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With just your iPhone, a good app, and a few simple tools, you can now capture studio-quality audio from your phone, wherever you are.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through all the steps you need to record a podcast on your iPhone or iPad, including gear, software, and recording tips.
Let’s dive in.
What do you need: The best iPhone podcast equipment and software for recording
Wondering what podcast equipment you need for recording content on your iPhone? Your kit can be very simple, actually. Here’s what you need:
- An iPhone, obviously! The newer your iPhone is, the better. Newer models (iPhone 12 and up) have excellent built-in cameras so you can record in superb video quality.
- An external microphone. Although the iPhone's mic quality is impressive, nothing beats the clarity of a dedicated external mic. External microphones are compact and portable, and extremely easy to use, so they’re worth the investment.
- A podcast recording app. While Voice Memos might work in a pinch, you'll want an app built for creators to streamline your workflows.
- Optional accessories. A few extras like a tripod, headphones, or even an LED light aren’t mandatory, but they can level up your setup and make recordings look more professional.
Now let’s break it all down.
Disclaimer: Please see our help site guidelines to check the compatibility of any equipment with Riverside.
Best iPhone podcast microphones
A microphone for your iPhone is a sensible and long-term investment. It has the biggest impact on your audio quality.
We’ve got a whole guide on dedicated iPhone microphones. But, I suggest getting a lightning to USB adapter so you can use any USB podcast mic. You can try the Samson Q2U or a higher-end mic if you’ve got the budget.
If you are looking for something more compact, then try the following lightning port-compatible mics:
External Microphones
External mics plug directly into your iPhone’s lightning port, just like a charger. Try the:
Shure MV88 - $192: The Shure MV88 is a top-tier, plug-and-play. It’s compact, robust, and can tilt or rotate for directional recording. You’ll get a windscreen and the Shure MOTIV app to customize your audio settings.
Zoom iQ6 X/Y - $99: The Zoom iQ6 X/Y consists of two unidirectional mics in an X/Y configuration with flexible recording angles. It’s great for solo or two-person recordings and fits in your pocket.
RODE VideoMic Me-L - $69: The RODE VideoMic Me-L is a budget-friendly directional mic made specifically for iPhones and iPads. It’s compact, reliable, and great for reducing background noise. Includes a windshield, a mounting clip for outdoor use, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Wireless Lavalier Microphones
Lavalier mics clip straight onto your shirt. They are great for recording on the go and feel less intimidating during interviews with guests who might suffer from stage fright.
Saramonic LavMicro Di Lavalier Mic Lightning - $50: A simple, omnidirectional lavalier mic that plugs directly into your iPhone. It’s powered by your iPhone, so no need to charge or use external batteries.
COMICA Wireless Lavalier Microphone System for iPhone, CVM-WS50 - $129: A wireless, omnidirectional lavalier mic with solid audio and a 60m range. Allows real-time monitoring and adjustment of levels, and has a rechargeable battery (USB-C charging).
Other equipment for your iPhone podcast setup
Your iPhone and mic will do most of the heavy lifting. Still, a few simple accessories can simplify your life and make your recording look more professional:
- Headphones: Monitoring your audio is always a good idea. I suggest wired headphones to avoid latency in pickup, but even your AirPods could do.
- Tripod or stand: A portable stand keeps your iPhone stable and elevates it so the camera stays at eye level during recording. A small tripod, like the JOBY GripTight or similar, with a ball head mount is all you need in most cases.
- Lighting: If you’re recording video, good lighting matters. Even a simple LED video light or portable ring light can brighten your face and avoid unflattering shadows.
- Phone rig or mount: A phone cage or grip rig helps you mount your mic, light, and phone all in one place—especially useful for handheld setups or mobile interviews.
Podcast recording app for iOS (&iPad)
There are plenty of podcast apps for iPhone and iPad that make it extremely easy to record. However, most fall short when it comes to audio quality and editing control.
If you're serious about sounding professional, you need an app that records locally and gives you real flexibility in post-production.
Here’s a quick look at our top picks to turn your iPhone into a full recording studio.
Want a full breakdown of the best alternatives? Check our list of the best podcast apps for iOS.
1. Riverside
Riverside is the only iOS podcast app that gives you a professional podcast studio that you can carry in your pocket.
