# SimpleMic vs Voice Memo Recorder

The clearest difference is review sentiment: SimpleMic at 80% against Voice Memo Recorder's 32%. SimpleMic also leads on rating (4.5 vs 3.3) and ratings volume (1.7K vs 10). Voice Memo Recorder's advantage is update cadence (every 11 days vs every 2 months). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. SimpleMic sells 4 one-off in-app purchases and Voice Memo Recorder sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

SimpleMic holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SimpleMic has 1.7K ratings behind it against 10, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 80% of SimpleMic's written reviews are positive against 32% of Voice Memo Recorder's.

SimpleMic ships an update every 2 months, Voice Memo Recorder every 11 days. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 2, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SimpleMic | Voice Memo Recorder |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (1.7K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simplemic/id546037865/reviews)** | [3.3 (10 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/voice-memo-recorder-pro/id1385001234/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **1.7K** | 10 |
| Positive reviews | **79.6% of reviews** | 32.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 11 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 31 MB | 26 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Velocity Raptor Incorporated](https://appshunter.io/developer/296937260) | [Marcel Mendes Filho](https://appshunter.io/developer/1205300418) |

## What reviewers say

### SimpleMic

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simplemic/id546037865)

Capture high-quality audio with this elegant iPhone recorder. Features gesture-based controls, multiple recording modes like sound-activated and no-motion activated, and seamless iCloud sync for easy access across devices. Manage, tag, and share your recordings effortlessly.

**Highlights:** Gesture-based user interface, Sound Activated recording mode, No Motion Activated recording mode, Record on Start option, iCloud Drive sync, Tagging and notes for recordings, Comprehensive sharing and uploading

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Finer Things Color Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Planetary Color Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Premium Upgrade | $2.99 | one-time |
| Mega Bundle | $3.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to use
- 👍 Great sound quality
- 📱 Seamless Apple Watch integration
- 🔒 Secure recordings
- 🎨 Simple and clean interface

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Limited features without paid upgrade
- 🔇 No stereo recording on iPhone
- 🤔 Unclear where recordings are stored
- 🤖 Unreliable watch app functionality

**Reported bugs**

- Recordings stop unexpectedly during calls
- Playback issues when device goes to sleep
- Renaming files in iCloud doesn't sync back to app

**Requested features**

- Add ability to record in layers or tracks
- Include audio waveform visualization
- Allow recordings to be shared without paid upgrade
- Implement a complication for quick access from Apple Watch


### Voice Memo Recorder

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/voice-memo-recorder-pro/id1385001234)

This app offers professional audio recording and transcription with advanced organization tools. It allows for easy management of recordings through custom colors, albums, and favorites. Users can edit audio, transcribe in over 30 languages, and sync recordings between devices.

**Highlights:** Customizable recording organization (colors, albums, favorites), Background recording on iPhone and Apple Watch, Audio editing (trim silence, fade in/out), Multi-language transcription, Auto-sync between iPhone and Apple Watch, Trash for deleted recordings, Widget support

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Audio Visualizers - Fun Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Unlimited recordings | $4.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Simple and amazing for recording and transcribing
- 👍 Perfect for memo recording and meetings
- 👍 Beautifully designed interface
- 👍 Syncs to the cloud
- 👍 Handy for quick recordings

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App crashes frequently
- 🐛 Recordings not playing back
- 🐛 App won't remember recording names
- 🐛 Paid version doesn't work with security settings
- 🐛 False advertising regarding transcription

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes when trying to upload longer recordings
- Crashes when trying to sync to phone
- Paid version stops working with Lockdown Mode and purchase protection
- App asks to purchase to unlock unlimited registration even after buying lifetime license
- Some recordings play, others don't and show duration but no playback

**Requested features**

- Add save to iCloud Drive option
- Ability to crop or trim recordings
- Transcribe without playing recording back
- Option to block out background noise
- Improve transcription accuracy for long recordings


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SimpleMic free?

SimpleMic is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Voice Memo Recorder free?

Voice Memo Recorder is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, SimpleMic or Voice Memo Recorder?

SimpleMic is rated higher. SimpleMic averages 4.5 out of 5 from 1.7K ratings, while Voice Memo Recorder averages 3.3 from 10 ratings.

### Do SimpleMic or Voice Memo Recorder have ads?

Neither SimpleMic nor Voice Memo Recorder shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, SimpleMic or Voice Memo Recorder?

SimpleMic ships an update every 2 months, and Voice Memo Recorder every 11 days. Most recently, SimpleMic was updated on November 6, 2026 and Voice Memo Recorder on November 2, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*