Seda Babayan, Author at Krisp https://krisp.ai/blog/author/seda/ Blog Mon, 24 Jun 2024 10:09:27 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://krisp.ai/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/cropped-favicon-32x32.png Seda Babayan, Author at Krisp https://krisp.ai/blog/author/seda/ 32 32 Nvidia RTX Voice vs Krisp – Noise Cancellation Review | Which Works Better? https://krisp.ai/blog/nvidia-rtx-voice-krisp/ https://krisp.ai/blog/nvidia-rtx-voice-krisp/#respond Wed, 20 Mar 2024 13:51:53 +0000 https://krisp.ai/blog/?p=6840 As people began to make much more audio and video communications than ever before, there is a growing interest in how to make these calls better. Sound is often the most important part of the call, and distracting background noise can be quite a hassle.  The best way to deal with this is to use […]

The post Nvidia RTX Voice vs Krisp – Noise Cancellation Review | Which Works Better? appeared first on Krisp.

]]>
As people began to make much more audio and video communications than ever before, there is a growing interest in how to make these calls better. Sound is often the most important part of the call, and distracting background noise can be quite a hassle. 

The best way to deal with this is to use a dedicated noise reduction software. So if you’re on the hunt to find the best one, you’ve likely come across Krisp and Nvidia Voice RTX. You may have narrowed your decision between them, but if you are still browsing, we can save you a lot of time and help you decide which noise cancelling app is the right one for you.

Let’s find out with our in-depth comparison.

Krisp vs Nvidia RTX Voice: Brief Introduction

What is Krisp?

Krisp is the first noise-canceling tool that removes background noise from communication apps. It works in real-time, using AI capabilities to separate unwanted background noise from human voices.

In addition to removing background noise from your microphone, you can also filter out background noise coming from other people during a call. In essence, it’s like adding a protective layer between your microphone or speaker and the app you use to make sure that noise doesn’t pass through. Krisp also provides the option to automatically take notes, record the calls and provide summaries and action items after calls.

Krisp was launched on ProductHunt and had a huge success by becoming the product of the year. In April 2020, Discord partnered with Krisp to bring the innovative noise suppression feature to its 250+ million user base.

What is Nvidia RTX Voice?

Nvidia RTX Voice is a new noise-canceling plugin released in April 2020.  Now it’s only a part of Nvidia Broadcas and not available as a standalone app. It works only with Nvidia’s RTX graphics card and uses its AI capabilities to eliminate background noise from your streams and calls.

nVidia RTX voice

Like Krisp, RTX Voice creates a virtual microphone and speakers within your system that are used in your audio and video chats to remove background noise. RTX Voice also suppresses background noise from incoming audio of players in noisy environments.

As of now, RTX Voice is only available within Nvidia Broadcast on Windows 10.

Krisp vs. Nvidia RTX Voice: Features, supported apps and technical requirements

Let’s start our comparison of Krisp vs RTX Voice by looking at the similarities and differences of the two apps in terms of their features, technical requirements and pricing. 

Noise cancellation

Both Krisp and RTX Voice support two-way noise removal and can eliminate noise from outgoing and incoming audio streams. The noise comes in one end and then emerges from the other end as a clean and crisp voice. This means that during a call you can speak and also hear others without noise.

You can join your remote meetings without having to worry about unwanted sounds, whether it’s keyboard clatter, the noise of a barking dog or a crying baby, or a hammering sound coming from the construction site near your home. Just don’t forget to turn on your noise-cancelling app beforehand 🙂

We made a full technical comparison of the noise reduction quality of Krisp vs Nvidia RTX Voice, according to which Krisp’s technology showed a 10% better result on average. (So keep reading to get to the nitty-gritty part!)

But before we get to that part, here’s a quick video review from Chris Fox from BBC. Chris experimented with different noises and compared the performance of two apps. Take a look.

 

Verdict: Both apps support two-sided noise cancellation so you can speak and listen without noise. On average, Krisp’s technology was 10% better.  

Supported apps

Another similar feature of Krisp vs. RTX Voice is that they can be used with any conferencing, streaming, and recording applications. Since Krisp and RTX Voice add a virtual microphone and speaker to your system, you can configure them both with any communication app that allows you to change audio settings and select a virtual device.

You can use Krisp and RTX Voice with the most popular applications, such as Zoom, Slack, WebEx, Skype, Google Meets, Microsoft Teams and pretty much with any app that allows you to select a microphone and speaker.

This is very helpful, as sometimes you can find yourself juggling between different apps throughout the day, depending on what you are doing or who you are talking to. You can easily do your remote meeting with Zoom, send a quick video message to colleagues through Loom, and stream with OBS in the evening — all while staying noise-free.

Verdict: No winner here. Both Krisp and RTX Voice support working with the communication apps that allow selecting a speaker and a microphone.

Hardware and OS Requirements

When it comes to hardware and OS requirements, apps begin to differ. The key difference is that RTX Voice requires an Nvidia RTX graphics card and Windows 10, while Krisp works with the built-in hardware on your device and across multiple OS platforms. 

To use RTX Voice, you must use an Nvidia GeForce RTX or Quadro RTX graphics card on Windows 10 only. 

Krisp, on the other hand, is entirely software-based. It’s available cross-platform on Mac and Windows, and doesn’t require any special hardware. Krisp has various modes, which allow it to be used on both high-end and low-end PCs and laptops.

All the audio processing is done locally on your device, you’re not sending audio to the cloud, so it’s private too.

As for additional devices, such as a microphone, speaker and headphones, Krisp and RTX Voice can be paired with any of them.

So while both apps support two-way noise cancellation and work with the majority of communication apps, RTX Voice is designed for Nvidia RTX cards, while Krisp can run on most devices and doesn’t require any special hardware.

Verdict: Krisp is clearly a winner when it comes to hardware and OS requirements. You can use Krisp with the available hardware of your device on multiple platforms.

Pricing

Krisp is free to download and start using it for free with a set number of minutes every week.

For unlimited noise cancellation, multi-device usage, and additional features, several plans are available for individuals, teams as well as for enterprises. Head over to the pricing section to learn more. 

RTX Voice is a free plugin, but it requires an Nvidia RTX graphics card, the price of which starts at $350 for their lower-end Graphic cards.

Verdict: When it comes to pricing, there’s no obvious winner as RTX Voice is free and Krisp has a free plan. However, RTX Voice requires you buying a RTX video card. So if you don’t have one already, Krisp is a better option for you.

Here’s also a quick overview of features, requirements and supported apps both for Krisp and Nvidia.

 

 Key Features
  • Removed background noises from incoming and outgoing audio
  • Removed Background Vocies (Background Speech)
  • Cancels Room and Acoustic Echo
  • Generates Notes and Action Items + Recordings
  • Removed background noises from incoming and outgoing audio
Hardware Requirements
  • No Special Hardware is Required
  • Requires Nvidia RTX Graphics Card (GeForce RTX, Quadro RTX, Titan RTX or higher)
Supported Apps

+ many other calling and communicating apps

+ many other calling and communicating apps

Supported Platforms (OS)
  • MacOS
  • Windows 10
  • Windows 11
  • Windows 10 only
Pricing
  • Krisp Free
  • Krisp Pro
  • Enterprise options
  • Free with RTX Graphic Cards (starting at $350 for lower end)

 

Krisp vs. Nvidia RTX Voice: Performance Comparison

At this point, you are probably already wondering, which application removes noise better, right?

So let’s move on to the more technical part. 

In this part, we evaluate Krisp vs. RTX Voice according to the following two criteria:

  • quality (noise cancellation + voice quality) – how well the app removes the most common background noises and maintains high voice quality.
  • resource consumption – how resource-intensive is the app, i.e., how much are the memory usage and CPU.

Note: Krisp’s technology is available in various bandwidth modes. For the tests, we used the Krisp HD full-band model since RTX Voice’s technology is full-band. As of now, Krisp’s desktop app uses Regular mode (wideband), but the HD mode will be released soon.

Audio Quality (Noise Cancellation + Voice Quality)

For this review, we took clean voice recordings and mixed them with 12 of the most common background noises, such as keyboard typing, babble, traffic, household noises, crying baby, barking dog, sirens, and others. We then processed the resulting noisy audio files with Krisp HD and RTX voice.

To compare the noise cancellation and voice quality provided by Krisp HD and RTX voice, we did POLQA evaluations. If you are not familiar with the terminology, POLQA is (a global standard for benchmarking audio quality by comparing processed audio files with the corresponding clean voices. The results are on a scale from 1 (bad) to 5 (excellent).

This is what we got:

POLQA per noise type

In the case of Krisp HD, all indicators are mostly above 3, which means that it has good performance in terms of eliminating noise and keeping voice clarity. In contrast, RTX Voice’s scores above 3 only in half of the cases.

Both apps show a very good result (above 4) in case of sirens and are close to that for the noises of beeping sound and a crying baby. In the case of babble noise and washing machine’s noise, both applications show the result just below the mark of 3.

Verdict: Looking at the results of this test, you can see that overall, Krisp HD has higher POLQA values and shows higher performance than RTX Voice. On average Krisp HD quality performance is 10% higher compared to Nvidia RTX voice. 

CPU Load and Memory Usage

Since both apps are AI-powered and use advanced audio processing algorithms, it is essential to compare their impact on system performance as well. 

When working with resource-intensive programs, you may notice that certain commands and actions may take longer to be executed. Besides, higher CPU usage can lead to overheating your system, and in the case of a laptop, also to faster battery discharge. Generally, a device operates more quickly, smoothly, and lasts longer on a battery charge if few resource-intensive processes are running at the same time.

With a noise-canceling application, the consumption of system resources is important, because in an ideal scenario, you would like it to work in the background so that you can quickly hop on calls anytime without worrying about the noise and checking if you forgot to turn on the app.

Unlike the RTX Voice plugin that requires Nvidia RTX GPUs to remove background noise, Krisp doesn’t require a specific graphics card and works on CPUs as well. 

Tip: Head over to Nvidia’s in-depth article to learn more about the difference between CPU and GPU.

To compare the CPU load and memory usage for both apps we have run them separately on the same machine – Processor Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-9700F CPU @ 3.00GHz, 32.0 GB RAM, NVIDIA 2080 Ti GPU. Each run lasted around 30 minutes to complete. 

GPU CPU Load

GPU and CPU memory

From the comparison charts it’s clear that RTX Voice is a more resource-intensive application. Krisp HD is the heaviest model in Krisp, but it’s still lightweight compared to RTX Voice. It has about 2x less CPU Load than RTX Voice on the same machine. At the same time, Krisp HD uses about 5x less CPU memory.

Verdict: In this case, Krisp is a better option as it requires fewer system resources while providing superior performance.

Krisp vs RTX Voice Comparison Conclusion: Which One Should You Choose?

