Best Software for Recording Phone Calls on PC in 2026

Once you’ve connected your phone to your computer for call recording (using a RECAP S2 audio adapter or similar setup), you need call recording software to actually capture the audio. This guide covers the best free and paid options for Windows and Mac so you can start recording immediately.

What to Look For in Call Recording Software

Not every audio recording app is suited for phone calls. Here’s what matters when choosing recording software:

• Mic/line input recording — must be able to record from an external audio input, not just system audio
• Real-time monitoring — lets you see audio levels while recording so you can catch problems
• Voice activation (optional) — auto-start/stop recording when audio is detected, for hands-free operation. See our guide to automatic call recording for detailed setup steps.
• Standard export formats — MP3, WAV, or M4A for easy sharing and transcription
• Low CPU usage — shouldn’t slow down your computer while recording in the background

Note that RECAP S2 requires a wired headset to capture both sides of the call, and most modern phones need a compatible adapter (Lightning or USB-C to 3.5mm). Once the hardware is set up, any of the software below will work.

Free Options

1. Audacity (Windows, Mac, Linux)

The gold standard for free call recording software. Audacity is open-source, has been around for 20+ years, and handles call recording extremely well.

Setup for call recording: 1. Go to Audio Setup (top toolbar) and set the input to your microphone/line-in port (where RECAP S2 is connected) 2. Set recording channels to Mono (phone calls are mono audio — stereo wastes space) 3. Click the red Record button when your call starts 4. Click Stop when done 5. Export via File > Export Audio as MP3 or WAV

Voice-activated recording (auto-record): 1. Go to Transport > Transport Options > Sound Activated Recording 2. Set the activation level under Transport > Transport Options > Sound Activation Level (start at -30dB, adjust based on background noise) 3. Audacity will auto-start recording when it detects audio and pause during silence

Pros: – Free and open-source – Extremely reliable – Voice activation for hands-free recording – Supports every audio format – Built-in noise reduction, amplification, and editing tools – Cross-platform (Windows, Mac, Linux)

Cons: – Interface looks dated – No automatic file splitting (long recordings become one large file) – Crashes can lose unsaved work (save frequently, or enable Audacity’s auto-save)

Best for: Most users. If you’re recording calls to a PC, start with Audacity.

Download: audacityteam.org

2. OBS Studio (Windows, Mac, Linux)

OBS is primarily a streaming/screen recording tool, but it works well as an audio recorder and has some features Audacity doesn’t.

Setup for call recording: 1. In Sources, click + and add Audio Input Capture 2. Select your mic/line-in input (where RECAP S2 is connected) 3. Go to Settings > Output > Recording and set format to MKV — OBS can record audio-only tracks within MKV containers, or you can remux to MP4 after recording 4. Click Start Recording during calls

While OBS defaults to video container formats (MKV/MP4), the audio track is easily extracted using the built-in Remux Recordings tool (File > Remux Recordings) or free tools like FFmpeg. You can also configure OBS to capture only the audio input with no video sources, keeping file sizes small.

Pros: – Free and open-source – Can record audio + screen simultaneously (useful for documenting calls with on-screen notes) – Hotkey support for start/stop recording – Automatic file naming with timestamps – Very stable, low CPU usage

Cons: – No built-in voice activation for audio-only recording – Overkill for simple audio recording – Requires extra step to extract audio from container format – No built-in audio editing

Best for: Users who also stream or need screen + audio recording.

Download: obsproject.com

3. Windows Voice Recorder / Sound Recorder (Windows)

The built-in Windows audio recorder. Simple, works, nothing fancy.

Setup: Open Sound Recorder from the Start menu. Select your input device. Click Record.

Pros: – Already installed on Windows – Dead simple – Saves in M4A format

Cons: – No voice activation – No audio level monitoring during recording – No editing tools – Limited export options – No automatic file naming

Best for: Quick, one-off recordings when you don’t want to install anything.

4. QuickTime Player (Mac)

Mac’s built-in option.

Setup: 1. Open QuickTime Player 2. File > New Audio Recording 3. Click the dropdown arrow next to the record button and select your input (RECAP S2 / line-in) 4. Click Record

Pros: – Already installed on every Mac – Clean, simple interface – Exports to M4A and WAV

Cons: – No voice activation – No waveform display during recording – Minimal editing (trim only) – No automatic file splitting or naming

Best for: Mac users who need something quick without installing Audacity.

