# Dictaphone Voice Recorder vs Dictate⁺

The clearest difference is ads: Dictate⁺ at none against Dictaphone Voice Recorder's shown. Dictate⁺ also leads on rating (4.7 vs 4.4) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). Dictaphone Voice Recorder's advantage is review sentiment (65% vs 41%). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Dictaphone Voice Recorder sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Dictate⁺ sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Dictate⁺ holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 195 and 685 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 65% of Dictaphone Voice Recorder's written reviews are positive against 41% of Dictate⁺'s, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Dictaphone Voice Recorder ships an update every 2 months, Dictate⁺ every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on November 6, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Dictaphone Voice Recorder | Dictate⁺ |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (195 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dictaphone-voice-recorder/id834938465/reviews) | **[4.7 (685 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dictate/id1474859080/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 195 | **685** |
| Positive reviews | **65.2% of reviews** | 41.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 11 MB | 29 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15** | 15.5 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Dorada App Software Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/382552900) | [JOTOMI](https://appshunter.io/developer/303308093) |

## What reviewers say

### Dictaphone Voice Recorder

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dictaphone-voice-recorder/id834938465)

This app offers high-quality audio recording with advanced digital signal processing and voice activation. Easily share and export recordings in various formats, with options for transcription and background recording. It includes safety features like shake-to-undelete and auto-recovery.

**Highlights:** Advanced digital signal processing for clear sound, Voice activated recording with real-time feedback, Easy bulk export and individual sharing, Compact, high-quality MP4 file format, Background recording and playback, Shake to undelete and auto-recover recordings, Optional professional transcription service

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove Ads | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎤 Excellent voice activation feature with adjustable sensitivity
- 📝 Clear, high-quality audio recordings
- ⚡ Simple and intuitive user interface
- 🔄 Easy file sharing via AirDrop, email, and multiple formats
- ⏸️ Auto-pause during silence saves recording space and time

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 UI color scheme issue - white text on white background unreadable
- ❌ Poor customer support and no developer communication
- 💳 Unauthorized charges for ad removal subscription
- 🔊 Sensitivity slider doesn't work properly or resets
- 📱 App crashes and fails to open after updates

**Reported bugs**

- White text on white background rendering issue
- App crashes after 8+ hours of continuous recording
- Recording fails to save or save correctly
- Voice activation not working properly after updates
- App won't open or closes on launch

**Requested features**

- Bluetooth microphone support (especially AirPods)
- Timestamp feature for recordings
- Folder/category system for organizing recordings
- Option to disable auto-recording on app launch
- Mute recording activation sound


### Dictate⁺

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dictate/id1474859080)

Transform your mobile device into a professional dictation tool. Record, edit, and securely transmit audio with advanced features like voice activation, encryption, and offline speech recognition. Organize and manage your recordings efficiently for seamless workflow.

**Highlights:** Professional dictation recording, Lightning-fast recording control, Impressively accurate voice activation, Secure AES-256 encryption, Offline speech recognition, Easy editing and transcription, Wide range of transmission options

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Feature Unlock 1 month | $5.99 | per month |
| Feature Unlock 1 year | $59.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use and intuitive interface
- 🚀 Seamless dictation sending to colleagues
- ⭐ Life-changing functionality for professionals
- 🎯 Accurate and concise dictation quality
- 💼 Excellent for legal and medical practices

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Expensive subscription model ($60/year)
- 🔄 Transition from free/one-time purchase to subscription
- 🔊 Low volume playback issues
- ⏱️ Severely limited free trial (15-30 seconds)
- 🐛 Frequent upload failures and lost recordings

**Reported bugs**

- Low volume playback requiring maximum volume
- Uploads not forwarded or getting lost
- Recording stops unexpectedly mid-dictation
- Dictations cut off at 2/3 through playback
- Sync issues - green check but still shows as unsent next day

**Requested features**

- Extended free trial period (3+ days)
- Longer free recording duration
- Revert to previous UI design
- Improved backward compatibility with older iOS
- Stable recording indicator/sound bar visualization


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Dictaphone Voice Recorder free?

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

### Is Dictate⁺ free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Dictaphone Voice Recorder or Dictate⁺?

Dictate⁺ is rated higher. Dictaphone Voice Recorder averages 4.4 out of 5 from 195 ratings, while Dictate⁺ averages 4.7 from 685 ratings.

### Do Dictaphone Voice Recorder or Dictate⁺ have ads?

Dictaphone Voice Recorder shows ads; Dictate⁺ does not.

### Which is updated more often, Dictaphone Voice Recorder or Dictate⁺?

Dictaphone Voice Recorder ships an update every 2 months, and Dictate⁺ every 3 weeks. Most recently, Dictaphone Voice Recorder was updated on November 6, 2026 and Dictate⁺ on November 6, 2026.

---

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