Krisp and RTX Voice work similarly by adding a virtual device to your system and working based on AI to remove noise in real time. The most crucial difference between applications lies in their requirements. While RTX Voice is specifically designed for use on RTX graphics cards, Krisp can be used with the built-in hardware of your device across multiple platforms. 

So if you use Mac there’s not much point in getting Nvidia Broadcast since you can’t have it on MacOS as for Windows if you don’t plan to buy a hefty priced graphics card, then Krisp is the best noise canceling application for you. It is very easy to set up, and can help you have clear communication during your calls anytime. Who doesn’t like having meeting notes automatically generated as well? Krisp does that too!

Even if you have an RTX video card but still care about system performance, Krisp is the most optimal solution that doesn’t consume significant resources and provides excellent performance alongside AI Meeting Assistant features.

 

 

The post Nvidia RTX Voice vs Krisp – Noise Cancellation Review | Which Works Better? appeared first on Krisp.

]]>
https://krisp.ai/blog/nvidia-rtx-voice-krisp/feed/ 0
Zoom Noise Cancellation: How to Eliminate Background Noise & Echo https://krisp.ai/blog/zoom-noise-reduction/ https://krisp.ai/blog/zoom-noise-reduction/#comments Mon, 05 Feb 2024 10:07:23 +0000 https://krisp.ai/blog/?p=6306 If you work remotely, you’ve probably used Zoom at some point.  Yet, you might not know Zoom is also one of the pioneers in noise cancellation technology. If you make conference calls, you know how distracting and annoying background noises can get.  Keyboard typing, barking dogs, and crying kids – all these noises can affect […]

The post Zoom Noise Cancellation: How to Eliminate Background Noise & Echo appeared first on Krisp.

]]>
If you work remotely, you’ve probably used Zoom at some point. 

Yet, you might not know Zoom is also one of the pioneers in noise cancellation technology. If you make conference calls, you know how distracting and annoying background noises can get. 

Keyboard typing, barking dogs, and crying kids – all these noises can affect the productivity of your call.

Thankfully, Zoom provides the capability to eliminate these unwanted sounds, facilitating professional-quality conference calls. However, it’s important to note that Zoom noise suppression features may not always perform optimally. By delving into the specifics of Zoom noise cancellation, users can markedly improve the audio quality of their meetings. On a separate note, fine-tuning the settings for Zoom noise suppression can further aid in reducing background distractions.

In this guide, we’re going over how you can get started with background noise removal on Zoom and try advanced methods for cancelling unwanted sounds and echoes.

  • What is Zoom noise cancellation?
  • How to turn off Zoom noise cancellation?
  • How do I reduce background noise in Zoom?
  • How to cancel out background noise completely?
  • More tips for better Zoom meetings and high-performance sound 

What is Zoom noise cancellation?

August 2018. Zoom just announced and added the long-awaited persistent background noise cancellation feature. According to Zoom, this function automatically detects and blocks background noise, such as keyboard typing.

This function is switched on by default, so you don’t have to do anything in the settings. When you make calls using Zoom, noise cancellation automatically works in the background, and you don’t need to worry about turning it on.

However, sometimes you don’t need to remove background noises completely. For example, if you’re teaching online guitar classes, the enabled noise cancelling feature will do more harm to you than good. That’s because your students simply won’t hear you playing. In such cases, it’s better to turn off the default Zoom noise cancellation feature.

How to turn off Zoom noise cancellation?

To disable the Zoom noise cancellation feature, you need to enable the preservation of original sound. It’s not as difficult as it sounds. 

Preserving the original sound means that other call participants will hear the original audio from your microphone, without the audio-enhancing effect and noise cancelling feature of the app.

This option is great when you have a high-quality microphone. Or, maybe you just want the other call participants to hear clear audio like in the case with music classes. 

So if you’d like to turn off Zoom noise cancellation, you’ll need to enable preserving original sound:

  1. Log in via your Zoom desktop client and click on your profile picture.
  2. Select Settings > Audio.
  3. Under Music and Professional Audio, you’ll find the Show in-meeting option to enable “Original Sound” feature.

To suit your exact event type, you can select the High fidelity music mode, Echo cancellation, or Stereo audio.

zoom noise cancellation

And, that’s it. 

Now, the Original Sound setting will show up in the top left corner of your next meetings. No extra updates needed.

You can also do this on a mobile app:

  1. Sign in to the Zoom mobile app and tap the Settings button.
  2. Choose Meetings.
  3. Under Audio, turn on the Use Original Audio toggle.

How do I reduce background noise in Zoom?

To do this, you only need to take a few steps:

  1. Open Zoom’s desktop app on your Mac or Windows device.
  2. Click on the Settings icon.
  3. Select the Audio section.
  4. Under the Suppress background noise section, select the level of suppression you need for your most common use cases. Auto is the default setting but this will commonly apply moderate background noise reduction. It can also adapt to new sounds it detects in the background, but won’t treat background music as an unwanted sound. We’d recommend opting for the High level if you want to reduce sounds like wrappers flying around, paper crunching, or keyboard typing.

zoom noise cancelling

How to cancel out background noise completely?

But Zoom’s noise-reducing capabilities don’t completely remove background noises. Sometimes there’s so much persistent background noise that the built-in noise cancellation may not be enough. 

Or maybe you often switch between communication apps, making work calls with Zoom, personal calls via Google Meet, and sending quick video messages through Loom.

In such cases, Krisp can help you cancel out background noise and have a productive noiseless experience.

What is Krisp?

Krisp is an AI-powered noise cancelling app that removes background noise from your calls with one click. With a single click, it helps you have a productive and professional conferencing experience without background noise.

Plus, Krisp can block background noise on both ends of the call. You can cancel noise on your side with Krisp Microphone so that other call participants can only hear your voice. Conversely, if there is a lot of background noise coming from other participants, Krisp Speaker can help you don’t hear their noises.

[demo-new]

It seamlessly works with any conferencing app, including Zoom. Here’s how you can easily set up Krisp with Zoom.

1. Download the Krisp app.

2. Follow the Krisp Setup Wizard instructions to install Krisp.

3. After this, open Zoom and select Settings > Audio tab.

4. From there, select Krisp Speaker and Krisp Microphone.

5. Now start a Zoom call and switch on the Remove Noise toggle in Krisp.

That’s all! Try Krisp app during your next Zoom call and feel the difference for yourself.

Wondering how Krisp compares with classic Zoom noise cancellation? Take a look at this video review:

If you’re a Mac user, here’s a helpful video on how to set up Krisp with Zoom on Mac to start removing common noise distractions.

If you don’t have the Zoom app installed yet, download Zoom for Mac.

 

And if you’re a PC user, here’s the tutorial on how to set up Krisp with Zoom on Windows.

How can I remove echo in Zoom?

Zoom has a built-in echo cancellation feature which, in most cases, is turned on by default:

zoom noise reduction

You can further edit its effectiveness by heading over to your profile picture icon > Audio > Advanced:

zoom echo cancellation

There you currently [Zoom keeps changing the way they manage echo] have the option to choose between Auto and Aggressive. Auto echo cancellation works best for online events with multiple participants and an audience or for live music events. The Aggressive option, on the other hand, is best suited for regular meetings where no echoes are welcomed as they can disturb the session.

Krisp takes echo cancellation one step further by removing the echoes bouncing off of the walls or other hard surfaces in the room you’re taking your call from. So you can literally take calls from anywhere. On top of this, Krisp even takes care of pesky acoustic echoes your overly-sensitive microphone could cause. Zoom currently has no solution for the latter recurrent problem.

More tips for better Zoom meetings and high-performance sound 

Background noise cancellation and echo removal are just two of the many aspects to consider for a high-quality Zoom session. I’ll also take you through some extra tricks for guaranteeing the quality of your audio, whether it’s for live meetings or recordings:

Using the right equipment

Whether you’re using Zoom’s noise cancellation independent or alongside Krisp, both tools work with any headset or earset including a wireless or corded headset and mic. 

A condenser mic though is best suited for voice recordings like webinars or podcasts. Condenser mics are more sensitive and responsive, while dynamic ones are suited for extreme conditions and work for musical performances where you’ve got both singers and a complete band on the same stage.

You’ll also want to add in a pop filter or windscreen if you want to record outside on a windy day or you’ve had enough of the “p” and “b” sounds that distort your final recording.

Bonus tip: An appropriate environment plays a huge part in the quality of a recording. While Krisp helps you get that HD voice recording, if you plan on using Zoom’s noise cancellation only, you’ll appreciate shock absorbers across your recording room.

[demo-new]

Maintaining peak device performance

Zoom noise cancellation can increase CPU utilization. So you’ll want to use it sparingly for important events like webinars or other types of live streams. However, Zoom noise cancellation feature is specifically designed to enhance audio quality by filtering out background noise, making it indispensable for professional and clear communication.

For these, however, it’s super important to maintain a high-quality sound. So instead of ditching noise cancellation, use a tool like Krisp which requires less work from your system. Just switch to the optional low power mode when you’re running many taxing programs to minimize CPU usage. Talk about the best of both worlds!

Improving Zoom meeting quality in time using past insights

In addition to noise and echo cancellation, Krisp pairs with HD-supported devices to maintain crystal clear audio quality at all times. This is perfect for podcasts or events you need to record as you won’t need to take the entire recording through a complex post-editing process.

Besides audio quality, you’ll also want to consider improving your communication skills and providing a top-notch meeting experience to your team, clients, students, or event attendees. 

Krisp’s Talk Time gives you real-time insight into your meeting participation by showing you how much time you spent speaking during a call. This allows you to keep your own engagement in check and know when it’s time to let others speak. 

If you want to prevent wasting too much time in Zoom sessions, just track call performance using Krisp’s Call Summary. This answers common questions you might have had before like:

  • How long do our meetings usually last?
  • How much time is every person speaking? Are there any meetings where we’re losing precious time in silence?
  • How much noise has Krisp canceled? 

 

Bonus tip 2: If you’d like transcripts for your Zoom meetings, check out how to transcribe zoom meetings free using Krisp’s AI Meeting Assistant feature.

For seamless and cost-effective transcription of your Zoom meetings, consider leveraging the innovative Krisp’s AI Zoom Transcription feature, which utilizes advanced artificial intelligence to accurately and effortlessly convert your meeting conversations into text.

Wrapping up

Hopefully, this tutorial will help you to block background noise from your Zoom meetings and enjoy productive conference calls. If you have any questions, ask us on Twitter

Download Krisp For Windows

The post Zoom Noise Cancellation: How to Eliminate Background Noise & Echo appeared first on Krisp.