5. Voice Memos (Mac / iPhone)

If your “recording device” is a second iPhone or iPad (connected to RECAP S2’s output via a Lightning/USB-C mic adapter), Voice Memos is the simplest option.

Pros: – Already on every Apple device – iCloud sync across devices – Simple, one-tap recording

Cons: – No voice activation – No audio level monitoring – Limited editing – Requires the right adapter to get RECAP’s output into the device

Best for: Using a second iPhone/iPad as your recorder.

Paid Options

6. Adobe Audition (Windows, Mac)

Professional audio workstation. Adobe Audition requires a Creative Cloud subscription. Worth it if you’re a journalist, podcaster, or legal professional who records calls daily.

Key advantages over Audacity: – Non-destructive editing – Superior noise reduction (Adaptive Noise Reduction is excellent for cleaning up call audio) – Multi-track recording – Automatic speech alignment – Professional-grade effects and processing

Best for: Professionals who need to edit and clean up recordings regularly.

7. Reaper (Windows, Mac, Linux)

A professional DAW (digital audio workstation) at an indie price. Full-featured, lightweight, and extremely customizable. Reaper offers two license tiers: personal/small-business (revenue under $20K/year) and commercial. Both are one-time purchases with no subscription. See reaper.fm for current pricing.

Key advantages: – One-time purchase (no subscription) – Scripting support for automation (auto-split recordings by silence, auto-name files) – Very low CPU usage – Highly customizable interface and workflow

Best for: Power users who want Audition-level features without a subscription.

Download: reaper.fm

Recommended Settings for Call Recording

Whatever software you use, these settings will give you the best results:

Troubleshooting Audio Levels

• Audio too quiet? Increase your PC’s microphone input level. See our guide: How to adjust microphone volume on PC
• Audio distorted or clipping? Lower the input volume or phone call volume. See: How to fix clipping sound
• Only hearing one side of the call? Check that RECAP S2 is properly connected between the phone and headset. Both sides should come through the same output.

Quick Comparison

Our Recommendation

For most people: Audacity. It’s free, it has voice activation for automatic recording, it handles every audio format, and it has built-in tools to clean up recordings if needed. It’s what we recommend to RECAP S2 customers.

If you need it simpler: Use your OS built-in recorder (Sound Recorder on Windows, QuickTime on Mac). No learning curve.

If you’re a professional: Reaper (one-time purchase for personal use) gives you professional features without a subscription. Adobe Audition (subscription) if you’re already in the Adobe ecosystem.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use free software for call recording?

Yes. Audacity is completely free, open-source, and has every feature most people need for recording phone calls on a PC — including voice activation, noise reduction, and export to MP3 or WAV. The built-in recorders on Windows (Sound Recorder) and Mac (QuickTime) also work for basic recording at no cost.

Which software has voice-activated recording?

Audacity is the only free option with built-in voice-activated recording. Enable it under Transport > Transport Options > Sound Activated Recording, and Audacity will automatically start capturing when it hears audio and pause during silence. Reaper can also do this through its scripting system, and Adobe Audition supports it through custom workflows. For a full walkthrough, see our guide to automatically recording every phone call.

What audio format should I save call recordings in?

For most purposes, MP3 at 128kbps is the best balance of quality and file size for phone call audio. A one-hour call will be roughly 55 MB. If you need maximum quality for legal or archival purposes, use WAV (16-bit, 44.1kHz) — the file will be larger (roughly 300 MB per hour) but lossless. Avoid proprietary formats that may not be playable on other devices.

Do I need special software to record phone calls on Mac?

No. QuickTime Player, which comes pre-installed on every Mac, can record audio from an external input like RECAP S2. Just open QuickTime, choose File > New Audio Recording, select your input device, and press Record. For more advanced features like voice activation or audio editing, install Audacity (free) or Reaper (one-time purchase).

Can I record both sides of a phone call with Audacity?

Yes, but Audacity alone only records what comes through your computer’s audio input. To capture both sides of a phone call, you need hardware like the RECAP S2 that taps into the audio between your phone and headset and sends it to your PC. Without a hardware adapter, Audacity can only record your microphone — not the other caller.

Need to connect your phone to your PC for recording?

Get RECAP S2 — $99 captures both sides of phone calls and outputs to any recording device or computer. No apps, no batteries, no subscriptions.

See also: How to record phone calls on your computer for the full hardware setup guide.