You can record locally with up to 9 guests, so you’ll get full HD audio and video even when your connection is slow. All guests' video and audio tracks record separately, so you can easily cut out crosstalk. And, every one of your remote guests can join from their desktop or mobile devices by just clicking a link.
After recording, you can make edits in the app or head to the desktop version for our full text-based podcast editor. (All recordings sync straight to the cloud, so you can easily jump between phone and desktop.)
Key features:
- High-quality local recording: Record in up to 4K video and 48kHz audio regardless of your internet speed.
- Separate audio and video tracks: Invite up to 9 guests and record each participant’s audio and video as a separate track.
- No risk of data loss: Progressive upload means you won’t lose anything even if your connection cuts out or your iPhone malfunctions.
- Transcriptions: Receive up to 99% accurate transcriptions in over 100 languages straight after recording. Automatically generate chapters, timestamps, and show notes.
- Text-based video editing: Trim and cut your recording just by deleting words in your transcript. And no matter how many edits you make, everything stays in sync.
- Automated editing: Polish your audio, fix your eye contact, and get rid of background noise, silences, and filler words with just a click.
- AI Clips: Turn your long-form recordings into social-ready short clips in seconds.
2. Podbean Podcast App
Podbean is a podcast hosting service with its own recording app. It’s good for beginners and has free music, automatic silence trimming, and volume equalization. But, it can't record video and saves your recordings in lossy MP3 formats, meaning your overall audio quality will be quite low.
3. Spreaker Studio App
Spreaker is another host with a recording app. It’s a basic app but includes livestreaming, analytics, and auto-ducking, which automatically lowers music volumes when you speak.But, it doesn’t support remote podcast recording, and the editor is limited to only trimming and cropping recordings.
How to record a podcast on iPhone or iPad: 4 Steps
With Riverside, recording a podcast from your iPhone or iPad has never been easier.
Just follow this quick step-by-step guide to record your first podcast episode from your mobile iOS device.
Note: All the steps below for recording a podcast on an iPhone also apply if you’re using an iPad. If you want to specifically record on a MacBook, then check our guide for recording a podcast on a Mac.
Step 1: Plan your podcast
Before you hit record, some planning is in order.
Start by mapping out your episode: choose your topic, outline your talking points, and confirm any guest participation. Even a rough script makes a big difference.
Step 2: Download and open the Riverside app
Head to the App Store and install the Riverside.fm app on your iPhone or iPad. Log in as a Host using your account details.
Step 2: Launch a new session
Join one of your pre-existing studios or create a new studio. To create a new studio, select the studio bar up top and in the menu, click “+ Create new studio” button.
In the studio dashboard, click “Create” and then “Record”.
Enable your equipment and click “Continue” to enter the studio.
Step 3: Invite guests or record solo
Once you’re in the studio, tap the “Invite” button and choose whether you want to invite a guest, a producer, or an audience member.
To record solo, scroll to the solo tab, which you’ll see just above the record button.
To record only audio, scroll to the audio tab. Here, you’ll still see the invite icon if you want to invite guests.
Step 4: Start recording your podcast from your iPhone
Once your guests have joined and you’re all happy, click the red Recording button and enjoy your session!
You can also make use of the teleprompter on the bottom left and visual effects on the bottom right.
Your recording is locally recorded on each participant’s devices and progressively uploaded to the Riverside Dashboard as you go. You’ll be able to monitor how each upload is doing throughout your session.
Once each participant’s upload is complete, you’ll be able to access recordings on your phone or your desktop.
For a more in-depth guide, check our article on how to record a podcast.
Editing and publishing your podcast on your iPhone
Once you’ve finished recording, you can use Riverside’s mobile editor right from your phone for a few quick edits on the go.
Step 1: Open the mobile editor
From your app’s dashboard, tap on the project you want to edit, then on the “Editor” button.
Step 2: Edit
In the mobile editor, click:
- Trim to cut out unwanted parts in your recording using a traditional editing timeline.
- Cut to cut out unwanted parts with text-based editing. Just delete text in your transcript, and your recording will sync to the changes.
- Captions to style and add your own automatic captions.
- Layouts to adjust your video's aspect ratio.
