The best apps for phone captioning

If you wear hearing aids, you know they are a big help in most any situation, but there may be times you want to make talking on the phone, watching a movie or eating at your favorite – albeit noisy – restaurant even easier. And, if you have normal hearing, you might wish you could communicate better with friends and family members who are deaf or have hearing loss. Fortunately, if you have a smartphone, help is only an app away. 

Hamilton Captel (free)

iOS and Android devices

3.5 stars

Those who have trouble hearing telephone conversations will appreciate this app. You can listen to your phone conversation while reading word-for-word captions of what’s being said. Users must register for a Hamilton Captel account, have a voice and data plan and a Bluetooth or wired headset that works with hearing aids or cochlear implants.

Subtitles Viewer! (free)

iOS device

4.5 stars

Need subtitles for your favorite television show or movie? They’re as close as your smart phone when you download this app, which synchronizes with what you’re watching. Available in English, Spanish, Arabic, Bengali, Chines, Danish, French, German, Greek, Javanese, Hebrew, Italian, Malay, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Sweden, Thai, Turkish and Vietnamese.

ClearCaptions (free for qualified users)

iOS and Android devices

3.2 stars

Hear and read what is being said with ClearCaptions. This app allows you to see captions and hear the call at the same time on phones with a voice and data connection. Those with data plans only can read the captions. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) requires users pay a one-time access fee to enable the app, then it is free to use.

Live Caption ($4.99)

iOS and Android devices

3.2 stars

Need help understanding the server at your favorite restaurant? When you download this app, they can speak directly into your phone and Live Caption transcribes in real time. To begin captioning, simply press the microphone button on the keyboard, speak normally and text results will appear. It also works with most Bluetooth devices such as headsets and in-ear microphones.

CC Player

 iOS and Android devices

3.5 stars

If you’re playing more and more videos on your smartphone these days, CC Player may help you understand them easier. This is a cross platform video player that allows you to watch live streams and videos with closed captioning.

If you’d rather learn how to communicate using American Sign Language, there are also a variety of sign language apps for both iOS and Android devices.

These apps can be very helpful in specific situations, but they are not a replacement for good hearing healthcare or properly fit hearing aids. If you suspect you have hearing loss and need to find a hearing healthcare practitioner in your community, please visit our directory.