Updated: April 2026 · By Álvaro Arrescurrenaga, CEO of Voicit
Recording calls on iPhone has been a minor headache for anyone working with the phone for years: journalists, recruiters, salespeople, lawyers. Apple never allowed it natively… until iOS 18.1 arrived in October 2024 and changed everything.
This guide covers the 4 real methods How to record calls on your iPhone in 2026, ordered from easiest to most comprehensive, with exact steps, legality by country (Spain and LATAM) and the special case of professionals that require automatic transcription and analysis.
⏱ If you only have 30 seconds:
• The easiest way: native function of iOS 18.1 (iPhone 15 Pro or later). Free, legal, with transcription.
• If you have an older iPhone: TapeACall (~€50/year). Works on any iPhone and iOS.
• Without spending a euro and without apps: speaker + second recording device.
• For recruiters and salespeople that require transcription and structured reports: Voicit (free trial, no card required).
In this article
- Is it legal to record calls on an iPhone? (Spain and Latin America)
- Method 1: iOS 18.1 and later (native Apple)
- Method 2: Third-party apps for iOS 17 and earlier
- Method 3: Speaker + second device (without apps)
- Method 4: Professional recording with automatic transcription
- Quick comparison of the 4 methods
- Frequently Asked Questions
Quick response
To record a call on iPhone with iOS 18.1 or later: Initiate or receive the call in the Phone app, tap the record button in the upper left corner and confirms. The iPhone plays a voice prompt that both parties hear and saves the recording with its transcript in the app. Grades, in the "Calls" folder.
- With iOS 17 or earlier: There is no native function; you need a third-party app.
- On WhatsApp or FaceTime: It doesn't work; the button only appears in the Phone app.
- Without the other person knowing: This is impossible with the native method, and recording without warning may be illegal.
- In meetings and interviews: A tool that also transcribes and writes the report is better.
Method 1: iOS 18.1 and later (native Apple)
In short: from iOS 18.1The iPhone records calls natively from the Phone app: when activated, both parties are automatically notified and the recording, with its transcription, is saved in the Notes app.
Free
The native way that Apple brought in 2024
From October 2024With the release of iOS 18.1, Apple integrated a native call recording feature into the iPhone for the first time. You don't need apps, jailbreak, or weird tricks. It works on any iPhone with iOS 18.1 or later, and on iPhone 15 Pro or later with Apple Intelligence, and also generates automatic transcription and summarization.
Requirements
- iPhone with iOS 18.1 or higher (Settings → General → About).
- Compatible device language (Peninsular Spanish and LATAM available from iOS 18.4).
- For automatic transcription: iPhone 15 Pro, 15 Pro Max, 16, 16 Plus, 16 Pro, 16 Pro Max or later with Apple Intelligence enabled.
Exact steps
- Initiate or receive a call usually from the Phone app.
- During the call, Tap the waveform icon which appears in the upper left corner. If you don't see it, check that you have iOS 18.1 or later.
- The iPhone automatically plays a warning message to both parties: "This call is being recorded"This notice is mandatory and cannot be disabled.
- To stop recording, press the same icon again.
- When you hang up, the recording is automatically saved in the app. Grades, in a specific folder called "Calls".
- If you have Apple Intelligence, you'll also see a automatic summary and the full transcript of the conversation.
- Free, without external apps
- Excellent audio quality
- Automatic transcription + summarization (powered by Apple Intelligence)
- Everything is stored on your iPhone, without third-party servers.
- Automatic notice: Legal in any country
- iPhone only with iOS 18.1+
- Mandatory notice that cannot be disabled
- Spanish transcription still makes mistakes
- It doesn't work on WhatsApp, FaceTime, or Zoom.
- Exporting outside of Notes requires extra steps
Is it legal to record calls on an iPhone? (Spain and Latin America)
In short: In the US, federal law makes it legal to record a call you take part in (one-party consent) — but 11 states, California and Florida among them, require consent from everyone on the line. Recording conversations you're not part of is illegal everywhere, and publishing a recording without permission can create civil and criminal liability.
