive ads, which have not been addressed, imply a lack of responsiveness to user feedback R51R54R57R69.
Pick Voice Memos & Sound Recorder if

You prioritize transcription and organizational folders, and are willing to navigate a potentially frustrating payment model and saving quirks R31.

Pick Voice Recorder Lite if

You need a simple, reliable voice recorder for basic tasks and are either willing to tolerate frequent ads in the free version or pay to unlock full functionality and remove ads .

Evidence note: Both apps have a significant number of negative reviews related to their free-to-paid transitions and core functionality. Voice Memos & Sound Recorder's recent reviews are heavily skewed negative due to its shift to a subscription model and reliability issues, while Voice Recorder Lite's negativity stems from its ad-heavy free tier and restricted saving/sharing.

Frequently asked

Can I use Voice Memos & Sound Recorder for free?
No, Voice Memos & Sound Recorder is no longer truly free; many users report that after a few uses or a 'free trial,' you must pay a subscription, often $9.99/month, to record or access features R4R13R18R30.
Does Voice Recorder Lite let you save and share recordings for free?
No, Voice Recorder Lite's free version allows recording but explicitly prevents saving, sharing, or exporting recordings unless you upgrade to the 'Pro' version R51R54R68R75.
Are there many ads in Voice Recorder Lite?
Yes, users frequently report that Voice Recorder Lite's free version has an excessive number of intrusive ads that play during playback and recording, making the app nearly unusable for some R57R59R67R69.

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 110 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] Voice Memos & Sound Recorder 1/5 · US Free version did not work to transcribe for some reason.: Don’t see the point of free trial if you cannot try it.
  2. [R24] Voice Memos & Sound Recorder 2/5 · US The sound an quality is great but time limits: I don’t like a verbal story transcripts will only do a x number of minutes then it stop an will not keep recording
  3. [R31] Voice Memos & Sound Recorder 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
  4. [R40] Voice Memos & Sound Recorder 1/5 · US Have to select English from a list of hundreds every time I try to transcribe!: That is absolutely ridiculous. I really should just cancel. My subscription. Never come back. That is crazy. Who the heck thought that would ever be a good idea every single time?
  5. [R2] Voice Memos & Sound Recorder 5/5 · US Praise & Suggestion: I started using this for work - recorded a positive affirmation for myself. Now I am using it to read a daily devotional as part of a group. One of the members learns better when he can listen as opposed to read, so I am recording each day and then sharing it with him. Couple of Suggestions or Spots to Tweak - The app has started popping up a survey question *while* I am
  6. [R3] Voice Memos & Sound Recorder 3/5 · US Recorder: This is an easy app to use. Only complaint is the infernal pop up to enroll drove me crazy.
  7. [R7] Voice Memos & Sound Recorder 1/5 · US Not Worth The Money: The sound is really good, but it’s easy to lose entire recordings because you changed the name of the recording before clicking save first. I clicked to edit the title then clicked save and the recording deleted. It’s not reliable, you will likely lose a receding at some point.
  8. [R11] Voice Memos & Sound Recorder 5/5 · US As promised: Recorder does what is says, no messing around like other similar space apps! Can open and be recording immediately which for myself is the whole point of having the app.
  9. [R10] Voice Memos & Sound Recorder 1/5 · US Unreliable: My subscription is active until 2025. I used the app several days ago. Tonight when I needed to use it, it would not record. So I had to use another app. This is not the first time the app has not worked and I had to switch. If you need 100% dependability, this is not the app to use, especially for the money.
  10. [R16] Voice Memos & Sound Recorder 1/5 · US Won’t save: I’ve attempted three recordings in the past two days, none of them have saved. I’ve clicked save in the upper right hand corner after stopping the recording. Saving shouldn’t be a ten step process.
  11. [R32] Voice Memos & Sound Recorder 1/5 · US Does not save: If you’re creating a voice memo it will not save unless you click the save button! I accidentally cleared the app and it deleted everything I had recorded bc I didn’t press save before clearing. It should have an auto feature where when you reopen the app it asks if you want to keep working or something. Everything is just gone now
  12. [R4] Voice Memos & Sound Recorder 2/5 · US Why make it subscription only????: I used to use this app all the time to record book readings for my friends and all of a sudden I can’t record anything without a subscription??? Not worth the 10 dollars a month I’ll find something else
  13. [R13] Voice Memos & Sound Recorder 1/5 · US Aweful: VERY disappointed that you can’t even try the app without signing up for a free trial & subsequently subscribing??!! I have a voice memo app on my iPhone, but I was interested in this one for the transcribing feature and if worth it, I would’ve subscribed for it, but I’m not being forced to sign up for an app before even getting to try it out!! I understand there’s a free trial but too ma
  14. [R20] Voice Memos & Sound Recorder 1/5 · US Scam - paid $9.99 for a couple of months and then said I needed to pay: STAY AWAY! You will lose money and NOT be able to record without paying more again, and then requesting refund(which you may or may NOT get back). I bought this and had it for about 3 months. I should have never spent that much money on it but I forgot I bought it. When I needed to use it I was welcomed with a message to purch
  15. [R34] Voice Memos & Sound Recorder 1/5 · US Unclear Directions: I lost my 3 hour recording that I needed to transcribe and could not recover it.
  16. [R18] Voice Memos & Sound Recorder 1/5 · US I don't like it: Ok first of all the like you do payment and don't want to pay for an app like bro second of all it doesn't let me record something bro if I could I would give it a 0 star I should've known better....., ireri
  17. [R30] Voice Memos & Sound Recorder 1/5 · US Not a free app: There is nothing anywhere in the description of this app that says you have to pay to use it. Just FYI, they give you only 3 free uses then you have to pay to use it. No thanks.
  18. [R51] Voice Recorder Lite 1/5 · GB Money making gimmick: You should allow people to save the recording without going pro - wasted my time
  19. [R54] Voice Recorder Lite 1/5 · GB Save to pro mode: Why the hack do i need pro mode to save into files or share? Don’t make apps if we cannot use without money lol, its not money making machines. You could add ads instead
  20. [R68] Voice Recorder Lite 5/5 · GB First time replay: Seems excellent quality - but don’t forget to turn the recording off as I did. Not great that it appears you need PRO version to move recording to another device it seems eg. By email
  21. [R75] Voice Recorder Lite 2/5 · GB Lack of feature details: You only find out the orange of features you can use after downloading which are limited. For most features including the sharing one you have to upgrade to the Pro version
  22. [R57] Voice Recorder Lite 2/5 · GB Ads too disruptive: Ads will play during playback and recording, rendering the app near useless Exit buttons are often obscured
  23. [R59] Voice Recorder Lite 3/5 · GB Rubbish: Too many adds, rather spend money on a tape recorder
  24. [R67] Voice Recorder Lite 1/5 · GB Very poor. Stupidly intrusive ads: Much as per the title. Can’t do anything without being pestered by useless ads. If you’re using a free app I’d guess you’re not in the market for high end semi pro microphones and the like. Didn’t recognise a cheap off the shelf lightning connected mic that other apps worked with seamlessly.
  25. [R69] Voice Recorder Lite 2/5 · GB Highway robbery you have been warned: This does record audio and seems to have a good graphical user interface and experience but however adverts every 20 to 30 seconds or 15 times the users screen is touched The developer has hidden ands withholds the recordings upon your device until you pay for the provision Absolute subscription gangsters They repackage other apps and you pay the for holding

Synthesized from 110 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store