How I’m Assessing Them
I’ve opted to assess these apps through four key criteria:
Voice quality – How well the app’s recording sounds Ease of use – How easy the app is to pick up and use Design – How the app pleases, or doesn’t please, the eye Extra Features – Any notable extra features
1. Easy Voice Recorder
With a voice recorder, one of the most important things is to just be able to pick it up and record, replicating the instant, direct process of using a dedicated handheld voice recorder. Easy Voice Recorder does just that, and if you want to pay up for the Pro version, I think it’s great value too.
Voice quality – Great quality, with PCM and MP4 formats, or the compressed AMR formats Ease of Use – You can name and start recordings right from the main screen, and easily manage, share and edit existing recordings from the ‘Listen’ tab. No-frills, which is just what you need. Design – Interface is neatly separated into ‘Record’ and ‘Listen’ tabs, and has both light and dark themes. Again, simplicity is key. Extra features – In the pro version you get Bluetooth mic recording, skip silence, and other features
Overall grade: Recommended
2. Sony Audio Recorder
The Sony Audio Recorder app was originally designed for the Xperia line of devices and select Sony audio peripherals, but it’s also been released to the larger Play Store audience. The only requirement is that the device run Android 4.1, and despite its origins as a Sony-exclusive app, this recorder app has proven popular across a wide range of devices.
Voice quality – Fairly solid quality. Not the best, but one of the best. Ease of use – A familiar Material Design Interface makes this app a big winner in this category. The settings available to change on the home screen (recording mode and quality) are also the ones you typically want to adjust first, so having them out in the open is a big plus. Design – Material Design looks great on Android. Extra Features – No extra features to speak of, just a solid app for voice recording.
Overall Grade: Recommended
3. Hi-Q MP3 Voice Recorder
An audiophile is an enthusiast of high-end sound hardware. Does it surprise anyone, then, that of the voice recorder apps for Android, Audiophile’s Hi-Q MP3 Voice Recorder is one of the best? A multitude of premium features and performance sets this app apart from the others.
Voice quality – The best of them all, thanks to a higher range of recording options. Ease of use – Generally easy to use, but you’ll want to dive into options to make the fullest use of the app. Other voice recorder apps can change the settings you need to change most quickly right from the home screen, but you’ll need to do a tiny bit of extra work with this one. Design – Very visually-pleasing. Looks like a modern smartphone app. Extra Features – Supports Dropbox uploading, as well as widgets. However, this version of the app is restricted to ten-minute recordings if you don’t buy premium. An unfortunate downside.
Overall Grade: Highly Recommended, if you are willing to pay.
4. Smart Voice Recorder
SmartMob’s Smart Voice Recorder really wants you to think it’s a smart choice, if its name is any indication. For the most part, it is, even though there may be a turn-off for some users. Let’s dive in.
Voice quality – Good voice quality. Among the best, but falls short of Hi-Q. Ease of use – Easy to pick up and use and sets default settings to highest recording bitrate offered. However, actually changing options requires a dive into a settings menu. Design – Simple design. Looks decent enough, but the full-time ad display can be considered an eyesore and the interface also doesn’t look particularly great either. Extra Features – None to speak of.
Overall Grade: Recommended, but the interface doesn’t look that great and there’s a full-time advertisement.
5. Green Apple Studios Audio Recorder
You know how they say “don’t judge a book by its cover?” Looking at Green Apple Studio’s voice recorder app for Android, I had very low expectations. Fortunately, however, it manages to kick a poor first impression by being a solid app. Unfortunately… it’s still pretty ugly.
Voice quality – Good voice quality. Ease of use – App is easy to use, and all the options/settings you need to change are very accessible. Design – The actual design is noticeably clunky. This app isn’t going to win any beauty contests. Plus, the ad is there full-time. Extra Features – Can send/share recordings from within the app, which is nifty.
Overall Grade: Recommended. Visual design leaves a lot to be desired (with yet another full-time ad), but ease of use and extra features knocks it up a few notches.
Final Consensus
Audiophile’s recorder is the clear winner in most categories, but if you don’t have cash to shell out and need to record files longer than ten minutes, you may be better-suited by using one of the other apps. In that case, I’d recommend Sony’s app for simplicity or Green Apple Studio’s app for a little more in terms of depth. Before writing this article, I had actually used Green Apple Studio’s app! After all is said and done, these five apps are the best voice recorder apps for Android.
