10 Best Free Streaming Audio Recorders

There are plenty of free streaming audio recorders that will help you record the streaming audio effortlessly. Read on to find the top 10 streaming audio recorders that are free of cost. The article covers online screen recorders, desktop apps, and browser extensions.

Online audio recorders are free tools that can be accessed directly through the browser. You can use this free online service to capture audio streams and even record other sounds using a microphone. These recorders are entirely free and have no hidden costs for activation or extra features.

Best for: free audio stream recording

OS: any (web-based)

Trustpilot rating: 4.7 out of 5 stars, 395 reviews

Screen capture is a free online tool that allows individuals to record live streaming videos, audio, and any sound through a microphone. It’s easy to use for beginners and doesn’t have much of a learning curve.

To use this video and audio ripper, you just need to open the streaming site on your browser, play your audio and see it record for you instantly. You can do several things with this online freeware just by toggling through its features. For instance, you can record screens with sound capture, add your sound to any video as a narration, and do so much more.

The recordings can also be made directly through a microphone or by using another file from your device.

Features:

• No installation needed

• Totally free

• Fast video and audio saving

• Recording your microphone

• Supported by Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, and Opera

Pros:

• Record streaming audio for free without installing software

• No time limit in the free version

• Good sound quality

Cons:

• The downloaded file is an MP4 video. You’ll have to convert it to an audio format afterward.

Best for: high-quality recordings from a computer or microphone

OS: Windows, Mac

Apowersoft rating: 5 out of 5 stars, 152 reviews

Apowersoft free online audio ripper enables you to record audio on any Windows or Mac computer. It is easy to operate and completely free to use. However, first-time users need to install a launcher, and then they can record any video on the go. It accepts numerous audio inputs like audio files, microphones, digital streams, and system sounds.

Consequently, it offers outputs in various formats like MP3, FLAC, WAV, OGG, WMA, and many more.

With this tool, you can record songs and narrations in your voice, voice chats, audio meetings, or record the songs that you find interesting. This streaming audio recorder is free of cost and comes with a built-in library that enables you to manage and organize your recordings without hassle. Thus, you can listen to, save or delete the desired files on the go.

Features:

• Recording audio-only

• Capturing from streaming music sites, radio stations, voice chats, etc.

• Many output formats

• Smart ID3 tag editor for effective storage

• Simple recording management

Pros:

• Exporting to MP3 and other audio formats

• Compatibility with Windows Media Player, QuickTime, iTunes, etc.

• Easy recordings management

Cons:

• You’ll have to install the launcher

Go to Apowersoft Online Audio Recorder

Best for: recording high-quality videos in original quality

OS: any (web-based)

Acethinker rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars, 48 reviews

Acethinker is a free online audio recorder that enables users to record sound and voices in their original quality in a few simple steps. It comes with a highly functional and easy-to-use interface that doesn’t require any learning to use the tool. Users can quickly start, stop, or adjust voice recording at their convenience.

According to several reviews, the software records audio clips just as good as they sound original. Users can use online streamed audios, videos, system files, or microphones to record audios. Moreover, the freeware can record audio from meetings through different apps and software – all in all, any online source. As the online program claims, you can get anything you hear or say in high-quality MP3 audio format. This software also comes with a library where you can rename recording, organize the files, and easily find the correct files just through a few clicks.

Features:

• One-click recording launch

• Rip streaming audio from any platform

• Create an audio library

Pros:

• A wide list of streaming platforms supported

• Saving the recordings in MP3

• Managing all the recorded audios

Cons:

• You’ll have to install the launcher

Go to Acethinker Free Audio Recorder Online

Trying to save songs that you like can be a hassle when there is no option to download or save. However, having a desktop app for recording audio can be a lifesaver. A desktop audio recorder and MP3 downloader are considered the safest way to record anything.

Your recordings remain safe on your computer system and can be accessed and managed conveniently even without the internet. This means you can save and share the files in a hassle-free manner.

Best for: fast audio recording and instant editing

OS: Windows, Mac, Linux

G2 rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars, 377 reviews

Audacity is an all-in-one desktop audio recorder. It enables users to record and edit audio files simultaneously. It is a cross-platform and open-source streaming audio recorder for Windows 10, Windows 8, and 7, so you can use it on pretty much any laptop or PC. Users can also try it on Linux and Mac OS, but it may lag. It comes with an easy-to-use interface for almost all operating systems. Also, it has a multi-tracking audio editor that lets you make quick edits and instant downloads. So that you can save, share or listen to audio files anytime you want.

Features:

• High-quality recording

• Editing features for amateurs and professionals

• Sound effects

• Spectrogram view mode

• Installable plug-ins

• Exporting to a huge variety of formats

Pros:

• Customization, keyboard shortcuts

• Capturing sound in high quality

• Many editing tools: noise reduction, sound effects, etc.

Cons:

• The interface may seem complicated at first

Download Audacity

Best for: capturing streaming videos, audios, webinars, and calls

OS: Windows, Mac

G2 rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars, 49 reviews

Movavi is a streaming audio recorder for Windows 10. It is one of the most versatile tools available for audio recording on the internet. Its prominence could be attributed to a multi-functional approach that allows users to capture streaming videos and audios simultaneously or separately. Moreover, once recorded, audios can be edited and shared across platforms or a device’s storage.