]]>
https://krisp.ai/blog/zoom-noise-reduction/feed/ 1
10 Best Android and iPhone Noise Cancelling Apps (2024 Update) https://krisp.ai/blog/iphone-noise-cancelling-apps/ https://krisp.ai/blog/iphone-noise-cancelling-apps/#respond Mon, 22 Jan 2024 08:45:19 +0000 https://krisp.ai/blog/?p=5964 With everyone working from home these days, having an Android or iPhone noise cancelling apps is more important than ever. They can make the difference between a call that sounds professional and one that gets interrupted by screaming kids and barking dogs. Here, we’ll discuss some of the best iPhone noise cancelling apps on the […]

The post 10 Best Android and iPhone Noise Cancelling Apps (2024 Update) appeared first on Krisp.

]]>
With everyone working from home these days, having an Android or iPhone noise cancelling apps is more important than ever. They can make the difference between a call that sounds professional and one that gets interrupted by screaming kids and barking dogs.

Here, we’ll discuss some of the best iPhone noise cancelling apps on the market. We’ll also look at some Android noise cancelling app options, so everyone will be covered.

Let’s dive in!

Best iPhone Noise Cancelling Apps

Denoise – audio noise removal

Denoise is a iPhone noise cancelling app that removes background noise from your videos and audio recordings. It comes with a significant upside: it works as an iOS extension. This means that when you record video or audio with any app, Denoise will automatically start working. You don’t have to worry about launching it every time you finish a voice memo or a video.

Denoise is not designed for live calls or teleconferencing. Instead, it’s designed for content creators, so you can get studio-quality sound on the go. You can shoot videos and record voice memos and don’t worry about background noise as Denoise will remove all of it.

 

denoise app

And if it fails to eliminate a particular noise, you can go back and fix things later using the interactive waveform analyzer with this noise cancelling app for iPhone. There, you can manually mark the spot where noise is interfering, and it will be removed. The developers are also working on a built-in DropBox uploader, but that feature has not yet gone live.

That said, Denoise is not free. It costs $1.99 and for this upfront fee, you can use it for the rest of your life. And there are no ads or watermarks to muck up the experience.

Best noise cancelling app for Mac and Windows: Krisp

Krisp is an AI-powered noise-cancelling app for Mac and Windows 10. It recognizes and removes background noise on your side of the call so the other call participant can’t hear it.

Krisp is free to use. The free version will cancel noise for up to 240 minutes per week. With the paid tiers, you get unlimited noise cancellation for use, so head to the pricing section to learn more.

[demo-new]

Best Android Noise Cancelling Apps

Neutralizer

Neutralizer is an Android-only app that’s designed to work for your own individual hearing with specialized Android noise cancellation. Everyone’s hearing is different, so a noise cancelling app that works well for one individual may not work well for another. That’s where Neutralizer comes in. When you first launch the app, you take a short hearing test, which measures your ability to hear different frequencies at different volumes. This enables Neutralizer to build a custom profile just for you.

This serves two purposes. First, for noise cancelling purposes, it means that Neutralizer can predict which noises are most likely to distract you. For example, if you hear high frequencies better than low frequencies, Neutralizer will respond to high-pitched background noise more than it responds to low-pitched background noise.

Second, for overall listening purposes, it means that Neutralizer can adjust your EQ (equalization) to a setting that’s best for you, enhancing your experience with noise cancelling headphones. Rather than a one-size-fits-all “bass boost” or “country music” setting, you get an EQ that compensates for your individual hearing. This eliminates the distortion you may experience from using more generic EQs.

So if you listen to music with headphones and there’s a lot of noise around, Neutralizer will automatically increase the sound volume in the headphones, thereby suppressing the noise around you.

Neutralizer is free to use.

Noise Killer – Stop the Noise!

Noise Killer is another Android noise cancelling app. It’s designed to filter out noises in public spaces such as train stations, airports, or crowded streets. When you activate the app, it will instantly begin noise cancelling. One nice feature it offers is that it works even when your screen is turned off. This can help you save batteries.

Noise Killer can also automatically adjust the volume based on background noise. When used in this mode, it doesn’t just cancel background noise; it straight-up blocks them out. Better yet, it will lower the volume automatically when background noise decreases, saving battery life.

There’s an optional “shake” function, which can be used to adjust volume based on phone movement. This is a great feature for joggers. When you start running, your phone will shake, and the volume will automatically go up. There’s also a geo-location feature. This is great if you use your phone to listen to music in your car. As you accelerate and the wind and noise get louder, your volume will increase. When you come to a stop, it will return to a normal level.

So whenever you want to pull back from your surrounding noise and side talks, Noise Killer is a great and free app to use.

Safe Headphones – Hear Background Noises

Safe Headphones is an Android app that does the opposite of what most of these other apps do. In fact, it might be best described as a noise “un-cancelling” app. It has a variety of purposes, depending on exactly what you’re trying to do.

First off, as its name implies, it can helps you stay safe when you use headphones in public places. When it’s enabled you can hear your surrounding background noises without taking off headphones. So if you have to walk through a sketchy area, you can turn the app on to ensure that you’re able to hear anyone around you. It’s also useful for hearing car horns when you cross the street while listening to music.

Secondly, you can use it to listen in on conversations. Admittedly, this could be used for nefarious purposes, but there are also legitimate uses. For example, you could use Safe Headphones while riding in the back seat of a car, to participate in a conversation with the people in the front seats. Now you can sit at the back seats in the lecture hall and perfectly hear the question if the professor asks you.

You can even use Safe Headphones as an alternative to a hearing aid. The app can improve your hearing ability to hear sounds more clearly and loudly.

Safe Headphones is free to install and use.

Noise Generator

Noise Generator is a little bit different than the other apps on our list. Strictly speaking, it’s not a noise cancelling app at all. In fact, as its name implies, it’s a noise generation app. But why would you want to actually generate noise? Turns out background noise can boost productivity. It can help you sleep, reduce stress, or help you focus. It’s actually commonly-used in offices to help workers remain concentrated on their tasks.

But there are several other colors of noise. In addition to white noise, Noise Generator can also produce brown, pink, violet, or blue noise. Each of these colors can serve different purposes.

Brown noise has less “static” than white noise, and sounds more like a waterfall, with most of the sound in the bass frequencies. Pink noise is similar to brown noise, but with a little more activity in the high frequencies. Think of it as a waterfall with soft, high-pitched water droplets plinking away. Blue and violet noise are more concentrated in the high frequencies, with a more energetic, active sound.

You can customize any of these sounds by using Noise Generator’s high and low cutoff filters. All of these noises are generated dynamically, rather than recorded, which means Noise Generator doesn’t take up a lot of storage on your device. At this time, Noise Generator is available on Android devices only. You can get it free of charge.

Best of Both Worlds: Android and iPhone Noise Cancelling Apps

myNoise

myNoise is an iOS alternative to Noise Generator, although it’s available on Android as well. myNoise works like an old-school bedside noise generator. You pick a noise, and it will play until you stop the app. Depending on what you want, you can get access to a variety of sounds to help you sleep, focus, or even meditate.

Some of the available sounds include rain noise, spring walk, temple bells, and binaural beats. Rain is often used for sleep and meditation. Temple bells can also help with meditation and relaxation. Spring walk has sounds of rushing wind and twittering birds, which can help cheer you up on a rainy day. Temple bells is useful for meditation, as is the binaural beats sound. And this just scratches the surface of what myNoise has to offer.

The app is free as well as ad-free. However, that “free” comes with a caveat: by default, myNoise only plays white noise. For most of people, that’s going to be good enough. You can enjoy relaxation and improved focus without having to listen to an ad every time you start up the app.

If you want to have access to additional sounds, you’ll have to pay a small fee. You can pay for each sound individually, or pay a bit more to get the entire myNoise catalog at a significant per-sound discount.

Want to know which sounds can help you focus? Read about top relaxing sounds to increase focus.

Parrot Zik

Parrot Zik is another noise cancelling app for iPhone and Android users. The Parrot Zik app will automatically measure the level of noise around in your surroundings. If there’s a low level of noise, all is good. But when noise spikes, the app will kick in, immediately cancelling out noises that could distract you from your music, audiobook, or phone call.

One neat feature of Parrot Zik is that the app will notify you when there’s too much background noise for it to work effectively. By default, your phone will vibrate when this happens. If you don’t want any notifications, you can turn this function off in Parrot Zik’s settings.

The app is free both for Android and iOS users.

UrbanDenoiser

UrbanDenoiser is primarily designed for music, but it’s also perfectly well-suited for teleconferencing with its advanced Android noise cancellation capabilities. When you’re listening, it offers automatic noise compensation. As background noise goes up, it will mask specific frequencies, as well as automatically adjust the volume to compensate. This ensures that your perceived volume will be the same, regardless of the background noise. It also has several built-in algorithms that you can choose from.

If you have trouble hearing higher or lower frequencies, for example, you can choose an algorithm that will compensate. For music lovers, UrbanDenoiser even has a bass booster, which can be customized to various EQ profiles.

In addition to blocking noise, it also has a “surrounding sound” mode that can be activated at will. This mode allows you to hear more ambient noise, which can improve your situational awareness.

UrbanDenoiser is available for Android, iOS, and Windows Mobile, so it will work with just about any smartphone.

It’s also free. As with most free apps, though, there’s a downside: it’s ad-supported, so you’ll have to deal with a bit of advertising every time you launch the app. Still, that’s not a huge deal, considering what you get.

Noise Wall

Noise Wall is available both on Android and iOS. It’s a traditional noise cancelling app, but it has a couple of extra features that make it worth a second look. By default, it simply compensates for ambient noise by cancelling out distractions. Jet engines, crowd noise, and traffic will all fade into the background when you’re using the default mode.

But what about the extra features?

First off, Noise Wall can dynamically adjust your volume based on background noise. Rather than simply cancelling out the noise, it will actually turn the volume up if background noise is louder, or down if you’re in a quiet location.

Noise Wall also has a transparency mode. In this mode, you simply tap a button, and outside noise will actually get sent through your earbuds. This is a great feature for quick social interactions. You can listen to music while you’re standing in line at the grocery store, then use transparency mode to interact with the cashier.

Noise Wall is free to install, however it has some in-app purchases. The Pro version costs $1.93 for Android users.

Best Android and iPhone Noise Cancelling Apps in 2021

These are just 10 of the best Android and iPhone noise cancelling apps available out there in 2021. Which one is the best for you? It mainly depends on why you want to use a noise cancelling app and what the most important features are for you. But one thing is certain: having an Android or iPhone noise cancelling app will save you time and make your calls sound professional.

Which ones do you use? Share them with us on Twitter.

Looking for noise cancelling apps on Mac or PC?

Read more about the 5 best noise cancelling apps for Mac.

Read more about the 5 best noise cancelling apps for Windows.

Download Krisp For Windows

The post 10 Best Android and iPhone Noise Cancelling Apps (2024 Update) appeared first on Krisp.