Step 3: Export your file
Once you’ve applied all your changes, tap the purple export button on the upper right corner of your screen.
Here, select whether you want to export a video or just the audio file of your recording, then tap “Export video” or “Export audio” to export your file.
If you want to do more advanced editing, like removing filler words, fixing your eye contact, or polishing your audio, just switch to the desktop version of Riverside. All your files and recording will be synced there automatically!
Bonus: How to record a clip from a podcast on iPhone
Want to create clips that capture the best moments of your recording on iPhone? With Riverside it’s super easy!
Just follow these steps:
Step 1: In the editor, change the format to vertical (9:16) so your clip will be ready for social media.
Step 2: Tap the “Trim” option then select the length of your clip, like “60 seconds.”
Step 3: Scroll left and right on the timeline to pick the in and out points of your clips, or use the transcript to pick the exact moment where it should start.
Step 4: Add video captions to your clip and adjust their style and position.
Step 5: When you are done, tap the purple export button on the upper right corner, then “Export video.” Once your clip is ready, you can download it to share on any platform.
Top tips for podcasting with an iPhone
- Use a podcast recording app: You could go old-school and use Apple’s Voice Memos, but it’s a solution with more limits than benefits. Instead, use a proper podcast app like Riverside so you can easily record remote guests and keep everything in one place.
- Prioritize audio quality: Choose apps that record in uncompressed and lossless audio formats like WAV to capture crystal-clear sound. Also, invest in an external microphone to level up your sound.
- Use headphones: Wearing headphones during podcast recording allows you to monitor your audio, prevent feedback, and hear your voice as others will.
- Silence notifications: The last thing you want is to be interrupted by an incoming message or notification.
- Record in a quiet place: Reduce background noise as much as possible by recording in a location that is protected from external ambient noise.
- Mount your phone: Stabilizing your device prevents unwanted noise from vibrations or movements.
- Test your audio: Do a quick sound check before starting. This will protect you from any unexpected surprises!
FAQs on How to Record a Podcast on iPhone
How do I make a podcast on my iPhone for free?
To make a podcast for free on your iPhone, you can use Apple’s Voice Memo or a free podcast recording app like Riverside.
Plan your content, record using your phone’s mic or an external one, and do basic editing directly in the app. Once done, export the audio and upload it to a free hosting platform like Spotify for Podcasters.
How do you create a podcast on iPhone?
Creating a podcast from your iPhone will be different based on the software you choose to use. In general, this is how you create a podcast on an iPhone:
- Plan your podcast.
- Record your podcast using a voice recorder or your choice of a dedicated podcast recording app like Riverside.
- Edit and fine-tune your podcast through an editing app.
- Upload your podcast to your chosen podcast platform.
- Publish your podcast to as many directories as possible.
What is the best way to record a podcast on an iPhone?
The best way to record a podcast on an iPhone is by using an external microphone, a mount to keep your device stable, and a dedicated recording app like Riverside. If your budget allows, you can also add a mounted LED light to improve your lighting and eliminate harsh shadows, and a pair of headphones for more accurate audio monitoring.
Can you start a podcast with just your iPhone?
Yes, while we still recommend using an external microphone, you can definitely record a podcast from a phone. iPhone cameras boast impressive quality and can often outdo older DSLRs. Recording a podcast on your iPhone works similarly to doing it on a desktop—just make sure to use a mobile-friendly recording app like Riverside. Riverside's mobile app even allows you to record remotely with other guests.
Does the iPhone come with a podcast app?
Yes. iPhones come pre-installed with the Apple Podcasts app, which lets you search, subscribe to, and listen to podcasts. However, it doesn’t allow you to record or publish your own podcast—you’ll need a separate app like Riverside to do that.
Is the iPhone microphone good enough for podcasting?
The built-in iPhone mic can work for beginner podcasts or casual recordings, especially if you're in a quiet space. However, using an external microphone is highly recommended to increase the quality of your audio and make your podcast sound more professional.
Can I record a podcast on Apple podcast?
No, Apple Podcasts is only a directory, so you can only use it to upload your recordings. You'll have to use a separate app for actually recording your podcast. You can use your iPhone's built-in recorder or you can try software like Riverside, that's specifically dedicated towards recording high-quality audio and video podcasts.
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