Features:

• Recording system audio (even on Mac)

• Webcam recording

• Adding highlights and callouts

• Trimming the final recording

• Exporting to MP3, GIF, and many video formats

Pros:

• Simple interface, convenient sidebar

• Interface and recording customization

• Recording schedule

Cons:

• 7-day trial period

Best for: streaming audio recording, ideal for recording music and podcasts

OS: Windows, Mac

Trustpilot rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars, 773 reviews

SoundTap is a streaming audio recorder designed to record live streaming videos of excellent quality. It works with almost all operating systems, including Windows 10, Vista, XP, Windows 7, 8, and Mac. However, you need specific versions of the OS for it to work smoothly. The program supports limited file formats of recorded files. Also, if you record in an unusual file type, this freeware can help you convert it to MP3 format.

Features:

• No quality loss on audio recordings
• Works with players like Windows Media Player, Real Audio, QuickTime
• Can record conversations on Skype, Google Hangouts, Slack
• WAV and MP3 as output formats

Pros:

• Maintains perfect quality of the recordings
• Supports export to the most common audio formats

Cons:

• The interface may seem outdated

Download SoundTap Streaming Audio Recorder

Best for: internal and external sounds, YouTube, live streaming, broadcasts, conferences, VoIP phone calls, Skype

OS: Windows, Mac

Softonic rating: 3.2 out of 5 stars, 1646 reviews

Free Sound Recorder takes a practical approach to the recording through some reliable features and file support. You can record lengthy audio files and make immediate changes to them later on. In addition, this program allows you to trim, cut sections, or add effects to your audio recording. Also, the freeware gives you multiple options for file-saving formats that include WMA, MP3, OGG, and more. However, if you have a sound card configured, the app will automatically save the file in the supported format. Furthermore, you can schedule your reordering for longer lengths and hands-free recordings.

Features:

• Copy any audio playing on your computer

• Record VoIP phone calls and Skype conferences

• Schedule recordings

• Enhance the recorded audio

Pros:

• Totally free audio streaming recorder

• Recording scheduler

• Audio enhancement tool

Cons:

• Some users report installation issues

Download Free Sound Recorder

Best for: video recording and live streaming

OS: Windows, Mac, Linux

G2 rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars, 98 reviews

OBS Studio, the Open Broadcaster Software, is a free to download and easy-to-use program. You can install it in your computer system and promptly record any audio from the internet, live streaming, YouTube, and many more platforms.

The software is designed to record videos and screens, but it also works well for recording audio files from any source. It allows you to capture and mix videos and use custom transitions and filters that help you enhance the audio seamlessly. Also, you can create duplicate sounds, add effects, and easily change various configurations in the setting panel.

Features:

• Recording video and audio from your computer

• Streaming on Twitch, YouTube, etc.

• Applying audio effects

Pros:

• Many helpful tutorials online

• Free software with many uses and plug-ins

Cons:

• Saving to MKV only

• No post-recording editing available

Download OBS Studio

Browser extensions add to the functionality of your browser. Similarly, an audio recorder extension lets you record anything through a simple, easy-to-use extension while the audio plays in a tab on your internet browser. These browser extensions work on any OS and any device regardless of support and configuration matters.

Best for: recording videos and audio from a browser, live stream audios, anything played on the browser

Browser: Google Chrome

Chrome Web Store rating: 4.7 out of 5 stars, 10,047 reviews

Loom is a free streaming music recorder software and comes in numerous versions for serving various purposes. To make things a bit easier for people, it also offers browser extensions. Once added to the browser, Loom can capture the screen and audio played on the device. You can download and share the file anywhere. Also, you can share a link to share the video.

Features:

• Many versions available: Google Chrome extension, desktop recorder, mobile apps for iOS and Android
• Saving recordings to a cloud
• Sharing recordings through direct links and other means
• Team functionality

Pros:

• Simple interface
• Multi-platform usage
• Cloud storage

Cons:

• Requires you to create an account

Download Loom

Best for: tab recording from Chrome

Browser: Google Chrome

Chrome Web Store rating: 4.4 out of 5 stars, 1,422 reviews

Chrome Audio Capture is an easy-to-access chrome extension that works as a streaming music recorder. It can capture the audio from one tab or multiple tabs and supports all browser versions. The extension offers two output methods; you can go for MP3 or WAV file formats for exporting the recorded audio.

Features:

• Record streaming audio online from a specific tab

• Use hotkeys

• Save to MP3 and WAV

• Select output audio quality

Pros:

• Simple and effective software

• Setting time limit for the capture

Cons:

• No editing available

Download Chrome Audio Capture

If you’re looking for the best way to download streaming audio, here are some aspects you should consider:

Ease of use: Audio capture shouldn’t be too complicated. If you find yourself struggling with the interface, the app may not be suitable for you.

Audio quality: The required quality depends on your needs. If all you need is to record a conversation to make note of what’s been said, medium quality is fine. If you want to record music, you need the best quality you can get.

Output format: Make sure you can work with the output format the recorder provides. If it’s a video format, you may need another software to extract the audio.

Useful features: Can the app trim the recording, add effects, or share it online? Those features may be useful for your projects.

Reviews: If the users are satisfied, there’s a greater chance you’ll be happy, too. Consider reading the reviews beforehand.