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Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

Voice Recorder vs Goodnotes

Voice Recorder 4.7★ · Free + IAP 40
Winner Goodnotes
Goodnotes 4.7★ · Free + IAP 70

Goodnotes is the stronger choice for serious note-taking and organization, despite recent update issues, while Voice Recorder struggles with basic functionality and aggressive monetization.

Full reviews: Voice Recorder · Goodnotes

Goodnotes offers robust features for students and professionals, though recent updates have introduced bugs and usability concerns. Voice Recorder, while praised for transcription by some, is plagued by reliability issues, aggressive paywalls, and a lack of essential features.

Head to head

Features edge: GoodnotesR1R5R6R7
Voice Recorder Voice Recorder is praised by some for its transcription capabilities, especially for college students, and its ability to summarize information R5. However, many users report that core features like recording length, export, transcription completion, and summarization simply do not work or are locked behind a paywall R1R7R16R20. Some advertisements for features like voice-over are misleading, as the feature is not available R6.
Goodnotes Goodnotes is highly valued for its organizational tools, such as organizing notes by subject, and features like importing photos, flashcards, and various templates . Users appreciate its functionality for typing notes and adding images . However, recent updates have made some features less accessible, like cropping pictures, and introduced issues with AI tools requiring credits R57. Some users find the interface too complex compared to alternatives .
Ease of Use edge: GoodnotesR3R7R8R22
Voice Recorder Some users find Voice Recorder straightforward and easy to use for basic recording R8. However, many report difficulties finding recordings, editing transcribed text, or even accessing FAQs for help R7. The app is also criticized for being non-user-friendly due to its aggressive monetization, which prevents access to features without payment R3R22R34.
Goodnotes Goodnotes is generally considered easy to use for note-taking and organization, with a straightforward process for importing, exporting, and editing notes . However, recent updates have made navigation more difficult and frustrating for some, especially with text features and menu changes R57. Some older users find the interface challenging due to accessibility issues .
Reliability tieR1R7R10R14
Voice Recorder Voice Recorder suffers from significant reliability issues. Recordings frequently stop prematurely R1, the app fails to play back recordings R10, transcription gets stuck or doesn't work R16R20R30, and export features fail R7. Users also report that the app often says "retry" or encounters errors when trying to generate summaries or notes R14R20.
Goodnotes Goodnotes has a history of being stable, but recent updates, particularly to Goodnotes 6, have introduced numerous bugs, crashes, and performance issues R54R59. Users report notes going blank or disappearing before exams R56, lagging during writing R59, and syncing failures, especially on Mac . The app also causes devices to overheat and drain battery .
Price/Value edge: GoodnotesR3R4R9R12
Voice Recorder Voice Recorder is a free app with in-app purchases, but users widely criticize its aggressive paywall, stating that it's "crazy expensive" and forces payment after only a few recordings or for basic features R3R4R9R12. Many feel it's a "cashgrab" for features already available in default apps R12. Some are charged even after attempting to cancel a trial R30.
Goodnotes Goodnotes offers a free tier with limitations (e.g., three notebooks) and in-app purchases, including a one-time purchase option R51R53. Many users find the subscription prices reasonable and the app worth the cost for its features . However, some express frustration over having to pay for features that other apps offer for free and feel misled by pricing changes or subscription models, with some being charged unexpectedly .
Support edge: GoodnotesR7R14R56R72
Voice Recorder Users of Voice Recorder report extreme difficulty or inability to contact support. There is no option within the app to report concerns, get help, or leave comments R14. FAQs often do not open, leaving users without resources R7.
Goodnotes Goodnotes support receives mixed reviews. Some users report terrible customer service, dealing with AI bots and being ignored R56R72. Others have had positive experiences, with support replying and being grateful . However, issues like sync problems are known but not properly fixed .
Pick Voice Recorder if

You need a very simple voice recording app and are willing to pay for premium features, or if you primarily need basic transcription and summarization and are lucky enough for those features to work for you R5.

Pick Goodnotes if

You are a student or professional who needs a comprehensive note-taking app with strong organizational features, templates, and the ability to import and annotate documents, and you are prepared to navigate occasional bugs or recent UI changes .

Evidence note: Voice Recorder has a much smaller review base compared to Goodnotes, and a significant portion of its positive reviews are short, generic, or irrelevant (e.g., , , , , , , , , , , , , , ). This makes it challenging to draw strong conclusions from its positive feedback, while negative reviews are very specific about critical functionality failures. Goodnotes' recent negative reviews are heavily skewed by issues introduced in its Goodnotes 6 update, which contrasts with its higher lifetime rating.

Frequently asked

Does Voice Recorder offer a free version?
Voice Recorder is a free app with in-app purchases, but many users report that core features are locked behind a paywall after only a few uses, making it feel like a paid app R3R12R22R34.
Can Goodnotes be used for free?
Goodnotes offers a free tier, but it has limitations, such as restricting users to a maximum of three notebooks R51R53R106.
Are there known issues with Goodnotes 6?
Yes, many users report that the Goodnotes 6 update has introduced numerous bugs, performance issues like lagging and freezing, and made the app slower and harder to navigate compared to previous versions R54R57R59R78.
Does Voice Recorder reliably transcribe audio?
Many users report significant issues with Voice Recorder's transcription feature, including it getting stuck at 70%, not advancing, or failing to generate any notes or summaries, often returning an error R16R20R30.

