SpiikWhat's the best way to record a lecture on iPhone?
Each of these apps can record a whole lecture. The difference is what you get afterward.
| App | Transcript | Languages | Study tools | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Voice Memos | On iPhone 12 or later, iOS 18 or later | 10 | Summaries with Apple Intelligence on supported iPhones | Free |
| Notes | On iPhone 12 or later | 10 | Summaries with Apple Intelligence on supported iPhones | Free |
| Spiik | With speaker labels | 100+ | Notes, summaries, quizzes, flashcards, mind maps | Free to record. Pro is $49.99 a year or $9.99 a month. |
Record a lecture with Voice Memos
- Open Voice Memos and tap the red button to record.
- To filter out background sounds, open Control Center, tap Voice Memos at the top, and choose Voice Isolation.
- Tap stop when class ends. Then tap the recording, tap ••• and choose View Transcript.
Voice Memos is free, and with iCloud turned on your recordings also appear on your iPad and Mac. Apple's guide doesn't mention speaker labels, quizzes or flashcards, so study material is up to you.
Record a lecture in Notes
In the Notes app, open a note, choose Record Audio from the attachments menu, and tap record. On iPhone 12 or later, Notes shows a live transcript in the same 10 languages, and you can add the transcript to your note or copy it. With Apple Intelligence on supported iPhones, Notes can also summarize the recording.
Get more from the lecture with Spiik
Spiik records with no time limit, and Pro transcribes up to 2.5 hours per recording with no monthly minute cap. Tap any line of the transcript to hear the lecturer again, then build flashcards and a quiz from the lecture. Already recorded it in Voice Memos? Share the memo to Spiik to transcribe it.
Recording rules: many universities allow personal recording, but not all do. Check your course rules, and always check AI study material against your slides and textbooks.
Frequently asked questions
Can I record a lecture on iPhone for free?
Yes. Voice Memos and Notes are built into iPhone, and on iPhone 12 or later they transcribe in 10 languages. Spiik's free version records with no time limit, keeps up to 10 recordings and transcribes the first 60 seconds of each.
Does Spiik keep recording when I lock my iPhone?
Yes. You can lock your phone while Spiik records, and the Dynamic Island and Lock Screen show the timer, with buttons to pause or stop.
How long a lecture can Spiik transcribe?
Up to 2.5 hours per recording on Spiik Pro, or any length on a Mac with local transcription, with no monthly minute cap.
Can I turn a lecture recording into flashcards?
Yes. In Spiik, open the transcribed recording, tap AI Tools and choose Flashcards. You can also make a quiz, a mind map or structured notes from the same recording. AI tools come with Spiik Pro.
What if the lecture isn't in English?
Spiik transcribes and translates in more than 100 languages, so you can record a lecture in one language and read it in another. Voice Memos and Notes transcribe 10 languages.