]]>
https://krisp.ai/blog/iphone-noise-cancelling-apps/feed/ 0
Krisp vs SoliCall Review – Which Noise Cancellation Solution To Choose https://krisp.ai/blog/krisp-solicall-comparison/ https://krisp.ai/blog/krisp-solicall-comparison/#respond Thu, 29 Sep 2022 17:27:44 +0000 https://krisp.ai/blog/?p=9671 Whether you’re looking to better understand your colleagues during meetings or make sure no one hears your dogs barking in the background, you’ve probably already started to consider a noise cancelling tool.  Noise cancellation software enhances the audio in calls by removing unwanted background noise in real time. This includes common background noises like barking […]

The post Krisp vs SoliCall Review – Which Noise Cancellation Solution To Choose appeared first on Krisp.

]]>
Whether you’re looking to better understand your colleagues during meetings or make sure no one hears your dogs barking in the background, you’ve probably already started to consider a noise cancelling tool. 

Noise cancellation software enhances the audio in calls by removing unwanted background noise in real time. This includes common background noises like barking dogs, crying babies, keyboard tapping and more. These software-based noise cancelling solutions can remove background noises and even echoes no matter where you work from, even on the go.

In this article, we’re going over the main differences and common features between two noise cancelling solutions: Krisp and SoliCall.

Krisp vs Solicall: Brief Introduction

Before we jump into the performance comparison, let’s take a closer look at what each tool does.

What is Krisp?

krisp app

Krisp is a global software company that develops audio and video solutions to empower everyone to communicate with clarity and confidence. Its AI-powered noise, voice, and echo cancellation technology has been recognized as an industry leader, named one of TIME Magazine’s 100 Best Inventions of 2020 in the Artificial Intelligence category and one of “America’s Most Promising Artificial Intelligence Companies” by Forbes. 

Krisp supports more than 150 million users across the world and thousands of small businesses, enterprise organizations, contact centers, and business process outsourcers to create clearer communication — regardless of where they work. This noise cancelling software is trusted by some of the world’s largest and most prominent organizations, including GitHub, Discord, Accenture and more.

Krisp provides bi-directional background Noise Cancellation, Voice Cancellation, and Echo Cancellation. It works with any conferencing app or VoIP software to detect and eliminate unwanted noise, leaving only crystal clear HD audio. 

During the pandemic, Krisp became an essential solution, especially for call centers. After turning Krisp on, customers report 6% reduction in Average Handle Time (AHT), 8% increase in customer satisfaction score (CSAT), while noise complaints are reduced by 78%. 

“We frequently refer to Krisp in internal meetings as ‘working like magic. Agents, their managers, and customers are all ecstatic and happy, and the difference is black and white.”

Nathan Yap, CEO, SupportZebra

With Krisp, call center agents can resolve customer issues with confidence and maintain customers’ trust, knowing that background noise and distractions won’t get in the way. 

Besides call center noise cancelling, Krisp works for a variety of different use cases and gives individuals and teams the tools to improve their meeting experience and gather insights on communication habits to improve their digital well-being.

[demo-new]

What is SoliCall?

solicall

SoliCall develops software products that improve the sound quality in telephony. Their products are used in mobile phones, desktops, call centers, conference bridges, VoIP networks and in the cloud. Among their products are Noise Firewall for call centers and shared workspaces, as well as robust echo cancellation for the network and other challenging environments. 

SoliCall Pro solution aims to improve the quality of audio when using soft-phones without needing centralized audio filtering or analysis. It improves audio quality when making calls from any PC/laptop running on Windows and can be easily integrated with any soft-phone/VoIP application like Zoom, Skype, or Teams.

Another innovative solution is PBXMate for call centers. This product removes ambient noise in order to improve customer experience. It uses custom algorithms to correlate the audio of different calls, find the noise’s location, and remove it from calls. 

But which option is right for your needs: Krisp or SoliCall? Let’s see both of them in action!

Krisp vs. SoliCall: Features and Technical Requirements

To compare the two noise cancelling solutions, we’re first going over their features and technical requirements needed.

Krisp features

Krisp provides a suite of various features, packed in an easy to use app. The main features of Krisp are:

  • Noise cancellation – Removes background noise from both ends of the call.
  • Background voice cancellation – New groundbreaking feature of Krisp that removes background voices, such as the chatter of other agents nearby.
  • Echo cancellation – Eliminates distracting room and acoustic echo. 
  • Call summary – Provides a quick overview and insights on talk time after each call to keep track of the effectiveness of your meetings.
  • Widget – Handy tool to easily control Krisp during a call.
  • HD Voice – Krisp work with any HD-supported device to maintain clear audio quality
  • Low power mode – Allows agent devices to run smoothly without taking up too much of CPU power.

Learn more about Krisp’s features.

SoliCall features

  • Noise reduction – profile-based noise reduction (PNR) to reduce non-human sounds and reference-based noise reduction (RNR) to attenuate ambient sound.
  • Echo reduction – Cancels echo generated on local or remote devices.
  • PBXMate for Call centers – Displays real-time statistics on calls in progress and aggregated insights for past calls. 
  • Automatic Gain Control – Keep voice volume in a normal range.

Supported apps

  • Krisp can be used with any communication app, including all audio and video conferencing tools and VoIP solutions, such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams, RingCentral, Avaya, Genesys and 800 more. 
  • SoliCall can be integrated with any soft-phone on any operating system and with any desk-phone as well as any communication software like Skype for Business or Genesys.

Supported headsets

  • Krisp works with all headsets and earphones.
  • SoliCall works best with certain USB headsets.

Technical requirements

  • Krisp works both on Mac and Windows (versions 10-11) devices
  • Solicall works only on Windows (versions 7-11) devices

Pricing

Krisp has a free plan so you can try and evaluate the tool at no cost. There’s also custom plans for Teams and Enterprise users. For more information visit Krisp’s Pricing page. You can also request a demo to see how the tool can help you with your specific needs.

SoliCall provides the basic version of Solicall Pro that doesn’t contain some of their advanced tools for a testing period of only 3 days. For more information and custom plans, you will need to contact their team. 

Krisp vs. SoliCall: Performance Comparison

Now let’s move on to a more technical comparison between Krisp and Solicall and see how both of these tools performed in various tests. 

In this section, we evaluate Krisp vs. Solicall based on the audio quality, meaning how well the app removes the most common background noises and maintains high voice quality.

Audio Quality (Noise Cancellation + Voice Cancellation)

For this test, we used VoIP tools which enabled us to get processed files and calculate the Perceptual Objective Listening Quality Analysis (POLQA) metric.

If you are not familiar with the terminology, POLQA is a global standard for benchmarking audio quality by comparing processed audio files with the corresponding clean voices. The results are on a scale from 1 (bad) to 5 (excellent).

When comparing Krisp with SoliCall, we did the evaluations in the exact same conditions and tested their performance for reducing background noise and voice. Two audio files were created and processed using the Krisp microphone and, respectively, the SoliCall microphone.

Results

Let’s consider the POLQA results for the processed noisy audio samples below. As you can see from the chart, Krisp has higher scores for all noise types. This means that Krisp is better able to clean background noise while keeping the main speaker’s voice intact.  

krisp vs solicall comparison

When subjectively listening to the audio, we could notice that SoliCall suppressed background noises but also removed the main speaker’s voice, meaning it has some voice suppression as well. When listening to the audio snippets, we also noticed that some noise is heard during speaking time and noise is cleaned comparatively well when there was no human voice in the audio.

Let’s consider the POLQA results for the processed multi-voice (main speaker and background voices) audio below. Similar to the results above, Krisp has performed significantly better compared to SoliCall.

When listening to audio fragments processed by Solicall, we noticed that it didn’t fully clear background noises. While testing Krisp, we didn’t notice such cases, which is confirmed by its high POLQA scores.

krisp solicall review

Looking at the results of this test, you can see that Krisp’s noise canceling solution overall performs noticeably better than SoliCall, and does a better job of cancelling surrounding noise and secondary speakers’ voices while keeping the main speaker’s voice clear. In the case of Solicall, the tests showed lower results and during listening evaluations there were some instances where it even suppressed the main speaker’s voice. 

Krisp vs. SoliCall Comparison Conclusion: Which One Should You Choose?

Our tests revealed that when compared to SoliCall, Krisp’s noise cancelling product was able to accurately remove secondary speakers’ voices and unwanted background noises from audio. Even in real-time. On the other hand, SoliCall had a worse performance, occasionally suppressing speakers’ voices or failing to remove background noise altogether. 

If you want to rely on a single solution for clear audio quality during meetings or for use within call centers, Krisp is the perfect option that scales with your business. In addition to effectively removing unwanted noises and extra background voices, the tool also eliminates echoes bouncing off of the walls and those resulting from your voice or a sensitive mic. 

Want to test Krisp right now? Try it below in real-time to see it in action!

[demo-new]

The post Krisp vs SoliCall Review – Which Noise Cancellation Solution To Choose appeared first on Krisp.

]]>
https://krisp.ai/blog/krisp-solicall-comparison/feed/ 0
7 Best Contact Center Software (2024 Updated) https://krisp.ai/blog/contact-center-software/ https://krisp.ai/blog/contact-center-software/#respond Mon, 28 Sep 2020 17:51:27 +0000 https://krisp.ai/blog/?p=7242 As contact centers continue to evolve, they increasingly rely on sophisticated software to stay competitive and meet rising consumer expectations. Today’s contact centers demand solutions that provide omnichannel support, AI-driven analytics, and seamless integration with CRM systems to deliver exceptional customer experiences. With innovations like predictive dialing, real-time reporting, and advanced workforce management, these tools […]

The post 7 Best Contact Center Software (2024 Updated) appeared first on Krisp.

]]>
As contact centers continue to evolve, they increasingly rely on sophisticated software to stay competitive and meet rising consumer expectations. Today’s contact centers demand solutions that provide omnichannel support, AI-driven analytics, and seamless integration with CRM systems to deliver exceptional customer experiences. With innovations like predictive dialing, real-time reporting, and advanced workforce management, these tools are essential for optimizing operations and driving customer satisfaction.

In this article, we delve into the top seven contact center software solutions for 2024, offering a comprehensive guide to help you make an informed decision and elevate your customer service strategy.

So, without further ado, let’s dive in.

How to Choose Contact Center Software?

Advanced software solutions now offer a variety of features designed to streamline operations and enhance customer interactions. Here are the key factors to consider when selecting contact center software:

 

Factors Description
Scalability Ensure the software can grow with your business.
Integration Look for compatibility with existing systems like CRM and helpdesk solutions.
Omnichannel Support Ability to handle communications across various channels such as phone, email, chat, and social media.
User Experience Intuitive interfaces improve agent productivity and reduce training time.
Analytics and Reporting Advanced analytics provide insights into performance metrics and customer satisfaction.

