Is Wave free for students?

Wave's free plan includes 30 minutes of recording per month, enough to try it on part of a class. Recording full lectures every week needs Wave Pro, which is $15/month or $80/year on the web ($100/year in the App Store and Google Play) for unlimited recording.

Can I record in-person lectures with Wave?

Yes. Open Wave on your iPhone or Android phone and press record; it keeps recording with the screen off. You can also start a recording from an Apple Watch or Wear OS watch. Check your school's recording policy first.

Does Wave work with Zoom and Google Meet classes?

Yes. Wave records online classes through the Chrome extension (browser tab audio), the Wave desktop app for Mac and Windows (system audio, no bot), or a meeting bot that joins Zoom, Google Meet, or Microsoft Teams.

How long does transcription take?

Wave usually has the transcript and lecture summary ready within minutes of the recording ending; longer lectures take longer to process.

Can I search my old lecture recordings?

Yes. Wave keeps every recording in a searchable library. Search by keyword, or ask Wave a question like "What did the professor say about the midterm?" and get an answer that cites the lecture.

Can I share lecture notes with classmates?

Yes. Wave can share a session by link or email, or export the transcript and summary to PDF, DOCX, Markdown, Notion, Google Docs, or OneNote. Respect your school's rules on sharing class recordings.

The Lecture Recording App Every Student Needs

Last updated: November 3, 2026

Wave AI is a lecture recording app for students: tap record on your iPhone, Android phone, laptop, or smart watch, and Wave turns the class into a searchable transcript and a lecture-style summary to study from. Free to start with 30 minutes a month.

Cornell notes generator YouTube summarizer

How to record a lecture and turn it into study notes

How do I record a lecture with Wave?

Put your phone on the desk near the front, tap record, and let Wave run through the class with the screen off. When you stop, Wave transcribes the lecture and writes a summary of the key concepts, definitions, and assignments.

Check your school's and professor's recording policy, and ask if you're unsure. Many classes allow recording for personal study; some don't.
Sit close to the speaker or put your phone near the front. Distance and room noise are the biggest causes of transcription errors.
Tap record in the Wave mobile app, on your Apple Watch or Wear OS watch, or in the Wave desktop app for an online class.
Stop when class ends. Wave transcribes the lecture with timestamps and writes a lecture-style summary.
Search the transcript for a term, ask Wave a question about the lecture, or export the notes to PDF, DOCX, Notion, or Google Docs.

Turn the transcript into Cornell notes

Paste a lecture transcript or your own notes into Wave's free Cornell notes generator and get cue questions, a notes column, and a summary you can study from or print.

Free Cornell notes generator

How does Wave compare with other lecture note takers?

We compared Wave, Otter, Plaud, Granola, Fellow, Jamie, and Notta on recording a full lecture in person, from a phone or watch, with saved audio and free-plan limits.

Best AI note takers for in-person meetings and lectures

The problems you know too well

Can't Keep Up with Lectures

Professors move fast. Wave records everything so you can focus on understanding instead of frantically writing notes.

Disorganized Notes Across Apps

Notes in one app, recordings in another, slides somewhere else. Wave gives you transcripts and summaries in one searchable library.

Studying Takes Too Long

Re-watching full lectures to find one concept wastes hours. Wave's searchable transcripts let you jump to exactly what you need.

Features

Everything you need to capture every conversation

One-Tap Recording

Press record on your phone, Apple Watch, Wear OS watch, or laptop. Wave captures lectures, study groups, and office hours.

Lecture-Style AI Summaries

Wave recognizes a lecture and writes a summary that highlights key concepts, definitions, and important points from the class.

Searchable Transcripts

Find any topic across all your lectures instantly. Search by keyword, or ask Wave a question across months of classes before an exam.

Works Everywhere

In-person lectures, Zoom classes, Google Meet office hours, recorded lectures on YouTube, or study group calls — Wave records or imports them all.

Background Recording

Record with your screen off or while using other apps. Wave runs quietly in the background during class.

76 Languages and Translation

Wave transcribes lectures in 76 languages and can translate a finished session, which helps when a class isn't in your first language.

Perfect for

In-person lecturesOnline classes via Zoom or Google MeetStudy group sessionsOffice hours with professorsLab and seminar discussionsExam review sessions

FAQs

Common questions

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