Before discussing how to do it, we need to clarify whether you can do it at all. The answer depends on the country and whether or not you're part of the conversation.
Spain
Under US federal law, the principle of "one-party consent"This means that If you participate in the conversation, you can legally record it without notifying the other person., and that recording is valid as evidence in a trial (Article 18.3 of the Spanish Constitution and consolidated jurisprudence of the Supreme Court: STS 9-11-1994, STS 6-7-2000).
Which you can't do:
- Recording a conversation that is not your own (crime under article 197 of the Penal Code).
- Publishing or disseminating the recording without consent (violates the right to privacy).
- Using it for commercial purposes without the authorization of the other party (GDPR and LOPD-GDD).
LATAM: summary by country
- Mexico: It is legal if you are a party (LFPDPPP). Sharing without consent may be a crime.
- Colombia: It is legal if you participate (Law 1581/2012). The same applies in Chile and Peru.
- Argentina: legal if you are a party; publication requires consent.
- Ecuador, Bolivia, Uruguay: a similar one-party consent standard.
Professional recommendation: Even if the law doesn't require it, if you record for work-related reasons (interviews, customer service, business meetings) always inform at the beginningAvoid problems, improve trust, and comply with GDPR if you process the data afterward.
Method 2: Third-party apps for iOS 17 and earlier
When you don't have iOS 18.1
If your iPhone doesn't have iOS 18.1 or the model doesn't support Apple Intelligence, the alternative is apps that use a three-way conference serviceYour call is redirected to a number on the app that records it and sends you the audio.
TapeACall
The oldest and most stable on the App Store. Works with any carrier and iPhone model. Records incoming and outgoing calls.
- Open TapeACall and press "Record new call".
- The app dials your server number and adds it to your call using iOS's "merge" function.
- When you hang up, the MP3 appears in the app and you can share it via email, Drive, or Dropbox.
Price: annual subscription (~€50/year). Pro: Professional quality, easy export. Against: It requires that your operator allows multi-conference calls — most in Spain do (Movistar, Vodafone, Orange, Yoigo).
Rev Call Recorder
Free For recording, you pay per minute if you want transcription ($0.25/minute). It's the same logic as three-way calling. Its strength lies in the quality of the human transcription (not AI), which many journalists and podcasters use. It works in Spanish, but it's more expensive.
Cube Call Recorder / Call Recorder IntCall
Free options with limited functionality (minutes per month). Useful for recording occasional calls but with lower quality and ads.
- They work on any iPhone and iOS device.
- You don't need an iPhone 15 Pro or iOS 18
- Good quality (TapeACall)
- Export to standard formats
- Paid (TapeACall) or with ads (Cube)
- The audio passes through the app's servers
- They require an operator who supports three-way calling
- Variable quality on some networks
⚠️ Important: Apple doesn't allow native recording from third-party apps, so they all use the three-way call trick. If you're recording sensitive information (medical, legal, confidential), review the app's privacy policy before using it.
Method 3: Speaker + second device (without apps)
The most "analog" method, but it always works
The simplest and 100% free method: Put the call on speakerphone and record it with another deviceThat's what many journalists do for impromptu interviews.
How to do it right
- Open the app Voice notes on a second iPhone, iPad, or Mac. Or use an external recorder like the Zoom H1 or Tascam DR-05.
- Choose a place without echo and without background noise.
- Place the second device about 15-20 cm from the iPhone who will make the call.
- Activate the speakerphone during the call (“Audio” button → Speakerphone).
- Start recording on the second device before starting the conversation.
- When finished, export the audio to iCloud, Drive, or wherever you need it.
- 100% free and without apps
- It is carrier- and iOS version-independent
- No external servers: audio only on your devices
- It works for any type of call (including WhatsApp and Zoom)
- Lower quality than the native method
- You need a quiet place
- The other person hears everything on speakerphone.
- Requires a second device on hand
Method 4: Professional recording with automatic transcription
When recording is just the first step
The three methods above are useful for engraveBut if you are recruiter, salesperson, consultant or journalistRecording is just the beginning. What really saves you hours is... Automatically transcribe, summarize, and extract key data of each call.