 

7 Best Contact Center Software to Use in 2024

1. Talkdesk

Talkdesk stands out with its AI-powered capabilities, making it a top choice for businesses seeking to automate their contact center operations. It offers omnichannel support, allowing seamless communication across various platforms. The real-time analytics feature helps managers track performance and make data-driven decisions. While the pricing may be on the higher side, the scalability and customization options justify the investment.

TalkDesk

Talkdesk

4.4 out of 5 stars
Key features
  • AI-powered automation
  • Omnichannel support
  • Real-time analytics
  • Customizable workflows
Pros
  • Scalable
  • User-friendly interface
Cons
  • Higher cost for premium features

2. Krisp

Krisp is a versatile software solution renowned for its suite of audio enhancement tools, making it an indispensable asset for virtual contact centers. It excels in three primary areas: noise cancellation, accent localization, and call center transcription. Here’s a detailed look at how each feature can transform your contact center operations:

Real-time Noise Cancellation

Working from home introduces various noise challenges for agents, such as background sounds from family members, pets, or street noise. Krisp’s real-time noise cancellation effectively eliminates these distractions, ensuring clear and professional communication. By removing unwanted noise, Krisp not only enhances call quality but also reduces average handle time, increases customer satisfaction scores (CSAT), and decreases noise-related complaints.

Accent Localization

Krisp’s innovative accent localization feature dynamically adjusts an agent’s accent to match that of the customer, facilitating clearer and more effective communication. This feature supports over 17 dialects, with more being added, and offers both male and female voice outputs for a personalized experience. The on-device processing ensures real-time modifications while maintaining privacy and reducing latency.

Call Center Transcription

In virtual call centers, accurate transcription is crucial for maintaining records and ensuring compliance. Krisp’s call center transcription boasts a 96% accuracy rate, even in noisy environments, thanks to advanced AI technology. The software processes transcriptions and noise cancellation directly on the device, safeguarding sensitive information and adhering to stringent security standards.

Krisp

4.8 out of 5 stars
Key features
  • Real-time noise cancellation
  • Accent localization
  • Call center transcription
  • On-device processing
Pros
  • Affordable
  • Excellent noise cancellation
  • Enhances communication clarity
  • High transcription accuracy
  • Excellent real-time accent neutralization
Cons
  • Functionality is dependent on the quality of the underlying hardware and network conditions

3. Five9

Five9 is a cloud-based contact center solution designed to enhance agent efficiency and customer satisfaction. Its predictive dialing and CRM integration streamline operations, while AI and analytics provide deep insights into customer interactions. The custom pricing model allows for flexibility, although it may be costly for smaller businesses.

Five9 is fully customizable. It’s built to meet the needs of your business, no matter your size or industry. The software provides crystal clear voice, strong security and 99.99% uptime.

fivenine company logo

Five9

4.2 out of 5 stars
Key features
  • Predictive dialing
  • Omnichannel support
  • CRM integration
  • AI and analytics
Pros
  • Reliable cloud solution
  • AI features
Cons
  • Custom pricing can be expensive

4. Zendesk

Zendesk offers a robust suite of tools tailored for comprehensive customer service management. With omnichannel support, it enables agents to handle inquiries from various platforms efficiently. The integrated ticketing system and knowledge base enhance productivity, while detailed reporting and analytics provide valuable insights. The platform is feature-rich, though new users might face a learning curve.

Zendesk is best known for its CRM customer service system. But it has a separate solution called Zendesk Talk for call center software. This cloud-based call center solution is built directly into the ticketing system for Zendesk Support. Your agents will have access to a complete customer history and additional features such as call recording and automatic ticket creation.

The software is designed to improve your support process while eliminating unproductive tasks. Your agents can focus on solutions, conversions, and customers rather than workflow bottlenecks.

Zendesk talk

Zendesk

4.3 out of 5 stars
Key features
  • Omnichannel support
  • Ticketing system
  • Knowledge base
  • Reporting and analytics
Pros
  • Extensive features
  • User-friendly
Cons
  • Steeper learning curve for beginners

5. Genesys Cloud

Genesys Cloud offers an all-in-one solution for contact centers, featuring omnichannel engagement and AI-driven automation. Its workforce management tools and real-time analytics enhance operational efficiency. While the comprehensive feature set is impressive, the higher price point may be a consideration for budget-conscious businesses.

genesys cloud

Genesys Cloud

4.3 out of 5 stars
Key features
  • Omnichannel engagement
  • AI and automation
  • Workforce management
  • Real-time analytics
Pros
  • Comprehensive features
  • User-friendly
Cons
  • Higher price point

6. Avaya OneCloud

Avaya OneCloud is a unified communications platform that integrates various communication channels into a single solution. Its omnichannel support and AI-driven analytics provide a seamless customer experience. The cloud-based nature ensures scalability, though the custom pricing model might be complex for some businesses.

Avaya OneCloud

4.0 out of 5 stars
Key features
  • Unified communications
  • Omnichannel support
  • AI and analytics
  • Cloud-based solution
Pros
  • Unified platform
  • Scalable
Cons
  • Custom pricing complexity

7. NICE inContact

NICE inContact is an advanced cloud contact center solution offering a range of features designed to optimize workforce performance and enhance customer experience. Its omnichannel routing and AI-driven insights enable efficient handling of customer inquiries. While the platform is highly scalable, the implementation process can be complex.

Nice incontact

NICE inContact

4.1 out of 5 stars
Key features
  • Omnichannel routing
  • Workforce optimization
  • Analytics and reporting
  • AI-driven insights
Pros
  • Advanced features
  • Scalable
Cons
  • Complex implementation

 

FAQ on Contact Center Software

What is contact center software?
Contact center software is a technology solution that helps manage and streamline customer interactions across various communication channels such as phone, email, chat, and social media.
How does omnichannel support benefit a contact center?
Omnichannel support allows contact centers to handle customer interactions seamlessly across multiple channels, ensuring a consistent and efficient customer experience.
What are the key features to look for in contact center software?
Important features include scalability, integration capabilities, omnichannel support, user-friendly interfaces, and robust analytics and reporting tools.
Why is AI important in contact center software?
AI enhances contact center operations by automating routine tasks, providing insights through analytics, and improving customer interactions through AI-driven support tools.
How does Krisp improve contact center communication?
Krisp enhances contact center communication through three main enterprise features: real-time noise cancellation, which eliminates background noise to ensure clear and professional interactions; accent localization, which dynamically modifies agents’ accents to match those of the customers, reducing miscommunication and facilitating clearer communication; and high-accuracy call transcription, which provides 96% accurate transcriptions even in noisy environments, ensuring precise records and compliance with security standards through on-device processing and real-time redaction of sensitive information.

The post 7 Best Contact Center Software (2024 Updated) appeared first on Krisp.

]]>
https://krisp.ai/blog/contact-center-software/feed/ 0
How to remove background noise in OBS Studio? (Step-by-step guide) https://krisp.ai/blog/obs-remove-background-noise/ https://krisp.ai/blog/obs-remove-background-noise/#respond Wed, 09 Sep 2020 19:15:52 +0000 https://krisp.ai/blog/?p=7163 Clear audio is an important part of conducting a successful stream or broadcast. There are a large number of apps with different features that are used for streaming, but it is important to make sure that the sound you provide comes with minimal background noise. One such application is OBS Studio, which provides several built-in […]

The post How to remove background noise in OBS Studio? (Step-by-step guide) appeared first on Krisp.

]]>
Clear audio is an important part of conducting a successful stream or broadcast. There are a large number of apps with different features that are used for streaming, but it is important to make sure that the sound you provide comes with minimal background noise. One such application is OBS Studio, which provides several built-in tools that help reduce background noise while keeping your voice audible.

Without further ado, let’s see how you can easily remove background noise in OBS Studio.

How to remove background noise in OBS?

If you want to modify the sound in the OBS, then you must use filters. Fortunately, the app has a couple of filters just for noise reduction.

To add a filter, click on the Settings gear in the Audio Mixer section and from there, select Filters option.

The Filters window will open. Click on the Plus sign to add a filter. OBS provides 8 filters you can choose from. 2 of them, “Noise Gate” and “Noise Suppression” are for noise cancellation purposes.

First, you can add Noise Suppression filter, which helps to reduce background noise. The default value is set to -30dB and that’s the best to start with. Try to record a short sample to understand whether this value is enough for you to get rid of background noise. If not, play with the suppression level. Increase the dB level if you still a lot of background noise, and decrease it if the applied suppression level is too high and it cuts your voice together with the noise.

Another filter you can use to remove background noise in OBS is Noise Gate. This filter is a bit different than the previous one. It acts like real gates and doesn’t let any signal to pass if the volume of a signal drops below a certain threshold level. The threshold determines which sounds get in and which don’t.

You can use Noise Gate separately or in a pair with Noise Suppression. This mainly depends on the level of the background noise in your surroundings. If you’ve tried different suppression levels but it didn’t help very much, then you can also add Noise Gate. Start with the default settings and slide them up or down depending on your case.

Each case is different, so you should dedicate some time beforehand play with filter settings to find the best levels that go well with your audio devices and the surrounding environment.

Easy Way to Remove Background Noise in OBS

If digging into the settings and setting up filters sounds can sound like a hassle. So if it’s not for you and you are looking for a quick solution, then try Krisp.

Krisp is a noise cancelling app which works with a number of communication and recording apps, including OBS. It uses the power of AI to recognize unwanted noises and remove them from your recording or stream in a real-time.

It takes only a few steps to install Krisp and set it up. Once you’ve done it, you don’t have to worry anymore – Krisp will take care of all noises and help you have a successful stream with clear sound.

How to set up Krisp with OBS?

1. Download Krisp app

[demo-new]

2. Follow the instructions of the Wizard to install Krisp

3. Afterwards, go to Settings in OBS and select Audio tab.

4. From there, chance Mic/Auxiliary Audio to Krisp Microphone (Krisp).

5. You’re done! Now start recording or streaming with OBS and let Krisp perform its noise cancelling magic.

krisp app

Try using Krisp noise cancelling app together with OBS Studio for your next recording or streaming session and have noiseless experience without filters and expensive mics.

[demo-new]

The post How to remove background noise in OBS Studio? (Step-by-step guide) appeared first on Krisp.

]]>
https://krisp.ai/blog/obs-remove-background-noise/feed/ 0
Krisp vs Babblelabs: Which is the Best Noise Cancelling App?  https://krisp.ai/blog/babblelabs-krisp-review/ https://krisp.ai/blog/babblelabs-krisp-review/#respond Tue, 25 Aug 2020 18:41:58 +0000 https://krisp.ai/blog/?p=7080 With video conferences on the rise due to more people working remotely, it’s even more important to be able to have a call without distracting background noise. Right now, many of us find ourselves working in embarrassingly noisy situations – and we have a need for a solution that will allow us to communicate more […]

The post Krisp vs Babblelabs: Which is the Best Noise Cancelling App?  appeared first on Krisp.

