How to Record a Phone Call on iPhone: Simple & Legal Methods

Have you ever had that “What did they say?” moment right after hanging up a call and wished you had a way to play that call back one more time?

Recording a Phone Call on iPhone can be a lifesaver, whether it is to recall important business details or to just hold on to a memory–a keepsake. 

But let’s be real here: Because of privacy concerns, the iPhone makes it nearly impossible to record a phone call. Don’t worry, though! This guide provides straightforward methods on How to Record a Phone Call on iPhone while navigating the legal issues regarding call recording. 

Here’s to catching every call!

Understanding the Legal Aspects of Call Recording on iPhone

Recording phone calls can be crucial and, in most business instances, compulsorily so, but loads of legal aspects stay your hand from recording every Tom, Dick, and Harry call out there, and that’s for the best.

These laws protect the caller’s privacy, and if one is disrespectful concerning these rights, severe legal repercussions will arise. 

The laws on recording calls vary depending on where you are. Some countries are easy and require only One-Party Consent, meaning that in order for a call to be recorded, only one of the participants has to consent.

In contrast, Two-Party Consent laws require the consent of all the participants before you can legally record the call. The United States has a mix of both laws, while other countries, like Canada and most of Europe, insist on the Two-Party Consent rules. 

How to Record a Phone Call on iPhone?

Let’s look at some of the ways you can record your call on your iPhone:

Using the Built-in Voice Memos App on iPhone

Using the built-in voice memos app on your iPhone is the most reliable way to record your calls. Let’s look at the step-by-step guide on how you would use it: 

• Prepare for Call Recording: Before you record a call, you have to start the memo app on your phone. Another thing to consider will be whether you have enough storage space to store the audio for the duration you need. 
• Enable Speaker Mode: After you are prepared, call the person or receive the incoming call. When the call is connected, switch it to speaker mode. This will enhance your audio clarity, and the Voice Memos app captures audio through a microphone. 
• Start Recording in Voice Memos: After the call has entered speaker mode, swipe to access your voice memos app. The record button in the app will help you start capturing the conversation. 
• Speak Clearly and Reduce Background Noise: To ensure a good quality recording, speak into the microphone and make sure that you are recording in a quiet environment. If both parties are aware of the call recording, that makes for a better quality as both can focus on speaking clearly. 
• End the Recording: When the call has ended, turn the voice memos app on and tap the stop button. This will end the recording, and the file that was recorded up to this point will be saved in voice memos. 
• Review and Save the Recording: Go back to the recorded file and play it back. Ensure its quality and rename the file to categorize it for later purposes. Proper naming and storage will help for an easy reference later. 

1. Share or Export the Recording (Optional): iPhone also gives you access to the feature to share your recording. So, if you feel like it, tap the share icon and choose your preferred method, like email or iCloud. 

Exploring Third-Party Call Recording Apps for iPhone

Using the Voice Memos app is sufficient to record a phone call, but if you want customizable recording with more built-in features, you might need to explore third-party apps. Let’s look at the market’s top choice for recording calls for iPhone: 

1. Rev Call Recorder

Rev Call Recorder is a powerful app that allows users to record calls, both incoming and outgoing calls. This app doesn’t have any duration limitations, allowing you to keep track of all conversations you make.

Features: 

• Free call recording.
• Option for transcription services at $1.50 per minute.
• Easy sharing options via email or cloud services.

Pros: 

• Free unlimited recording of calls.
• High-quality audio is suitable for transcription.
• Simple, user-friendly interface.
• Ad-free experience.

Cons: 

• Limited to iOS users.
• Requires a U.S. phone number for registration.
• Occasional minor bugs.
• Transcription services come with additional fees.

2. TapeACall

TapeACall is another popular call-recording app that merges calls with a dedicated recording line. For a one-time fee, you can access unlimited recordings. 

Features: 

• Unlimited recordings for a one-time fee.
• Ability to share recordings via email or social media.
• Provides transcripts for an additional fee.

Pros: 

• Unlimited call recordings for a one-time fee.
• Easily shareable recordings via email, social media, or cloud.
• Intuitive and user-friendly design.
• Transcription services are available for an extra cost.