Instead of recording with the iPhone's native method and then wasting an hour transcribing and writing the report, the entire workflow can be automated:
- The call is recorded on iPhone (using any of the methods above).
- She uploads it to an AI transcription platform built for professional conversations.
- In 2-3 minutes you get: transcription with timestamps and speaker identification, executive summary, pending tasks and structured data (name, company, position, objections, decisions).
The case of the selection recruiter
An HR consultant conducts 8-12 interviews per week. Recording on an iPhone with iOS 18.1 solves the "how to record" problem, but then they have to listen to the call again, write a structured report on skills, experience, and cultural fit, and compare candidates against each other.
With Voicit You can upload recordings from your iPhone, get automatic reports in consultant template format, and reduce the time per candidate from 1 hour to 5 minutes.
Advantages over the native method
- Spanish transcript professional, not the basic Apple Intelligence
- Summaries and structured data extraction, not just text
- Customized templates by call type (interview, demo, client meeting)
- Integration with your CRM or ATS (HubSpot, Salesforce, Greenhouse)
- Semantic search: find "what the candidate said about team management" in 2 seconds
- EU-based servers with full GDPR compliance (a plus for strict privacy policies)
When the mobile app is not enough
All of the above works for recording an occasional call. The problem arises
When recording is part of your job, and it stems from something that doesn't depend on the app you choose:
Android and iOS deliberately restrict call recordingGoogle shut down
The access used by third-party apps was not opened by Apple until iOS 18.1, with voice prompts.
mandatory. That's why recording apps appear and disappear from app stores, and that's why
So many stop working after a system update.
If you record one call per month, you can live with it. If you record interviews or visits...
Commercials every week; every mistake is a conversation lost forever. If what you're recording are telephone interviews of candidatesVoicit differentiates who is the candidate and who is the interviewer and generates a report for each call.
| Mobile app | Dedicated recorder | |
| It depends on the system. | Yes: Android and iOS restrict recording and change the rules with each version | No: it records on its own, independently of the phone |
| It falls short | It's common: the app stops working after an update. | No update will break it |
| Quality | The one about the phone's microphone, with the app competing for it | Custom microphone designed for voice |
| In-person meetings | Bad: the phone on the table only gets partial reception | It is placed on the table and captures the room |
| What do you have left when you hang up? | An audio file | Transcription and reporting, if you connect it to a Voicit account |
That is the reason for Voicit Go: a recorder of
7.80 mm that attaches magnetically to the back of your phone (directly on an iPhone with MagSafe; on Android, with the included magnetic ring) to record calls, and that you can leave
on the table for an in-person meeting. It records on its own, with no apps, so
no system update can leave you without the recording. It includes 1 month of Voicit Pro
so that every recording comes back as a transcript and a report; afterwards, the plan is optional and
can be cancelled anytime.
Transparency: Voicit Go is our product. If
If you record sporadically, the free methods above work perfectly for you and you don't
You don't need to buy anything.
Do you run screening interviews by phone? This is how to record them and turn them into a candidate report →
Quick comparison of the 4 methods
In short: If you have iOS 18.1 or later, the native recording feature is the easiest way. If you're using an earlier version, you'll need a third-party app or the speaker trick with a second device. For professional use with transcription and reporting, a dedicated recorder is the most reliable option.
| Method | Cost | iOS version | Audio quality | Transcription | Recommended use |
| Native iOS 18.1+ | Free | 18.1 or higher | High | Basic (with Apple Intelligence) | Personal use, occasional calls |
| TapeACall | ~€50/year | Any | High | Not included | Journalists with old iPhones |
| Speaker + 2nd device | Free | Any | Medium | Not included | Improvised recordings |
| Native + Voicit | Free trial available | 18.1 or higher | High | Professional + summary + templates | Recruiters, salespeople, consultants |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I record a call on an iPhone without the other person knowing?
Using the native method of iOS 18.1 noApple plays an automatic notification to both parties that cannot be disabled. With third-party apps (TapeACall) you can technically skip the notification, but Recording a recording for purposes other than personal use may be illegal depending on the country and the use you make of the recording..
