# SubReader vs Live Caption

The clearest difference is rating: Live Caption at 4.4 against SubReader's 2.8. Live Caption also leads on ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (43% vs 25%). SubReader's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. SubReader sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month and Live Caption sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Live Caption holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 2.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Live Caption has 43 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 25% of SubReader's written reviews are positive against 43% of Live Caption's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SubReader | Live Caption |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.8 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/subreader/id1105856178/reviews) | **[4.4 (43 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/live-caption-screen-translate/id6479691152/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 4 | **43** |
| Positive reviews | 25.0% of reviews | **42.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 28 MB | 121 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Subreader ApS](https://appshunter.io/developer/1105856177) | [XIAOYUN.TECH](https://appshunter.io/developer/1575836630) |

## What reviewers say

### SubReader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/subreader/id1105856178)

This app reads subtitles aloud for movies and shows, enhancing accessibility for viewers. It works with major streaming services, in cinemas, and for personal movie collections. A premium subscription unlocks advanced AI voices and full streaming service access.

**Highlights:** Reads subtitles aloud, Works with streaming services, Cinema subtitle support, AI-powered voices, Anonymous usage, Free for cinema use

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| SubReader Plus | $5.99 | per month |
| SubReader Plus | $5.99 | per month |
| SubReader Plus | $37.99 | per year |


### Live Caption

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/live-caption-screen-translate/id6479691152)

This app provides real-time audio recognition and translation for system sounds, microphone input, and video files. It supports screen recording for subtitle extraction and offers customizable subtitle display options for various communication needs.

**Highlights:** Real-time audio recognition, System and microphone audio translation, Screen recording for subtitles, Video file subtitle extraction, Multiple language support, Customizable subtitle display

**Features:** Siri integration, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 月续订 | $7.99 | per month |
| 年订阅 | $59.99 | per year |
| 时长包 | $1.99 | one-time |
| 600分钟翻译包 | $9.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SubReader free?

SubReader is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Live Caption free?

Live Caption is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, SubReader or Live Caption?

Live Caption is rated higher. SubReader averages 2.8 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while Live Caption averages 4.4 from 43 ratings.

### Do SubReader or Live Caption have ads?

SubReader shows ads; Live Caption does not.

### Which is updated more often, SubReader or Live Caption?

SubReader ships an update every 3 weeks, and Live Caption every 3 weeks. Most recently, SubReader was updated on September 21, 2026 and Live Caption on October 1, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*