CaptionMate vs Deaf Live Caption
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
CaptionMate
This app offers free, real-time captions for phone calls, benefiting individuals with hearing loss. It supports multiple devices and languages, ensuring private and accessible communication. Users can retain their existing phone numbers and access past transcripts.
- Real-time call captioning
- FCC-certified and free for eligible users
- Captions both sides of calls
- AI-powered private captioning
- Customizable font sizes and colors
- Supports over 100 languages
- Access past call transcripts
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CaptionMate provides free, real-time captions for both sides of your phone calls. Certified and funded by an FCC-administered program, CaptionMate is available at no cost to individuals with hearing loss in the US. Whether you're using a smartphone, tablet, or desktop, CaptionMate is here to assist you with your accessibility needs. It works seamlessly across your devices to support your communication, wherever you are. WHY CHOOSE CAPTIONMATE? • FCC-certified and free for eligible individuals • Caption both sides of your calls • Your calls stay private with AI-powered captioning • Customizable font sizes, colors, and language options • Supports over 100 captioning languages • Access past call and voicemail transcripts anytime • Responsive customer support and setup assistance available KEEP YOUR CURRENT NUMBER Stay connected without changing your phone number. Enable call forwarding in the app and continue using your existing number with CaptionMate. BUILT FOR EVERYDAY AND PROFESSIONAL USE Whether you are calling family, attending a meeting, or dialing into a video conference, CaptionMate gives you the tools to stay engaged, productive, and independent. Experience clear, confident conversations with CaptionMate. CaptionMate is intended for individuals with hearing loss and is funded through a federal program that ensures equal access to phone communication. FEDERAL LAW PROHIBITS ANYONE BUT REGISTERED USERS WITH HEARING LOSS FROM USING INTERNET PROTOCOL (IP) CAPTIONED TELEPHONES WITH THE CAPTIONS TURNED ON. There is a cost for each minute of captions generated, paid from a federally administered fund. For more information, please visit our website at www.captionmate.com or email us at support@captionmate.com.
Deaf Live Caption
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Deaf Live Caption turns nearby speech into large, easy-to-read captions in real time. It is designed for deaf and hard-of-hearing users, seniors, and anyone who wants a clearer way to follow conversations. With one tap, spoken words appear on your screen as large captions, making it easier to understand people around you in everyday moments. Use Live Caption when talking face to face, at home, in meetings, during appointments, while traveling, or whenever speech is difficult to hear clearly. The simple interface keeps the focus on what matters most: reading the conversation. Features: • Real-time speech-to-text captions • Large, readable text for easier viewing • Simple one-tap start and stop controls • Dark mode for low-light environments • Multiple speech recognition languages • Clean interface designed for accessibility • Helpful for deaf users, hard-of-hearing users, and seniors Live Caption does not try to make conversations complicated. It gives you a clear, readable screen so you can follow speech more comfortably and confidently. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: CaptionMate at none against Deaf Live Caption's 2. CaptionMate also leads on device support (3 vs 1). On price, update cadence, ads and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Deaf Live Caption sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $34.99 per year. CaptionMate asks for nothing beyond the download.
CaptionMate ships an update monthly, Deaf Live Caption every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 9, 2026 and October 10, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | CaptionMate | Deaf Live Caption |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (268 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 75.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 268 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Every 4 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 16.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 71 MB | 15 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Mezmo Corporation | 荣花 吴 |
Bugs and requests
CaptionMate
Reported bugs
7 issues- Missed calls and voicemails
- Calls bouncing back and not ringing
- No voicemail alerts
- App crashes during incoming calls
- Calls appearing as 'scam likely'
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- App glitches preventing access to calling screen
- Registration issues due to referral codes
Requested features
5 requests- Fix calls showing as 'scam likely'
- Implement incoming call vibration
- Allow registration without referral code
- Address issues for autistic users
- Improve call routing/ringing reliability
Deaf Live Caption
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
CaptionMate
No in-app purchases
Deaf Live Caption
- Annual Pro$34.991 Year
- Lifetime Pro$39.99
Questions
Is CaptionMate free?
Is Deaf Live Caption free?
Do CaptionMate or Deaf Live Caption have ads?
Which is updated more often, CaptionMate or Deaf Live Caption?
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