Comparison

Audio Memos SE vs Smart Recorder and transcriber

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Audio Memos SE

Record high-quality audio memos with advanced features like volume boost, normalizing, and editing. Easily manage, back up, and share your recordings. Offers transcription and cloud storage with a subscription.

Highlights
  • High-quality audio recording
  • Volume boost and normalizing
  • Recording editing
  • Cloud storage integration
  • Transcription to text
  • WAV format storage
Features
Read full description

Audio Memos is a voice recorder for the iPhone and iPad. What you'll really like about Audio Memos, is that you can actually HEAR your recordings (try it and compare, you'll hear what we mean). It's also easy to use, with a simple and intuitive interface. Yet with many advanced features as volume boost, volume normalizing, editing of recordings and more. Most of these features are exclusive to this program, which makes it one of the most advanced recorder. This is a great recorder, don't just take our word for it: Audio Memos Free has been featured by Apple in the "What's hot" section. Your recordings are stored on your device but can be backed up to your computer using a simple web browser (or by email). See our website for more details. FEATURES • Send recordings by email. • High quality recordings up to 44100 Hz. Three levels of quality are available: 11025 Hz, 22050 Hz and 44100 Hz. • Professionally engineered audio normalizing filter, which enables you to have a constant average volume on all your recordings. This feature does not modify your recordings, so you can turn it on even if you intend to post process your audio files on a computer. • Wide range volume control using a volume boost. While listening to a recording, volume can be increased using your device's volume keys. If you find this insufficiently loud, you can adjust the volume boost in the application's settings. • Normalizing and boosting filters use dynamic compression with a non linear function to prevent clipping and minimize distortions. Note however that eventual clipping and distortion created by the microphone are not suppressed. If you care about quality, use the headset's microphone instead of the built in one. • Records even when your device is in sleep mode; and pauses automatically in the event of an incoming phone call. • Advanced listing of your recordings, which displays name, date, length and size information. A detailed view is also available for each recording. This view gives extra information such as quality and download status of a recording. • Must have controls as pause record, pause play, slider, quality control. • Uses widespread wav format to store recordings, so you can transfer and read them on any device. SUBSCRIPTION All features listed above can be used without an in app purchase. Some advanced features require an active subscription. These include: • Voice activated rec. - stop recording silence. • Upload to Dropbox, Google Drive, Box, Evernote, FTP or WebDAV. • Insert audio - insert comments easily. • Position markers - easy navigation. • Audio compression - email hours of recordings. • Memo alert dates / reminders. • Adjustable reading speed. • Add pictures to a memo. • Send or delete multiple recordings at a time. • Edit your recordings (trim, overwrite, merge). • Transcription - transform your memos into text. • Stereo recording using the builtin microphones (requires a compatible device and a «Pro +» subscription). Duration and price of each subscription are displayed in our storefront. All subscription costs will be charged to your Apple ID account, starting at the confirmation of purchase. Subscription automatically renews unless it is canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the subscription period. Your account will be charged for renewal within 24 hours prior to the end of the subscription period. It is not possible to cancel a subscription period once you have been charged for it. Any unused portion of a free trial period is forfeited as soon as a subscription is purchased. You can manage subscriptions and disable auto renewal by going to your account settings on the App Store after purchase. Terms of Service: https://imesart.com/legal/terms-of-service.php

About

Smart Recorder and transcriber

Easily record, transcribe, and manage audio. This app offers advanced features beyond basic voice memos, including background recording, variable speed playback, and searchable transcriptions. Enhance your recordings with editing and voice enhancement options.

Highlights
  • Background recording and playback
  • Variable speed playback with pitch correction
  • Searchable machine transcriptions
  • Tagging and picture marking
  • Email/export recordings
  • Trim/edit audio (in-app purchase)
Features
Read full description

Record, email/share, transcribe, trim/edit or organize, Smart Recorder allows you to easily create recordings and then transcribe them using the high quality dictate2us. Smart Recorder is a full featured recorder and transcriber offering many features beyond what is available in the built in voice memos app. The Smart Recorder family of products has over 1,000,000 device installs. It has been actively marketed and updated for seven years. Use it to record meetings, interview, lectures, classes, todo lists, shopping lists or even your kids voices. Record, Email/Share, Transcribe, Trim/Edit or Organize. What ever the task, Smart Recorder is the ideal tool. Check out these great features: - A large record button makes it easy to start and pause recordings - A main screen with the list of recordings created, each with a play button for easy playback - Tips and a comprehensive help system to get you up to speed quickly - Background recording and playback (other apps can run while Smart Recorder is recording or playing or your device can be sleeping during recording or playback) - iTunes file sharing - Flip mode for putting iPhone microphone on top - Email/export short recordings - Support for Dropbox if Dropbox app installed - Multiple supported mail/export formats including CAF, WAV, AIF and MP4. - iCloud support - Generation of ringtones for the iPhone - Add tags or pictures to mark positions in a recording - Time slider/forward/back buttons to quickly navigate through your recordings - Bluetooth and external headset support - Auto pause/voice activated recording - Variable speed playback with optional pitch correction - Many system settings to control the behavior of Smart Recorder - Stereo support - Append to existing recordings - Categorize/sort recordings - No time limit on recordings - Universal app for both iPhone and iPad - Geo tagging of recordings allows you to keep track of the location where they were created - Search allows you to search for conversations in a recording (based on the machine transcription) or for tags (or recordings with specific words in the title) Extra features (for purchase): - Disable advertising - Email/export long recordings - Voice enhancement - Trimming/editing - Machine transcription Buy now and you will get free upgrades with many new features!!! If you like this product, check out the Mac Smart Recorder at http://itunes.apple.com/app/smart-recorder/id412615645?mt=12 http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/smart-recorder-lite/id420266239?mt=12