Cons: 

• Upfront payment is required.
• Uses call merging, which can be cumbersome.
• Limited free trial period.
• Transcription costs add to expenses.

3. Call Recorder – IntCall

This app allows users to record calls made over cellular networks as well as VoIP calls.

Features: 

• Pay-per-use model.
• User-friendly interface.
• Recordings can be stored within the app or shared externally.

Pros: 

• Pay-per-use model offers flexibility.
• Records both cellular and VoIP calls.
• Easy to navigate and user-friendly.
• Suitable for infrequent callers.

Cons: 

• Per-minute charges can add up quickly.
• Requires a stable internet connection for VoIP.
• Limited features in the free version.
• It may not be as cost-effective for frequent users.

Best Practices for Recording Calls on iPhone

Just because you understand how to record calls on an iPhone doesn’t mean anything, as there are a lot of other practices you must consider before you can start logging your phone calls. Let’s look at some of the factors that matter: 

I. Understand the Legal Aspects

Before you can start recording your calls, you need to be familiar with the legal necessities that bind you within your country. However, that is not enough; you also need to consider the rules of the location where the call recipient lives. Understand the consent rules and record only when it is legal to. 

Non-compliance with these rules will lead to severe legal punishments like penalties, fines, or even lawsuits. 

II. Use Trustworthy Apps

Many third-party apps for iPhones allow you to record your phone calls. Recording on iPhones will become less challenging if you understand which apps to trust and which not to. 

Using Trustworthy apps like TapeACall and Rev Call Recorder will elevate recording phone calls on iPhone to the next level, ensuring security without compromising on recording quality. 

III. Ask for Consent

Phone call recording in almost all places in the world requires the consent of both parties involved. So, before recording phone call, make sure that the other person is aware of what is happening. 

To avoid legal repercussions, ask for consent; if they don’t agree, be compliant, press the red button, and stop recording.

IV. Check Storage Space

Whether you record outgoing calls or incoming calls, you need storage space on your phone to store the recordings. So, before you record an important phone call, make sure to check for available storage space on your iPhone. 

Manage your phone storage, block spam calls, and clear unnecessary files to create ample space for your phone recordings and keep your device optimized. 

V. Be Mindful of Audio Quality

If your audio recording doesn’t have clear and understandable sound, it is almost useless. So, before recording your call on your iPhone, you need to be in a noise-free background. Other factors that affect audio quality might be network coverage, phone placements, and microphone quality. 

Since the newest iPhones—the Pro Max ones–come with a good-quality microphone, you don’t need an external microphone to record good audio. 

Conclusion

To wrap up, since call recording is an essential phone feature, you need to be aware of how to record your calls. However, in doing so, you should not harm the privacy of the other person involved in the call. 

Since the iPhone doesn’t have a built-in method for recording calls, you can use the steps mentioned above to have your call recorded. 

NOTE: Strictly follow all the legal restrictions; otherwise, you might be subject to legal penalties. 

FAQs

What should I do if someone objects to my call recording?

If someone objects to your call recording, you should consider the legality and take appropriate action. If you are in a One-party Consent Country, you can continue to record the call, but if you are in a place where you need the consent of both parties to record a call, you must stop the recording immediately. If you fail to do so, the person in question can press legal charges against you.  

Do I need to inform the other party when recording a call?

Yes, you are not always required to inform the other party when recording a call, but it is considered a good practice to do so. In countries that follow the two-party consent, you are legally obligated to inform the other party before recording calls. 

Still, even in cases where the jurisdiction forces you to inform the other party, it is a good practice to do so. 

How to record a Phone call on android?

Here’s a quick guide to recording a phone call on Android:

1. Check Local Laws
2. Use Built-in Recorder 
3. Use Google Voice (Available in select regions):
4. Third-Party Apps:
5. Save and Access Recordings:

How to use Google Voice to record calls on my iPhone?

To  record your calls on iPhone using Google Voice, follow these steps: 

1. Install Google Voice, open it, and sign in.
2. Go to Settings and enable Incoming Call Options.
3. Answer calls via Google Voice; press 4 to start or stop recording.
4. Recordings will be saved in your Google Voice inbox.