Does iOS 18.1 recording work on WhatsApp or FaceTime?
No. It only works in the native Phone app (GSM/VoLTE calls). To record WhatsApp, FaceTime, Telegram, or Google Meet calls on iPhone, you need to record the screen or use third-party apps designed for VoIP.
Can I record calls on an iPhone without jailbreaking?
Yes, all the methods in this guide work without jailbreaking. Jailbreaking is an unnecessary security risk and voids your device's warranty.
Where are recorded calls stored on iPhone?
In iOS 18.1+, recordings are automatically saved in the app Gradesin a folder called "Calls". You can share them via email, Drive, or AirDrop from there.
Is there a free app to record calls on iPhone with good quality?
Really free options are limited: Rev Call Recorder is free to record but charges for transcription. Cube Call Recorder has ads and limited minutes. The best free option with good quality is... native method of iOS 18.1.
How do I automatically transcribe a recorded call on my iPhone?
You have three options: Apple Intelligence generates automatic transcription on iPhone 15 Pro or later, services like Rev.com offer paid human transcription, and specialized tools like Voicit They generate AI-powered transcriptions in Spanish, plus a summary and a structured report, ideal for professional environments.
Is it legal to record calls on an iPhone in Spain?
Yes, if you participate in the conversation. In Spain, the principle of "one-party consent" applies: you can legally record without notifying the other person, and that recording is valid as evidence. What you cannot do is publish it or use it for commercial purposes without consent.
How do I activate the call recording function on my iPhone?
No activation is required: If your iPhone has iOS 18.1 or later, the recording button appears automatically in the top left corner of the call screen within the Phone app. If you don't see it, update your system in Settings > General > Software Update and verify that the call is from the Phone app and not WhatsApp or FaceTime.
How to record an ongoing call on an iPhone?
You can start recording at any point during the call, not just at the beginning: simply press the record button and recording will begin immediately. Anything said before pressing the button is lost, so if you anticipate an important conversation, activate recording as soon as you answer.
How do I record while on a call on my iPhone?
With the native iOS 18.1 button right on the call screen. If you need to record while using other apps, the recording continues seamlessly in the background: you can exit the Phone app and the iPhone will keep recording the conversation until you hang up or stop it.
Is it possible to record a call on an iPhone without the other person knowing?
The native method doesn't work: Apple plays a voice alert that both parties hear, and it can't be disabled. While there are technical ways to circumvent it, recording someone without informing them can violate data protection regulations if you later use or share the recording. The correct and safest thing to do is to warn them.
Conclusion
Is your phone an Android? The methods vary completely depending on the manufacturer: you can find them step by step in [link/link]. How to record calls on AndroidAnd if you prefer to compare apps before deciding, here they are. the best apps for recording callsAnd if you also record meetings, here's how. record the in-person meetings and obtain the minutes.
In 2026 you'll have more options than ever before for recording calls on your iPhone. native method of iOS 18.1 It's the best option if you only need occasional recording. If your iPhone is older, TapeACall It remains the most reliable alternative. And if your job depends on transcribing and analyzing calls every week—recruiter, salesperson, consultant, journalist—the real leap forward lies in combining recording with a AI platform specializing in Spanish like Voicit, which saves you hours of listening and subsequent writing.
Want to try out how to automatically transcribe and summarize a recorded call on your iPhone? Try Voicit for free, without a credit card.
Álvaro Arrescurrenaga
CEO and co-founder of Voicit
For over two years we've been helping HR, consulting and sales teams — including bilingual English/Spanish teams across the US and Latin America — get more out of their conversations with AI. Voicit transcribes, summarizes and structures any meeting or call.
📌 Looking for a device to buy? Compare the Best AI voice recorders and alternatives to Plaud.
Free templates and tools
Need to write up the meeting? Get our meeting minutes template in Word and PDF, with a step-by-step guide on how to write meeting minutes. Already have the recording? Transcribe video to text or transcribe audio to text with AI.