]]>
With video conferences on the rise due to more people working remotely, it’s even more important to be able to have a call without distracting background noise. Right now, many of us find ourselves working in embarrassingly noisy situations – and we have a need for a solution that will allow us to communicate more effectively. 

Noise cancellation apps have become even more useful than ever. Such an app allows you to speak and listen clearly, no matter what noise and chaos is going on in your environment. From construction sounds to background chatter to barking dogs, the app cancels out everything and leaves only your voice. 

If you are looking for a noise cancelling app, then you may have stumbled upon these two apps available on the market: Krisp and BabbleLabs. But which is the right one for your needs? 

These two apps are quite similar in the way they function. However, they differ when it comes to resource consumption, performance and range of platforms supported. 

Let’s dive deeper and see the differences between Krisp and BabbleLabs – so we can determine which one is a better noise cancelling app for you.

What is Krisp?

Krisp is an AI powered noise cancellation app that mutes background noise from your side of the call, as well as all call participants. It is known for being one of the world’s best noise cancelling technologies and it works with the power of artificial intelligence. The AI software has been trained to recognize the difference between human voices and background noise, so that it can seamlessly filter out distractions. 

krisp noise reduction software

Krisp is designed to support a number of devices, including microphones, headsets and speakers. It works with more than 800 apps, from streaming apps to conferencing apps to recording apps. And Krisp is independent of microphone, speaker, hardware.

The app also provides you with a high level of privacy, as it performs all audio-processing locally. This means that the recordings of your audio will not ever leave your device. It is a very reliable and easy to use app, ideal for anyone who has multiple conference calls, interviews or phone conversations. 

What is BabbleLabs?

BabbleLabs is a Silicon Valley based speech science technology company and they recently launched their Clear Edge software. 

BabbleLabs Clear Edge app is designed for conferencing and integrates with your audio stack to enhance the clarity of your voice and remove background noise. It was designed in a similar way to Krisp – the developers used thousands of hours of audio data to train the AI to recognize the difference between background noise and human speech. 

babblelabs clear edge

Source: babblelabs.com

The software works efficiently to remove all background noise in any communication or conference call. It can be used on any device, from laptops to desktops to mobile phones to tablets. 

Krisp vs. BabbleLabs: Features, supported apps and technical requirements

Let’s take a look at the features, supported apps and technical requirements of Krisp vs. BabbleLabs. Are these apps identical, or are there differences in how they function? 

Noise Cancellation

Both Krisp and BabbleLabs are applications that allow to mute background noise in any communication app. These two apps are very similar in the way they work – both using AI to filter out background noise in a very efficient way. 

They add a virtual Microphone and Speakers within the system, so that you can select from the conferencing app. Then you can turn on and off the noise removal from the app. 

Verdict: Both of these apps function in a very similar way – and both are successful at cancelling out noise during conference calls, recordings and streaming audio. 

Note: We did a full test and compared the two apps for their noise canceling quality. Keep reading to get to the techy part 🙂

Supported Apps

Another factor to keep in mind when it comes to choosing a noise cancelling app is which other apps are supported. Does the app work with the conferencing application you will be using?

This is a factor in which BabbleLabs and Krisp are quite similar as well. Both of these apps essentially add a virtual microphone to whichever conferencing app you are using. 

BabbleLabs Clear Edge works with any conferencing application, including Zoom, Google Hangouts, Microsoft Teams, Discord or Skype. Krisp also works with a huge range of over 800 different conferencing apps. 

Therefore, you’ll have no problem using any conferencing application and either Krisp or BabbleLabs will likely be supported by any app you use. 

Verdict: There isn’t much difference when it comes to this factor. Whichever app you chose, it will be supported by the conferencing app you use. You will be able to use a wide variety of apps, knowing that your noise cancellation app will work reliably with each one. 

Hardware and OS Requirements

Before choosing the ideal noise cancellation app, it’s also important to consider the hardware and OS requirements. Ideally, an app will have flexible requirements so you can use it no matter what hardware and operating system you are using. This is especially important, as many business professionals rely on several different communication platforms as part of their job. 

At this moment BabbleLabs supports only Windows with its ClearEdge desktop application. This means that if you are on Mac the choice is already made for you when it comes to which noise cancelling app you should use. 

Also it has a mobile noise removal application called ClearCloud, which allows you to remove noise only from existing audios/videos. Unfortunately, this application cannot be used with real-time calls. This somewhat limits the amount of situations in which you can use the BabbleLabs app. 

Krisp runs on Windows, Mac OS, it is also available as a Chrome Extension. This makes Krisp a better choice compared to BabbleLabs.

Besides, Krisp Noise Cancelling Dialer is available in the AppStore as an iOS mobile application for real-time calls. This means that you can use it when you are taking conference calls from your mobile – making it more versatile. 

Verdict: When it comes to Hardware and OS Requirements, Krisp runs on a wider range of operating systems and it works with more different types of hardware. It is the most versatile choice and can be used in a more diverse range of settings. 

Pricing

Let’s take a look at the difference in pricing between the two options. 

Krisp BabbleLabs 
  • Free: Krisp offers a free version of the software that allows you to mute microphone and speaker noise for 120 minutes per week. 
  • Pro: The pro version costs $3.33 per month, billed yearly, and it includes unlimited muting of microphone and speaker noise. ($5 per month with monthly billing.)
  • Teams: The teams version of the app includes all the features of Pro, as well as an admin panel that allows you to manage members, have centralized billing and configuration. It costs $3.33 per user per month, billed yearly. ($5 per month with monthly billing.)
  • Enterprise: There is also an enterprise tier available for Krisp – the price is available upon request.  
BabbleLabs Clear Edge offers a three month free trial that will allow you to try out the app and see if it works for you. 

 

Verdict: Both apps offer a free version for you to try them. When it comes to pricing, Krisp offers different plans suitable for various purposes, while BabbleLabs allows you to try their app for a limited time.

krisp vs babblelabs

Krisp vs. BabbleLabs: Performance Comparison

Of course, one of the most crucial aspects of choosing a noise cancelling app is the quality of the performed noise removal. After all, if the app isn’t up to the task – then all of the other factors don’t matter very much. 

So, we put both apps to the test to find out which one offers the best performance. 

Note: Krisp’s technology is available in various bandwidth modes. For the tests, we used the Krisp HD full-band model. As of now, Krisp’s desktop app uses Regular mode (wideband), but the HD mode will be released soon.

Audio Quality (Noise Cancellation + Voice Quality)

When you compare these two apps – which one offers higher voice quality when blocking background noise out of calls? 

In order to determine this, it’s important to compare official test results. We can determine this by assessing POLQA – Perceptive Objective Listening Quality Analysis. This is a standard for benchmarking voice quality by means of analyzing digital speech signals. 

It was developed by industry experts and it is the ideal way to measure the voice quality of next-generation networks.

To compare the audio quality we’ve evaluated POLQA scores both for Krisp and BabbleLabs Clear Edge for a set of noises that are the most disturbing during the work from home conference calls. The comparison chart is shown below.

krisp vs babblelabs

Verdict: As you can see, Krisp outperforms BabbleLabs Clear Edge for almost every type of background noise. In some cases, such as a baby crying, dog barking or construction noise, Krisp performed significantly better. 

CPU/GPU Load and Memory Usage

Another factor to consider when choosing a noise cancelling app is the amount of memory usage and the CPU load of the app itself. The app might offer you a lot of beneficial features, but if it uses too much memory it will slow down your computer, phone or tablet and cause issues. You might find your device freezing or running slowly, which is not ideal. Besides, if you use a laptop, your battery will drain much faster if the app isn’t optimized for lower resource consumption.

We took a look at the difference between memory usage and CPU load for both Krisp HD and BabbleLabs Clear Edge. We have run them separately on the same machine – Processor Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-9700F CPU @ 3.00GHz, 32.0 GB RAM, NVIDIA 2080 Ti GPU. Each run took around 30 minutes to complete. 

We found that while having the higher NC quality, Krisp FullBand model still uses less resources. This means that it will operate smoothly, without slowing down your system and draining your battery fast.

It’s also important to note that Krisp is designed with features that make it run faster. For example, Krisp has NVIDIA GPU support which significantly offloads CPU in case if the system has a graphic card.

Verdict: Since Krisp takes up less memory and CPU, it will be the advantageous choice as it will not overwork your operating system and will not slow down your device.

Krisp vs. BabbleLabs Comparison Conclusion: Which One Should You Choose?

Due to the current social distancing measures and the rise of remote work, a huge number of people now work remotely. Disruptions such as background chatter, children playing, car horns, barking dogs, construction noise and more can affect your call and make you sound unprofessional. These noises are not only distracting, they can disrupt a meeting and make it more difficult to collaborate. 

With a noise cancellation app such as Krisp or BabbleLabs Clear Edge, you’ll be able to have crystal clear conversations every time – without any distracting noise. 

Both of these apps are designed with a number of features that will be beneficial to you when it comes to cutting down background noise during your next call. Either app will block out background noise during your conference calls and recordings – using the power of artificial intelligence to filter out the unwanted sounds. 

However, the key difference between these two options is in the variety of supported platforms, resource consumption and the quality of the performed noise cancellation. Looking at the data, you can see that Krisp supports more platforms and consumes less resources on your device, while offering superior noise cancellation.

The post Krisp vs Babblelabs: Which is the Best Noise Cancelling App?  appeared first on Krisp.

]]>
https://krisp.ai/blog/babblelabs-krisp-review/feed/ 0
How to Cancel Background Noise in BlueJeans (2022 Guide) https://krisp.ai/blog/bluejeans-noise-cancellation/ https://krisp.ai/blog/bluejeans-noise-cancellation/#respond Fri, 17 Jul 2020 11:25:52 +0000 https://krisp.ai/blog/?p=6911 Background noise is one of the most common problems during conference calls. Here’s how you can easily get rid of background noise from your calls with BlueJeans. How to cancel out background noise in BlueJeans? The best way to deal with background noise in BlueJeans is to use a stand-alone noise cancelling app Krisp. It […]

The post How to Cancel Background Noise in BlueJeans (2022 Guide) appeared first on Krisp.

]]>
Background noise is one of the most common problems during conference calls. Here’s how you can easily get rid of background noise from your calls with BlueJeans.

How to cancel out background noise in BlueJeans?

The best way to deal with background noise in BlueJeans is to use a stand-alone noise cancelling app Krisp. It works in real-time, canceling out background noise and helping you have a productive noiseless experience in BlueJeans.

What is Krisp?

Krisp is an AI-powered noise canceling app that removes background noise from your calls.