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 Recorder 2/5 · US Length of recording: I downloaded this app for class lectures. When I press record and leave the phone alone, it seems to only record a few mins before stoping itself. Useless
  2. [R5] Voice Recorder 5/5 · US APP Review: Simply the best transcription app out there. Great for college students.!!! Definitely recommend this to my friends.
  3. [R6] Voice Recorder 3/5 · US Works as intended, although with some flaws.: So, I know this is somewhat similar to the default voice memos app that everyone has, but i feel like I’ve been scammed someway. I saw on an advertisement for this app specifically on YouTube, that you’re able to voice over your own previous recordings, yet I don’t have that option.
  4. [R7] Voice Recorder 2/5 · US Not always good: I bought this app to help me take accurate notes. The app says I can export the list or summary but when I try to do this nothing happens! So tried to open the FAQs to see if I something wrong. But the FAQs don’t open. I would appreciate hearing from the developer.
  5. [R3] Voice Recorder 3/5 · US Annoying: I mean it’s good but like bro after 2 recordings they literally just blast you with saying like get premium now like it’s so annoying bro
  6. [R8] Voice Recorder 5/5 · US Maravillo: Everything you need, nothing you don’t. Straight forward and straight forward. Nuff said
  7. [R22] Voice Recorder 1/5 · US A rubbish App: It won’t allow you to use any feature without money. This app is useless. DONT pay your money here
  8. [R10] Voice Recorder 1/5 · US Recorder: Uninstall this, it recorder but would not play!
  9. [R14] Voice Recorder 1/5 · US Doesn’t Work: I downloaded this app and tried to use it for recording of meeting notes. Tried to use it twice and and it just kept saying retry. There’s nowhere on the app itself to even reach report a concern or issue to anyone, get help or to leave a comment. So I pretty much just ended my subscription and moved on. I only lost $6.99, but thought this would be something that I could use in the f
  10. [R4] Voice Recorder 2/5 · US Cost: Crazy expensive!
  11. [R9] Voice Recorder 3/5 · US I don’t like how it costs money: 3
  12. [R12] Voice Recorder 1/5 · US Cashgrab for something that apple ALREADY HAS: They make you pay for more than 3 per day? and have barely any new features, it's literally a rip off of a tool that's already there, unbelievable.
  13. [R56] Goodnotes 3/5 · GB do NOT get this app: The stars was just so i could reach people, please don’t put trust into this app. I have had an issue of notes going blank before exams which is frustrating. They will literally just make your notes disappear. My note books are all blank. They don’t have a phone number for the purpose of ignoring you when you email them. The customer service is genuinely terrible. They will gi
  14. [R72] Goodnotes 1/5 · GB Trash: I’m trying to use a software for study. It is far away the most highly reviewed software but there are many little idiosyncrasies in a software that do not work. The marketplace is predatory and the prices are outrageous. I purchased a sticker pack for math study for £5 and it failed to create elements and it just doesn’t work. The support was terrible. I had to navigate to site by myself a
  15. [R34] Voice Recorder 1/5 · US Not free: Every time I try to use it tries to sell me a subscription and won’t record
  16. [R51] Goodnotes 1/5 · GB awful: The company have changed the subscription and now I can no longer edit more than three notebooks. This is completely messed up my university work and I now have to convert it all onto another platform for my final year, which is really not on.
  17. [R53] Goodnotes 3/5 · GB Annoying things about the app: I wish I could have more notebooks without paying
  18. [R106] Goodnotes 1/5 · GB Bad: Should be able to have more than 2 note books for free. Totally unfair.
  19. [R54] Goodnotes 2/5 · GB Disappointing upgrade - Goodnotes 6 ruined a great app: I have been using this app on my iPad Pro 2018, and performance is getting worse day by day. I paid for Goodnotes 6 hoping for a better experience, but it has completely ruined everything. Version five was absolutely excellent and stable, but version six is flooded with bugs and constantly freezes. I highly regret paying for this upgrade.
  20. [R57] Goodnotes 1/5 · GB Used to be good but now almost unusable: When they overhauled the menu, they prioritized pushing their new AI tools and handwriting-to-text features to the front Moving Copy and Cut into a menu. There goes muscle memory It’s also now much more difficult to crop pictures with slide handles. I am now reverting to leaving the app and doing it in photos. form over function. If I can’t revert I’l
  21. [R59] Goodnotes 3/5 · GB Great but lags: Is a brilliant app but sometimes whilst I’m writing will lag behind or just stat cutting out strokes and words, which gets very annoying fast
  22. [R78] Goodnotes 2/5 · GB Super slow: I’ve been using goodnotes since version 4. The upgrade to version 5 was amazing, but this upgrade to version 6 is simply embarrassing. The app is so slow which makes the studying so much harder. I’ve had to convert everything into PDF and export my notes back to goodnotes 4. My biggest regret was clicking to “upgrade” to the 6 version.
  23. [R16] Voice Recorder 1/5 · US Stuck at 70% in transcription: Intentando transcribir una entrevista y la app se detiene al 70 % y no avanza. No se que problema tiene la app, pero no ha transcrito ni una nota de voz
  24. [R20] Voice Recorder 1/5 · US Nothing will generate: I would like to find some person to contact. I did a few recordings and every time I try to do a summary or get notes from it it just says an error recurred and I try over and over and over.
  25. [R30] Voice Recorder 1/5 · US Useless garbage: Got my money and even tough I tried to cancel same hour after found out it was useless, it still charged me. Has no features like noice reduction. Pointless. Didn’t even manage to prescribe

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