The Problem With Cloud Voice Notes
Every voice note app I tried wanted an account. Then a subscription. Then cloud storage "for sync." And you're trusting a third party with audio recordings that might contain sensitive stuff — medical reminders, personal thoughts, client calls.
I wanted something simpler: record, save, done. No internet required.
What I Built
Voice Notes & Audio Recorder is a Firefox extension that records audio directly in your browser, saves it locally, and never touches a server.
Key things it does:
- Records audio using WebRTC (browser's built-in mic access)
- Stores recordings in IndexedDB — stays in your browser, stays on your machine
- Playback from the extension popup
- No account, no cloud, no phone home
Available on Firefox Add-Ons: https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/voice-notes-audio-recorder/
Why Firefox?
Firefox has better privacy controls and extension APIs than Chrome. The activeTab permission model means the extension only gets access when you explicitly click it.
Use Cases
I use it for:
- Quick memos when typing would take too long
- Meeting summaries right after a call (before you forget)
- Grocery lists while walking around the kitchen
- Journaling when thinking out loud is easier than writing
The Technical Part
Recording is handled by the MediaRecorder API. Chunks are accumulated via ondataavailable, assembled into a Blob, then stored via IndexedDB. Playback uses a standard audio element with the blob URL. No server, no fetch, no external dependencies.
The entire extension is ~300 lines across 3 files. Simple enough to audit yourself.
Privacy By Design
Audio recordings on your device, controlled by you. That's it. No telemetry, no analytics, no external calls.
If you've been looking for a private voice notes option without the app baggage, give it a try. It's free and open to review.
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