A major benefit of Krisp is that it’s able to filter out background noise on both sides of the call. Besides eliminating noise on your end so others can hear your clear voice, it can also eliminate noise coming from other call participants. This way no one will hear background noise happening on your side and you won’t be distracted by someone else’s noise.

Plus, Krisp seamlessly works with any conferencing app, including BlueJeans. Here’s how you can easily set up Krisp with BlueJeans.

1. Download Krisp app.

mobile dialer

2. Follow the Krisp Setup Wizard instructions to install Krisp.

krisp setup wizard

After you have downloaded and installed Krisp, it’s super simple to set it up with BlueJeans.

3. Start your call with BlueJeans

4. Open audio settings while in the call

5. Select Krisp as a microphone and as a speaker

bluejeans background noise

Easy as that! Now turn on Krisp and enjoy your professional and noiseless conference calls with BlueJeans!

Krisp is actively muting noise on microphone and speaker
If you wonder how well Krisp removes background noise, check this video where we compare Krisp with BlueJeans noise cancellation.

Additionally, we have created short video tutorials which explain how to set up Krisp with BlueJeans. Take a look!

How to set up Krisp with BlueJeans on Mac

How to set up Krisp with BlueJeans on Windows

The post How to Cancel Background Noise in BlueJeans (2022 Guide) appeared first on Krisp.

]]>
https://krisp.ai/blog/bluejeans-noise-cancellation/feed/ 0
How to Remove Background Noise in Google Meet Noise Cancellation https://krisp.ai/blog/google-meet-noise-cancellation/ https://krisp.ai/blog/google-meet-noise-cancellation/#respond Thu, 09 Jul 2020 06:41:01 +0000 https://krisp.ai/blog/?p=6855 Wondering how to turn on Google Meet noise cancellation and cancel out background noise in calls? Then follow this step-by-step guide. The use of conferencing tools has increased dramatically as the pandemic forced millions to switch to remote work and distance learning. Along with the transition, the number of conference calls has exploded as it […]

The post How to Remove Background Noise in Google Meet Noise Cancellation appeared first on Krisp.

]]>

Wondering how to turn on Google Meet noise cancellation and cancel out background noise in calls? Then follow this step-by-step guide.

The use of conferencing tools has increased dramatically as the pandemic forced millions to switch to remote work and distance learning. Along with the transition, the number of conference calls has exploded as it remained as one of the few communication options during social distancing.

Many conferencing companies started to think about improving the communication quality and began to add new innovative features to their apps. Along with Zoom and Microsoft, Google announced adding noise cancelling feature inside Google Meet.

If you are interested to learn how Google Meet noise cancellation works and how to cancel out background noise in calls with Meet, then keep reading.

What is Google Meet Noise Cancellation?

In April, Google announced rolling out their top 4 most requested features, among which was noise cancellation. The AI-powered noise cancellation automatically will remove background noise during your video calls.

Here’s how the company described it:

“To help limit interruptions to your meeting, Meet can now intelligently filter out background distractions—like your dog barking or keystrokes as you take meeting notes.”

 

 

As of now, Google is gradually rolling out the noise cancellation feature to its G Suite Enterprise, G Suite Enterprise for Education and G Suite Enterprise Essentials accounts. It is now reaching its Web client first, and will later come to mobile users.

How Google Meet Noise Cancellation Works?

Google Meet uses Artificial Intelligence to filter out background noise. Similar to speech recognition, which requires figuring out what is speech, noise reduction feature also rely on machine learning to be trained to understand what constitutes noise and human speech.

With this feature, Meet is said to be able to remove non-stationary noises, some examples of which are typing, closing a door, or the sounds of a nearby construction site. When noise canceling is on, Meet filters the noise from your audio input while letting your voice through.

How to Turn On Google Meet Noise Cancellation?

Google is rolling out this feature to Meet users gradually. If you’re a G Suite enterprise customer, you can check the availability by going to the settings in Meet and and see if “Noise Cancellation” feature was added to your settings. 

If so, under the Audio tab, you should see an extra switch for Noise Cancellation between microphone and speakers selection settings.

Once this feature is available for you, it is turned on by default.

google meet noise cancellation

Source: venturebeat.com

How to Turn Off Google Meet Noise Cancellation?

If you would like to let noise come through in your calls or are simply in a quiet setting and don’t want denoising filters to be applied to your voice, you can turn it off. 

To do so,  you need to follow these two simple steps:

 

1. Open Settings from the top right corner

google meet settings

2. Turn off the toggle for Noise Cancellation

Google meet noise cancellation

Alternative Way: How to Cancel Out Background Noise in Google Meet? 

Often you can find yourself in a situation when there is so much background noise that the built-in noise cancellation may not be enough. Or maybe, besides Google Meet, you use various conferencing and communication applications such as Zoom, Slack, WebEx, Loom and many others.  

In these cases, Krisp noise cancelling app is the best available alternative. 

What is Krisp?

Krisp is a noise cancelling app that works in real time and uses the power of AI to recognize and separate noises from human voices.

Go to Krisp ai

A major benefit of Krisp is that besides filtering out background noise on your side, it can also remove noise coming from other people on the call. So both you and other call participants can enjoy clear and professional conferencing experience without disruptive noise.

Plus, it works with any conferencing app, including Google Meet. Check out how it works in the demo below.

[demo-new]

 

How to Remove Noise in Google Meet with Krisp?

Here’s how you can easily set up Krisp with Google Meet for improved noise cancellation.

1. Download Krisp app. It’s available for Mac and Windows.

 

2. Follow the instructions to install Krisp on your device.

Krisp Installer

3. After this, open Google Meet, go to Settings and select the Audio tab.

4. From there, select Krisp as the Speaker and as the Microphone.

Google meet

5. Now start your call with Meet and switch on the toggle in Krisp to remove noises.

Krisp app

Easy as that! More productive and noise-free call is just a click away. Give Krisp a try during your next call with Google Meet and feel the difference for yourself. 

If you’re a Mac user, here’s a helpful video on how to set up Krisp with Google Meet on Mac.

And if you’re Windows user, here’s the tutorial on how to set up Krisp with Google Meet on Windows.

 

 

The post How to Remove Background Noise in Google Meet Noise Cancellation appeared first on Krisp.

]]>
https://krisp.ai/blog/google-meet-noise-cancellation/feed/ 0
Second Phone Number Apps | 10 Best Apps for iPhone and Android https://krisp.ai/blog/second-phone-number-apps/ https://krisp.ai/blog/second-phone-number-apps/#respond Tue, 07 Jul 2020 18:53:39 +0000 https://krisp.ai/blog/?p=6848 Modern phones have brought the world a lot closer together. But, they can also make things more complicated, especially if you’re trying to manage your personal life, business life, and a gig on the side all through the same phone. Constant buzzing and notifications can be hard to manage, and even harder when you don’t […]

The post Second Phone Number Apps | 10 Best Apps for iPhone and Android appeared first on Krisp.

]]>
Modern phones have brought the world a lot closer together. But, they can also make things more complicated, especially if you’re trying to manage your personal life, business life, and a gig on the side all through the same phone.

Constant buzzing and notifications can be hard to manage, and even harder when you don’t know why people are calling.

Fortunately, there are a few options for ways to make your phone even more effective, and easier to manage at the same time. One of the best for working professionals is to get a second phone number app to help organize your calls and recognize which ones are most important.

If you’re wondering how to get a second phone number, you’re in the right place.

What is a Second Phone Number App?

Second phone number apps give you a second number on the same phone you’re already using. Many rely on an internet or cellular connection to make the calls work, instead of regular phone signal.

Second phone number apps also often give you access to other features and functions at the same time. Many will also let you use a variety of different area codes, and some can even create a phone number from a different country entirely.

It’s also easy to set up a recording function to run through your second phone number so that you never lose the details of an important conversation.

Second number apps are easily the simplest and most cost-effective way to get a second phone number since you don’t need a second sim card, separate phone subscription, or any other additions to your existing phone.

Now that you know what a second phone number app is, let’s talk about how they can be useful.

Why Do You Need a Second Phone Number App?

There are plenty of reasons to get a second phone number app, but one of the most common is organization.

Organizing Business and Personal Life

With a second phone number app, you can separate your business and personal life into the two numbers without having to pay for a second phone and phone plan.

Having a second phone number just makes it easier to keep your busy life organized. It can also help you screen calls. If you only accept business calls during certain hours, using a second phone number for your business line can make it easier to tell when you’re getting a business call, and when a friend is trying to get in touch.

Of course, the reverse is also true. When you need to focus on work you can screen your personal line, while still accepting business calls on your second phone number.

International Calling

It can also be helpful if you have to handle international calls or are expanding your business and need a local phone number for both locations.

Changing Your Phone Number

If you’re changing your phone number, you can also use a second phone number app to provide a temporary number while you’re waiting for the switch to complete. Since many of these apps also offer a call forwarding service, you can also get your second phone number to forward calls to your new phone number, which helps make that transition easier.

Privacy

The last major reason you might want to use a second phone number app is to give yourself more privacy. If you think about it, people can get a lot of information about you from your main phone number app. Using a second, separate, phone number through a phone number app gives you another layer of privacy.

That additional privacy makes it a lot easier to give out a phone number, especially since you know that you can drop the phone number any time you need to.

Okay, let’s talk about how to pick the best second phone number app, and look at which apps are the best options on the market right now.

What is the Best App for a Second Phone Number?

There is no one true winner when it comes to second phone number apps. We’ve put together a list of ten of the best options, but when you really get down to it the best second phone number app is going to be the one that offers more of the features and benefits you need.

How to Pick the Best Second Phone Number App for You

That might mean that the best second phone app for you is one that has very few bells and whistles, a low subscription price, and consistent performance. Or, you might need a second phone number app with a few more features, a reasonable subscription, and great customer service contacts.

You also need to make sure you’re matching your second phone number app to the kind of phone you own. Some will only work on iOS (and will need you to keep your phone reasonably up to date), while others are Android-specific.

Don’t worry though, there are plenty of options in both markets. We’ve selected some of the best from each marketplace, as well as some of the best options that are available in both the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store.

Best Second Phone Number Apps for iPhone:

Krisp

second phone number for ios

Krisp is one of the best second phone number app for iPhone available on the App Store. Besides providing you with a second phone number, Krisp mobile dialer is equipped with revolutionary noise cancelling technology to make your phone calls clearer. That’s a huge advantage if you’re a business person on the go.

With Krisp, you get the second phone number to keep your privacy as well as make and receive US and Canada phone calls from anywhere in the world. For better privacy, you can authenticate your number and use your own caller ID for calls.

 

The free version gives you 120 minutes of call time within the United States and Canada per week, while the paid version comes with unlimited call time.

There are several subscription levels, and each added subscription adds more features and benefits to the program, so head over to the pricing section to learn more.

