# CaptionMate vs Deaf Live Caption

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | CaptionMate | Deaf Live Caption |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (268 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/captionmate/id1465233104/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **268** | — |
| Positive reviews | 75.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 4 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Size | 71 MB | 15 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Mezmo Corporation](https://appshunter.io/developer/579808323) | [荣花 吴](https://appshunter.io/developer/1894747234) |

## What reviewers say

### CaptionMate

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/captionmate/id1465233104)

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.

**Highlights:** 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

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Life-changing for hearing loss
- 👍 Excellent transcription accuracy
- 👍 Saves conversations for review
- 👍 Great for understanding phone calls
- 👍 Helpful for those who are deaf or hard of hearing

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Calls not ringing/going through
- 🐛 Calls showing as 'scam likely'
- 🐛 App crashes sometimes
- 🐛 No incoming call vibration
- 🐛 Different caller ID than expected

**Reported bugs**

- Missed calls and voicemails
- Calls bouncing back and not ringing
- No voicemail alerts
- App crashes during incoming calls
- Calls appearing as 'scam likely'

**Requested features**

- 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

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/deaf-live-caption/id6785001446)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Annual Pro | $34.99 | per year |
| Lifetime Pro | $39.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is CaptionMate free?

CaptionMate is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Deaf Live Caption free?

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

### Do CaptionMate or Deaf Live Caption have ads?

Neither CaptionMate nor Deaf Live Caption shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, CaptionMate or Deaf Live Caption?

CaptionMate ships an update monthly, and Deaf Live Caption every 4 weeks. Most recently, CaptionMate was updated on October 9, 2026 and Deaf Live Caption on October 10, 2026.

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