Is it possible to record phone calls? Every smartphone should allow us to do this – all you need is the right app. The legality of such actions is a separate issue. Find out when and what you shouldn't record to avoid getting into trouble.
Recording phone calls – can it be done legally?
Recording phone calls can be associated with wiretapping and espionage practices. Such solutions are not legal. This is especially true when it comes to recording conversations you are not a part of, and the participants are unaware that their words are being recorded.
On a daily basis, you might encounter the message: "the phone call is being recorded for…". This most often happens when you call a hotline. If you wish to continue the conversation, it means you agree to its recording. There is no doubt that such situations are legal. The same applies in the opposite scenario, where you call someone, inform them you are recording, and they agree to it.
But what about a phone call you are participating in, and you don't want to inform about its recording? Here, the matter is a bit more complicated. The law does not prohibit recording a conversation, but it also does not permit its distribution. If such a recording were to be used as evidence in court, it might not be admitted into the court proceedings.
How to record a phone call? To begin with, it's worth knowing that neither Google (Android smartphones) nor Apple (iPhones with iOS) currently offers the ability to record calls through a specific system function. Considering the current privacy policies, this situation is unlikely to change. For this reason, you will need to install a phone call recording app.
How to record a phone call on an Android smartphone?
There are plenty of apps for recording phone calls available for Android smartphones. Simply go to the Google Play Store and type in "call recorder" or "nagrywanie rozmów telefonicznych". Among the interesting apps, you will find:
- Cube ACR – its great advantage is the ability to record not only phone calls but also those conducted via Messenger, WhatsApp, or Skype. Many alternative programs cannot offer this. Furthermore, Cube ACR is intuitive to use, and recording can be activated automatically;
- Callapp: ID – this app will record the call, detect the caller ID, and allow you to block any number. This is particularly useful in times when everyone receives a lot of spam. Regarding recording, there is also an option to set automatic call recording;
- Call Recorder – as the name suggests, this is an app for recording phone calls. Regardless of whether they are incoming or outgoing calls, you should be able to record everything easily. The developer also allows storing recordings in the cloud.
If you are interested in other options, it's worth visiting the Google Play Store. The list of apps for recording phone calls is very, very long.
How to record a phone call on an iPhone (iOS system)?
Apple also does not allow call recording from the iOS system settings. The iPhone manufacturer, like Google, tries to protect user privacy. The iOS system only has a screen recording function (also with the microphone enabled). However, you can forget about recorded calls. If you're missing some functionality in the system, visit the App Store. The app store for iOS is sufficient to find several options for recording phone calls, such as:
- Call Recorder iCall – allows recording incoming and outgoing calls and saving them. One click is enough to start recording. It's worth noting that you can use the three-day trial for free. Longer use of the app requires purchasing a subscription plan;
- RecMyCalls – also in this case, only the trial version will be available for free. However, the app itself is interesting. Besides using the classic function of recording calls, you can, among other things, convert call files into text. Additionally, RecMyCalls allows recording voice messages;
- Call Recorder – the last option has some limitations, as you can record 10 calls per week for free (with no time limit), but it looks favorable compared to the competition. In terms of functionality, there are not many additional features here. The app records incoming and outgoing calls, and you can start recording with one click.
