Spy microphones are an exceptional way to gather crucial evidence without getting detected and keeping an eye on a range of different situations. Hidden microphone products likewise get the edge over video recording as they are a lot more discreet to use, quite straightforward and simple.
In addition, their versatility and efficiency make them the perfect option for all kinds of usage, whether personal or professional.
In this guide, we’re going to cover the following points:
- A quick peek at the 5 best spy microphones
- Detailed reviews to find out which spy microphone is best in 2020
- What we like about each of them
- Factors to consider when buying a spy microphone
- Our verdict
And if you wanted to create your own, you may want to check how to make a spy microphone!
Quick Summary: Top 5 Best Spy Microphone
Our professional editors pick and rate these products specifically for each category and recommend the best product we can. We may receive a commission from affiliated links.
Best Overall: SOTA Surveillance Mini Voice Activated Recorder
Straightforward and effortless one-touch system to start recording.
Straightforward and effortless one-touch system to start recording.
Runner-Up: Akaluli Professional Spy Recorder Pen
Easy to use with a flip of a button to activate recording mode.
Very easy to use because of its user-friendly design.
Also Good: PVerandio Voice Activated Recorder
Small, compact, and portable size makes it convenient to carry.
Small, compact, and portable size makes it convenient to carry.
Also Good: Attodigit@l Slim USB Flash Drive Voice Activated Recorder
Lightweight and genius design makes it impossible to detect.
Lightweight and genius design makes it impossible to detect.
Top 3 Quick Comparison
Product | Photo | Rec. Capacity | Battery Life | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Best Overall |
| 576 hours | 14 days | |
Runner-Up |
| 140 hours | 15 hours | |
Also Great |
| 96 hours | 7 hours |
Our Reviews
SOTA Surveillance, a premium Voice Activated Recorder, can keep high-quality recordings of whatever you wish to capture. It is an outstanding recorder that has an effortless one-touch operation as you only have to move the switch sideways. With its 576 hours of recording volume, you can record comfortably and without any worries. It is also geared up with a standby battery that allows you to record for a very long time without disruption.
All recordings are HD quality MP3 format that you can quickly transfer to your computer and run it with any audio player such as the Windows Media Player. Recordings can also be moved and saved to a memory card, USB, and so on and/or erased from the audio recorder. (1)
Pros
Cons
Product Reviews:
"Love the clarity of audio. Picks up all the sounds even if in a purse or bag. Time and date details on recordings are an asset. Holds an impressive amount of recordings."
This quality digital voice recorder from EyeSpy offers plenty of excellent functions and is available in a compact size. It has a simple one-touch operation that saves time and ensures productivity as all you need to do to start recording is to move the button on the side. What's more, you can quickly change in between non-stop recording and voice activation with the flip of a button. This recorder has a maximum recording volume of 140 hours and includes a battery that enables you to record 15 hours in a constant mode.
The files are always recorded in top quality MP3 format that you can quickly move to your computer and run using windows media player. Apart from that, it can also record while it's being charged. So, in a way, you can also record 140 hours of audio in a single go as long as the recorder is being constantly charged.
Pros
Cons
Product Reviews:
"Used this to monitor things that I thought were going on. I was right. The audio is very clear, almost too much. Worked flawlessly and in two days I found out what I needed."
IEFEVIVI is a small voice recorder that is incredibly simple to use. With nothing but a touch of a button, the Recorder will instantly begin taping top-quality audio making it perfect for classes, lectures, interviews, conferences, conferences, and numerous other occasions. The gadget measures just 5.52 inches x 0.18 inches x 0.13 inches and it can easily fit inside your pocket. Along with that, this mini-recorder includes a smart digital noise removal system, providing you approximately 192 Kbps of premium recording experience.
It is a 3-in-1 recorder that consists of a USB drive, MP3 player, and the recorder itself. It has also got an excellent range which makes it capable of recording sounds that are even 15 feet away from the recorder.
Pros
Cons
Product Reviews:
"This is one of the simplest things ever. I was way overthinking it when I first tried to use it. Simply plug it in to charge; when you see a blue light, it is ready. Turn it on and let it record. It had really clear sound."
Ideal for meetings, lectures, or interviews, the attodigit@l is a premium recorder that works as well as it looks. It is compact and tiny in size; therefore, you can carry it anywhere with absolute ease. In addition to that, it will easily fit in your pocket for uncomplicated access. For extra security, you can put in a 4 digits security password on the device so no one can access the recordings other than you. After you record your audio, you can run the file on your MAC, computer, or Android devices.
All the recorded files have time and date stamp so you can easily figure out what happened at what time. With its 20 hours of battery life after a single charge, you can record your entire day with peace of mind.
One of the most unique features of this recorder is that once it’s powered ON, it can automatically start recording when a sound is detected. Similarly, if it detects too long silence, it will stop recording to conserve the storage space.
Pros
Cons
Product Reviews:
"I love the mini recorder. It is very tiny so easily fits in pocket and is easy to use."