Key Features:

  • Noise Cancelling Feature: This app comes with an impressive AI-powered noise cancelling function that will let you have crisp and clear phone calls no matter where you are or how noisy the area around you is. In free version you get 120 mins/week of call time with noise cancellation.
  • Second Phone Number: You will receive a second phone number that you can use to make and receive phone calls to US and Canada from anywhere in the world.
  • Use Krisp as a Mobile Dialer: With this app, you can have noiseless incoming and outgoing calls with your contacts, or any other phone number.
  • Caller ID: For better privacy, you can authenticate your phone number and use your own caller ID when having calls
  • Available on Mac, Windows and as a Chrome Extension: Krisp is available cross-platform, and you can use desktop versions for having noise-free remote meetings and calls with Zoom, Slack, WebEx and many other popular conferencing apps. 

Free Version Available, Subscriptions starting at $3.33 a month

Second Phone Number +

Second Phone Number + is a full-service phone app that gives you a wide range of different numbers to choose from. In the United States, they have available phone numbers in almost any area code, so you simply type in your preferred area code and choose the number you like best.

They offer full-service texting and messaging service, including the ability to send pictures via your second phone number.

They don’t offer a free second phone number, you do have to pay if you want the second phone line. However, they have a range of subscriptions or pay as you go options that make it easy to choose the most cost-effective options for you.

Key Features:

  • Full Text and Messaging Service: Texts, video and photo messages, and voice messages are all fully supported through your second phone line with this app.
  • Wide Technology Compatibility: this service uses 3G, 4G, and Wifi to provide more connection options on the go.
  • Choose Your Area Code: with many different phone numbers available in each area code, getting a customer area code and number is simple.
  • Temporary Numbers: You also have the option of getting temporary numbers as you travel to allow friends and family to call local instead of long-distance.

Free version included / 2nd phone number $6.99 / Monthly Subscription $12.99

Numflix

numflix

Numflix is another full-service phone line that’s designed to help you manage your life with a second phone number or a third or fourth for that matter. This app lets you separate your personal life from business, dating, and even get another number to manage sales listings in Craigslist or other websites. Those are just a few examples of course.

This app is designed to provide multiple temporary phone lines, with very little need to stick to any one line or phone number. You can get rid of any line as soon as you need to.

However, while they offer full voice call, texting, and messaging abilities, Numflix does charge for ‘coins’ to handle those interactions. So, you’ll pay a small fee for each line, and then additional fees to use those phone numbers.

Key Features:

  • Phone, Text, and Messaging: as a full-service phone app, you can get phone, text, and messaging services on each phone number you get through the app.
  • Caller ID: you also get a fully functional caller ID on every phone line, without interfering with the caller ID function on your main phone line.
  • Siri Compatible: this second phone line is also Siri compatible, so you can use the virtual assistant to take and place calls just like on your phone’s main phone line.
  • Works on all iOS Devices: this app can also be used to turn your iPad and other Apple devices into fully functional phones, in addition to adding a second phone line to your existing phones.

Free, $1.99 temp line, Freemium Pay As You Go Charges

Best Second Phone Number Apps for Android

Telos

telos

Moving to the apps that are compatible with Android, this option is an international calling program that works in the United States, Canada, China, Belgium, and the United Kingdom. This app works a little different than the other apps we’ve discussed since it has a per-minute charge.

The amount of the charge depends on the location of the call. In the United States, calls cost.09 credits per minute. Calls to Japan cost slightly more than two and a half credits per minute. 500 credits cost 9.99 USD, and you get slight volume discounts for larger credit purchases.

Telos also offers free call and texting offers, from bonus credits to watching ads and other relatively low-effort tasks. If you’re primarily using Telos for personal reasons you can probably get a lot of call time for free. Business users are probably better off using a paid version of the app.

Key Features:

  • Call Recorder: this app offers the ability to record your most important calls so that you have a solid record of your communications.
  • Conference Calls Are Free: Conference calls are no more expensive than standard calling, which means long-distance business meetings are easier than ever.
  • International SMS: Telos has a wide variety of international texting options, and international texts are no more expensive than regular texting
  • Also Serves as a Fax Machine: This app also lets your devices function as a Fax Machine

Telos to Telos is Free, All Other Calls Have a Variable Per Minute Charge

WhatsCall

WhatsCall

WhatsCall is another phone app that’s completely free to use, as long as you’re only calling from one WhatsCall device and account to another. Once you’re calling to a normal phone you will need WhatsCall credits.

Like Telos, WhatsCall makes it relatively simple to earn free credits by completing simple in-app tasks and even playing online games of roulette. However, you need a lot more credits to place calls with WhatsCall, so despite the high credit earnings, it’s still likely that you’ll need to pay for additional credits if you need to make long calls or regular calls.

This system is one of the simpler options you can get, though we’d recommend it more as a supplemental personal line than the phone number you run your business through.

Key Features:

  • Call Forwarding: you can easily set up calls routed through WhatsCall to forward to another phone line, including landlines if necessary.
  • Free Credits: You can earn a reasonable number of credits (about enough for a 30-minute phone call) through free activities in the app
  • Free Calling To Other App Users: You can also make free calls to anyone else using WhatsCall Combine that with the referral program, and this can be a very useful addition to the app.

Free to Use, Calling Requires Credits

2ndLine

2ndline

This app offers a fantastic free calling service inside the United States and Canada. They also offer highly affordable international calling services. Whether you’re traveling abroad, need to talk to customers across the country and the globe, or just want an alternative to traditional calling services, this is a good option.

2ndLine is also fully compatible with talk and text, and even supports the use of emojis, video clips, and images.

You have the option of using a passcode to keep all messages and calls routed through your new second phone number to keep everything safe and secure. You can also use Google Smartlock to avoid having to put in your passcode when you don’t need to.

Key Features:

  • Passcode Protection: This app gives you access to a separate passcode protection so that your call records and text messages are secure.
  • Free Calling Inside the United States and Canada: If you’re only calling inside of the United States and Canada, you may not need to pay any additional for this app, since calling in both countries is completely free.
  • Lots of Customization options: You can customize the app background, ringtones, and all the other details of your app.
  • Quick Reply: Quick reply is easy to use and lets you get in touch with your most important business partners, even when you’re too busy for a full reply.

Free Calling and Texting to the United States and Canada, Subscriptions Start at $9.99

Best Second Phone Number Apps for iOS and Android

Google Voice

google voice

Of course, no second number apps list would be complete without at least mentioning Google Voice. Despite the name, this flexible app works on both iOS and Android systems. There are two different versions of this app, one for personal use, and one for business use.

That helps you to customize the features, and the cost, of the program to what you use it for. At 10 dollars a month, the starting subscription of the business level is more affordable than almost any traditional phone plan.

Google Voice also includes handy features like voicemail transcription, 24/7 support, and call forwarding on even the lower subscription levels.

However, while calling in Canada and the US is free, international calling isn’t supported until the $30 a month subscription level.

Key Features:

  • Unlimited US and Canadian Calling: Google voice offers free calling for all users inside the United States and Canada
  • Personal Use is Mostly Free: While you should be prepared for occasionally charges for certain calls or for high use, personal calling is mostly free through Google Voice
  • Voicemail Transcription and Other Features: Google voice is also incredibly feature-rich, with a number of adaptability and quality of life adaptations that make this app much easier to use and more complete than most alternatives

Mostly Free for Personal Use, starting at $10 a month per user for Business Use

Sideline

sideline

Sideline boasts that their service works just like your traditional phone number, but costs 80% less than the average phone plan. You get the flexibility of choosing whether you want to be billed monthly, bi-annually, or annually. They also offer unlimited texting and calling on all subscription levels, and as well as their full suite of features.

The free trial is also a great way to decide if this is the right program for you. Since it’s compatible with both iOS and Android, it works for almost all smartphones.

It includes the basics like Voicemail on all subscription levels, and you also get to choose your area code and pick from the available phone numbers to find one that’s easy to remember.

Key Features:

  • No Wifi Required: You aren’t attached to wifi services like many other second phone number subscriptions. You can plan on being able to make and receive phone calls anywhere you have regular service.
  • Number Porting: If you have an existing second phone number, like your home line or existing business line, you can also port that number onto Sideline to keep the existing number.
  • Uses Carrier Limits: Instead of paying for a separate unlimited calling plan through Sideline, you can access the limits from your existing carrier. Since most cell phone plans are unlimited anyway, this system gives you access to plenty of calling time.

Free for 7 days, $9.99 per month starting subscription

Burner

Burner

Burner is named after the colloquial burner phone and is designed with people who want to have and drop phone lines relatively quickly. That doesn’t mean that’s how you must use it though. They offer a permanent second number service as well.

Burner automatically routes phone calls from your second phone number to call to your main number. That makes it a little less effective as a business number, but you’ll be able to use it for dating, gig work, craigslist ads, and generally anyone you don’t want to have your permanent phone number.

The app is also designed so that you do not commit any particular number and can drop it any time you want.

Key Features:

  • Designed for Creating Many Numbers: Burner is designed to let you create and drop multiple numbers whenever necessary
  • Unlimited Calling/Texting: as soon as you upgrade to one of their subscription plans, you get access to unlimited calling and texting services.
  • Up to 3 Separate Lines: You can have subscriptions for up to 3 lines, and all your subscriptions will auto-renew until you manually choose to burn a number.

Free for 7 Days, Prepaid Price Per Minute Billing, or Subscriptions Starting At: $4.99 per month

Hushed

Hushed

The last app on our list, Hushed is a VOIP service that lets you use the service as either a pre-paid plan or a regular subscription. If you choose the prepaid plan you can increase the days in your plan at any time and can let the app sit until you need it again if you only need it for a short period.

The subscriptions provide unlimited talk and text. They offer monthly and yearly subscriptions, with a 20% discount on yearly subscriptions.

They also offer the option of getting a pay as you go international calling plan that extends the reach of your second phone number to supported countries globally.

Key Features:

  • Unlimited Texting and Calling: While the pay as you go plan is limited to the minutes you’ve paid for, subscriptions give you unlimited texting and calling.
  • Multiple Numbers: You can have as many numbers as you want, with no requirement to keep them for any set length of time.
  • Custom Voicemail Greeting: You’ll be able to customize several of the personal details of your number on this app, including the voicemail greeting. That way you can have a specific greeting for every phone number you use.

Prepaid Plans Starting at $1.99, Subscriptions Starting at $3.99 Per Month

Final Thoughts:

If you’re looking to get a second phone number, whether you’re looking for a business line or would just rather avoid giving out your personal phone number, these apps are easy to use and come in a range of prices, but they’re all relatively affordable.

No matter your reasons for getting a second phone number, we’re confident that one of the apps on this list will be a good match for your needs.

The post Second Phone Number Apps | 10 Best Apps for iPhone and Android appeared first on Krisp.

]]>
https://krisp.ai/blog/second-phone-number-apps/feed/ 0