Free tool
Online voice recorder
Press Start recording to use this free online voice recorder: it records your microphone in the browser, with a live level meter, a timer and pause, then saves the recording as an MP3 or WAV file.
- Free
- Works on phones
- Nothing is uploaded
Ready to record
Press Start recording and allow the microphone when your browser asks. Pause whenever you like; recordings can run up to 2:00:00.
The recording stays in this page until you download it; nothing is uploaded.
MP3 encoding by LAME, open-source software.
Talking instead of typing? On a Mac, NoteOwl’s free dictation types what you say into any app. NoteOwl also records your meetings and turns them into private notes, with no bot in the call.
How it works
How do you record audio online?
Press Start recording and allow the microphone when your browser asks. Speak while the meter moves, pause whenever you need to, and press Stop. Play the recording back, then download it as an MP3 or a WAV.
- 1
Allow the microphone
Press Start recording and choose Allow. If you have more than one microphone, pick it from the list next time.
- 2
Record
The timer runs and the meter follows your voice. Pause and resume as often as you like: it all stays one recording.
- 3
Play it back and save it
Press Stop, listen, then download it as an MP3, a WAV, or in your browser’s own format (M4A, or WebM in Firefox).
Which format should you download?
MP3 for almost everything: it’s small and plays anywhere. WAV if you’ll edit the recording in an audio app. Or keep the recording exactly as your browser made it.
- MP3
- Best forSharing, email, podcasts and almost any app
- DetailsAbout 1 MB a minute (128 kbps)
- WAV
- Best forEditing in an audio app such as Audacity or GarageBand
- DetailsAbout 6 MB a minute in mono, 11.5 MB in stereo (48 kHz, 16-bit)
- M4A or WebM
- Best forThe recording exactly as your browser made it
- DetailsAAC sound in M4A (Chrome, Edge, Safari); Opus in WebM (Firefox)
| Format | Best for | Details |
|---|---|---|
| MP3 | Sharing, email, podcasts and almost any app | About 1 MB a minute (128 kbps) |
| WAV | Editing in an audio app such as Audacity or GarageBand | About 6 MB a minute in mono, 11.5 MB in stereo (48 kHz, 16-bit) |
| M4A or WebM | The recording exactly as your browser made it | AAC sound in M4A (Chrome, Edge, Safari); Opus in WebM (Firefox) |
How do you get a clear voice recording?
Use a microphone close to your mouth, in a quiet room with soft furnishings, and speak at your normal volume. The meter should move well into the right half without reaching the end. Test your microphone first if you’re not sure it works.
- 1
Use a microphone near your mouth
A headset or USB microphone 15 to 30 cm away sounds clearer than a laptop’s built-in one across the desk.
- 2
Choose a quiet, soft room
Curtains, carpet and cushions soak up echo; bare walls and hard floors add it. Close the window and silence notifications.
- 3
Watch the meter
Speak at your normal volume. The meter should move well into the right half without reaching the end, which distorts.
- 4
Leave a second of silence
Wait a moment after pressing Start and before pressing Stop, so no words are cut off.
How do you record your voice on a Mac?
Open Voice Memos, which comes with macOS, and click the red Record button: the memo is saved as an M4A file. QuickTime Player records too, with File → New Audio Recording. Or use the recorder on this page, which also saves MP3 and WAV.
Can you turn your voice into text on a Mac?
Yes, free. NoteOwl’s dictation types what you say into any app on your Mac, and its voice notes keep each thought as text beside the audio, all on the Mac with on-device AI models. It also records meetings and transcribes recordings you import, with unlimited transcription.
FAQ
Questions about recording your voice online
Is my recording uploaded?
No. NoteOwl’s voice recorder online records in your browser and keeps the recording in the page’s memory on your device. The MP3 and WAV files are made in the page too. Nothing is sent to NoteOwl or anyone else, and closing the page deletes the recording.
How long can I record?
Up to 2 hours per recording: NoteOwl’s audio recorder stops by itself at 2:00:00. Download the recording before you close the page or record again, because it isn’t saved anywhere else.
Does the voice recorder work on an iPhone or Android phone?
Yes. NoteOwl’s voice recorder works in Safari on an iPhone or iPad and in Chrome on Android. Recordings save as MP3 or WAV there too. Keep the screen on and the page open while you record: a phone can stop a browser’s microphone when it locks or you switch apps.
Can I pause a recording and carry on?
Yes. Press Pause and the timer stops; press Resume and NoteOwl’s recorder carries on in the same recording. The pause isn’t in the file, so you get one continuous recording without the gap.
Why can’t the recorder hear me?
Usually the browser hasn’t been allowed to use the microphone, the wrong microphone is chosen, or it’s muted. Allow it in the browser, pick the right microphone, check any mute switch, then try NoteOwl’s free mic test to see the level.
Where does the downloaded recording go?
To your browser’s downloads: the Downloads folder on a computer, or the Downloads folder in the Files app on an iPhone. NoteOwl’s recorder names it with the date and time, such as voice-recording-2026-10-14-1532.mp3.
Keep exploring
More free tools
- Mic testA free online mic test: a live level meter, a microphone picker and a 5-second recording to play back, in your browser
- Webcam testSee your camera’s live picture, resolution and measured frame rate, whether it’s too dark or frozen, and your microphone level; nothing is recorded
- Speaker testPlay a chime from the left, right or both speakers, or a stereo music loop, with a level meter for each side; sounds are made in the browser
- Headphone testCheck headphones’ left and right channels, a moving stereo tone, bass tones from 20 Hz, a 20 Hz–20 kHz sweep and polarity, in the browser
Related
- Free dictation into any appFree, unlimited speech to text in every app on your Mac: tap fn, talk, and the words type at your cursor; one tap polishes them in the right tone for that app
- Voice notes on your MacVoice notes and dictations saved as searchable text on your Mac, with the raw words beside the polished version; free
- Dictation on MacApple’s built-in Dictation on macOS 26: settings, shortcuts, fixes when it isn’t working, and when an app helps
- Audio trimmerTrim the start and end off a recording in your browser by dragging on its waveform; MP3, M4A, WAV and FLAC are cut without re-encoding
Your voice and your meetings, privately on your Mac
Free to download. Runs entirely on your Mac.
macOS 26 or later · Apple Silicon (M1 or newer) · 16 GB memory minimum, 24 GB recommended
About NoteOwl
NoteOwl is private AI meeting notes and memory for the Mac. It captures meetings without a bot joining the call, labels every speaker, writes summaries and action items, and builds a memory of every conversation that you can chat with — fully offline, because the speech recognition and the AI run on the Mac itself. Dictation into any app is free; Pro is a one-time purchase.
NoteOwl pricing: what’s free and what Pro adds
Last updated