Screenshots

Audio Memos SE4 screens
Smart Recorder and transcriber4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Audio Memos SE at 4.6 against Smart Recorder and transcriber's 3.7. Audio Memos SE also leads on review sentiment (64% vs 38%). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Audio Memos SE sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days and Smart Recorder and transcriber sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Audio Memos SE holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 453 and 480 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 64% of Audio Memos SE's written reviews are positive against 38% of Smart Recorder and transcriber's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 26, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Audio Memos SE versus Smart Recorder and transcriber: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAudio Memos SESmart Recorder and transcriber
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (453 ratings) — better3.7 (480 ratings)
Positive reviews63.9% of reviews — better38.3% of reviews
Number of ratings453480 — better
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeksEvery 6 weeks
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple WatchiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — better
Requires iOS16.015.6 — better
Further details — not scored
Size59 MB15 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperImesart S.a.r.l.Roe Mobile Development

Customer experience

Audio Memos SE

All ratings444 ratings
Positive88.5%
Neutral3.4%
Negative8.1%
Written reviews496 reviews
Positive63.9%
Neutral11.1%
Negative25.0%

Smart Recorder and transcriber

All ratings479 ratings
Positive67.4%
Neutral5.4%
Negative27.1%
Written reviews188 reviews
Positive38.3%
Neutral7.4%
Negative54.3%

User reviews

Audio Memos SE

From 453 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Easy to use
  • 👍 Good sound quality
  • 📝 Useful for recording meetings/lectures
  • 💡 Convenient for capturing ideas/notes
  • 🗓️ Timestamps recordings

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Crashes/freezes on some devices
  • 🔒 Limited file transfer/sharing options
  • 💰 Paid version required for advanced features
  • 📤 Difficulty transferring recordings to computer
  • 🔇 Poor volume/amplification

Smart Recorder and transcriber

From 480 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 💡 Convenient to use
  • 🚀 Easy to record and playback
  • 👍 Dependable and reliable
  • 🚀 Intuitive interface
  • 👍 Great for recording meetings and lectures

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Recordings disappearing or getting corrupted
  • 💰 Paywall for basic features like exporting
  • 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
  • 🐛 Unreliable transcription and export functionality
  • 🔒 Privacy concerns with sharing recordings

Bugs and requests

Audio Memos SE

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Recordings disappearing after updates
  • Inability to transfer recordings from free to paid version
  • Ads interrupting recordings

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add editing tools (trim, split, merge recordings)
  • Improve file management (organize, rename recordings)
  • Integrate with cloud storage (Dropbox, Google Drive)
  • Enhance playback controls (rewind, fast-forward)
  • Enable background recording

Smart Recorder and transcriber

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Recordings stopping unexpectedly
  • Login screen issues
  • Compatibility problems with newer iOS versions
  • Inability to recover deleted recordings

Requested features

4 requests
  • Ability to trim and edit recordings
  • Improved cloud/backup integration
  • Better support for wireless headphones
  • Transcription with time stamps

In-app purchases

5 purchases

Audio Memos SE

Subscriptions5
  • Audio Memos Pro Weekly3 Days trial$1.997 Days
  • Audio Memos Pro Monthly7 Days trial$4.991 Month
  • Audio Memos Pro+ Monthly7 Days trial$8.991 Month
Show 2 more
  • Audio Memos Pro Yearly1 Month trial$39.991 Year
  • Audio Memos Pro+ Yearly1 Month trial$69.991 Year
10 purchases

Smart Recorder and transcriber

One-time10
  • No advertising$1.99
  • Trim Capability$1.99
  • Full Edit$1.99
Show 7 more
  • Syfx audio boost$1.99
  • Machine Transcription for 30 days$3.99
  • Voice Processing$7.99
  • Siri Transcription$9.99
  • All Features Upgrade$14.99
  • Full Export$17.99
  • All Features$24.99

Questions

Is Audio Memos SE free?
Audio Memos SE is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Smart Recorder and transcriber free?
Smart Recorder and transcriber is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Audio Memos SE or Smart Recorder and transcriber?
Audio Memos SE is rated higher. Audio Memos SE averages 4.6 out of 5 from 453 ratings, while Smart Recorder and transcriber averages 3.7 from 480 ratings.
Do Audio Memos SE or Smart Recorder and transcriber have ads?
Both Audio Memos SE and Smart Recorder and transcriber show ads.
Which is updated more often, Audio Memos SE or Smart Recorder and transcriber?
Audio Memos SE ships an update every 6 weeks, and Smart Recorder and transcriber every 6 weeks. Most recently, Audio Memos SE was updated on November 1, 2026 and Smart Recorder and transcriber on October 26, 2026.

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