This is yet another spy recorder from attodigit@l that will most definitely catch your attention. It has been developed to take your audio recording experience to the next level due to its fabulous features. To an unaware individual, this device will look like a USB drive. But in reality, and along with being a USB drive that has both micro-USB and USB 2.0 plug, this tiny piece of technology packs a hidden recorder inside it. With attodigit@l’s voice-activated recorder, you can record for long hours effortlessly. You can also revel in the benefits of advanced modern technology as the recorder will automatically begin recording when a sound is detected nearby and stop when there’s silence. (2, 3)
Moreover, the battery is very reliable as it takes just one hour to be completely charged and will last as much as 26 hours before needing to be charged again. Aside from that, it will record all audios in high quality and you can use this device in a meeting, class, interview, and anywhere where long hours of conversations are expected.
Pros
Cons
Product Reviews:
"Great sound playback. Perfect size. Great for hiding in the car to record conversation. Works like charm."
Factors to Consider When Buying
Spy microphones are the kind of products where you cannot compromise on the efficiency of their features, overall performance, and reliability. Therefore, when buying a spy microphone, you should look for some features that must be present in the selected product.
Voice Activation System
There is no point in having a spy microphone that needs you to click several buttons before it can turn ON and start recording. Anybody that identifies such a microphone might be so curious to understand what is contained inside, which might contain some delicate details, that they might not stop until they've found the truth.
Deciding to purchase a voice-activated password-protected microphone can conserve you the embarrassment and protect your cover. There are numerous such microphones in the market that you can choose from however selecting one that is user-friendly and easy-to-use is imperative. You also need to make sure that you know and understand the security system of your selected microphone like the back of your fingers so you don't get locked out of your recorder and its contents.
Recording Capability
Any spy microphone that cannot record for a long time is pointless to have. Take meetings, calls on a computer, and conversations for example. All these can potentially stretch into hours and if your microphone stops in the middle of recording, either due to a lack of storage or because its hours limit is reached, it can be extremely frustrating because another such opportunity may not come back again where you can record like that.
Therefore, when buying a spy microphone, always make sure to check its recording hours capability. Some very good ones can record for a total of 600+ hours.
Memory Capacity
If you are looking to record conversations, meetings, lectures, and whatnot, anything that can be long and needs to be done discreetly will require large storage capacity. In some cases, you may even want to plant the microphone somewhere and leave it for hours so that everything can be recorded throughout the duration. For this, too, you will need at least 16 gigabytes of storage capacity and a considerable recording hours limit to make it happen.
On the other hand, if you just want to use the microphone for prank purposes or to record your passing thoughts without letting anyone know, then you might not need large storage. Any storage will work for you in this case because you will not be keeping the files forever in the microphone as they can be shifted to your computer and that will clear up space too.
However, if you are unsure of how you are going to use the microphone then, you should just go for the one with the maximum storage capacity. Besides, you can utilize the extra space in the future for other purposes, so it’s not like the extra bucks spent will be wasted.
Shape and Size
The size and the shape of your spy microphone can significantly affect how successfully you would be at hiding it and the ease of use in general. If you have a large microphone hiding in your pocket like a bulging smartphone, that will destroy the purpose of it being hidden. Therefore, small-sized recorders are the way to go as they’re less likely to be detected, easy to move around without anyone noticing, and possible to plant somewhere to record all the audios and sounds there.
Also, the shape of the voice recorder should be kept in mind as well. Spy voice recorders that are integrated inside objects of everyday use are nearly impossible to detect. Take for example a bracelet, pen, ring, etc. In case of sensitive meetings where recorders might be forbidden, a safe pen geared up with voice recording technology can be useful beyond measures.
Conclusion
Whether you wish to record your professor’s lectures, or you want to keep a record of how your interviews go by secretly taping them, the spy microphones mentioned in our guide will be of tremendous help to you. From imitating everyday objects to extremely tiny recorders, we’ve personally tested, verified their performance, and included the top 5 best products in our list so you are saved from the days and weeks of research.
We hope this guide helps you in the decision-making process by making it absolutely clear to you what each of the best spy microphones has to offer in terms of features and technology.
You may also check our other guides for the best spy camera, best spy pens, and best usb spy camera. You may also check our other product guides and reviews by clicking here.
Our Top Pick Again
SOTA Surveillance, a premium Voice Activated Recorder, can keep high-quality recordings of whatever you wish to capture. It is an outstanding recorder that has an effortless one-touch operation as you only have to move the switch sideways.
Resources
(1) MP3 format - https://whatis.techtarget.com/fileformat/MP3-MPEG-Audio-Layer-3-AC3-file
(2) micro-USB - https://www.pcmag.com/encyclopedia/term/micro-usb
(3) USB 2.0 - https://www.lifewire.com/what-is-usb-2-0-2626037#:~:text=USB%202.0%20details%20%26%20connector%20information&text=USB%202.0%20is%20a%20Universal,maximum%20speed%20of%20480%20Mbps.
