Comparison

Live Transcribe vs AlzBuddy

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Live Transcribe

This app provides real-time speech-to-text captions for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. It offers high accuracy in multiple languages, works well in noisy environments, and supports offline use. The interface is designed for simplicity and readability, making it accessible for all users.

Highlights
  • Real-time speech-to-text
  • 145+ languages supported
  • Works in noisy environments
  • Offline transcription
  • Speaker detection
  • Large, readable text
  • Privacy controls
Features
Read full description

Live Transcribe by Mighty Fine Apps. Accurate live captions for d/Deaf and hard of hearing. Reliable in noisy places and group settings. Perfect alongside hearing aids when they aren’t enough. BUILT DIFFERENT • Accuracy — Best-in-class captions in 145+ languages. • Noisy Places — Works well in restaurants, in groups, and at distance. • Offline Mode — Continue when Wi-Fi or cellular drops. • Privacy — You choose if and when to share your transcripts. • Readability — Large, bold text for tired eyes and distant viewing. • Speaker Detection — Follow group chats with color-coded words. • Simplicity — Easily adopted by older and less-technical people. • Independent — Sustainable, iOS only, not affiliated with Google. DESIGNED FOR YOU • Deaf & Hard of Hearing — Stay independent at home and at work. • Hearing Aid Users — When aids fall short in noise or in groups. • Recent Hearing Loss — Rejoin the conversation right away. • Hearing Spouses & Family — Communicate more easily with a loved one. • Caregivers & Adult Children — Support a parent, child, or patient. • Faith-Community Members — Follow sermons, prayers, and group study. TRUSTED BY THOUSANDS • 6+ years on the market. • 15m+ conversations captioned. • 100m+ minutes transcribed. • 20k+ paying customers. • 10k+ App Store reviews at 4.6 stars. • 100+ hours per year of customer interviews. Your privacy is our top priority, and the app is designed to give you full control over whether your conversation transcripts — medical, legal, family, end-of-life, or otherwise — are summarized or shared. LIFE-CHANGING FOR FAMILIES “This app has changed my 86-year-old mother’s life. It is simple and easy for her and her friends to use. This is so important for the elderly since so many other apps are way too complicated. She can really have one-on-one conversations.” — Mark M SIMPLE TO USE • Place iPhone or iPad near the conversation. • Read what each person is saying on-screen as they speak. • Follow family dinners, doctor’s appointments, meetings, and more. HERE TO STAY Live Transcribe is an independent paid product, and we’re confident in its value. Your subscription allows us to run our captioning service day and night, and keep the app running smoothly on Apple’s devices. We answer to you — our customers and community — not advertisers, so when you need us next year, we’ll still be here. Current pricing is shown in-app and on our website. MADE IN CALIFORNIA Live Transcribe is built and supported by Mighty Fine Apps, a tight-knit team based in San Francisco. Our founder Rob Norback first created the app to communicate with his grandfather who was deaf in his later years, and we continue to shape it around the real communication needs of older adults and all those with some level of hearing loss. FURTHER READING • About Us: https://livetranscribe.app • Privacy Policy: https://livetranscribe.app/legal/privacy • Terms & Conditions: https://livetranscribe.app/legal/terms We love your questions and feedback! Get in touch at support@mightyfine.app.

About

AlzBuddy

This interactive memory care assistant helps seniors engage their minds with a variety of sounds, games, and pictures. It offers a collection of music, historical speeches, and commercials, alongside individual and group games designed to stimulate cognitive function and encourage reminiscence.

Highlights
  • Extensive sound library (music, speeches, commercials)
  • Individual and group memory games
  • Picture association and trivia games
  • Discussion prompts for social interaction
  • Image library with historical figures and objects
Features
Read full description

AlzBuddy is an interactive memory care assistant aimed at engaging seniors, especially those living with early-stage Alzheimer’s and dementia. The app’s simple yet elegant design paired with its research-based typography emphasizes convenience, utility, and interactivity. AlzBuddy, downloaded over 7,000 times to date in over 30 countries, contains three core modules: Sounds, Games, and Pictures. The Sounds Module of AlzBuddy contains over 2,000 sounds: songs, commercials, speeches, karaoke, animal sounds, and more, all embedded directly within the application. Songs are categorized into three themes (“relaxed,” “groovy,” and “vibrant”) with top selections and hits across genres from the 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, and 80s. The app helps spark great memories from the past by providing captivating tunes from Elvis Presley to Michael Jackson at the click of a button. Commercials include dozens of famous advertisements, grouped into several compilations, and users can hear political speeches ranging from FDR’s famous Four Freedoms Speech to Ronald Reagan’s First Inaugural Address. The Games Module of AlzBuddy contains six games, split evenly between games intended for individuals and those intended for group play. The three games for individuals are the Color Grid game, suggested by a medical professional to engage and challenge the user; a picture association game suggested by a nursing home, and a memory game. The color grid game requires the user to follow an instruction to color a specific button (in a grid of buttons the user can toggle) a particular color and check their answer with the click of a button. The game, which emphasizes the coordination and focusing skills of the user, is interactive and easy to understand. The picture association game helps reinforce important figures, objects, and events from history in a fun and engaging format. The classic memory game can be customized depending on the skill-level of the resident and involves toggling cards to make matchable pairs of colors or various customizable images. The three group games are the Trivia Game, Password Game, and Discussion Activity. The trivia game includes over 300 questions. Furthermore, the password game brings Charades to the next level with over 350 potential clues that users can act out for others to guess. Finally, the discussion activity contains almost 100 questions that users can ask each other; caregivers and loved ones can also ask these questions, getting some quality time with the people they care for. The Pictures Module of the AlzBuddy app includes a selection of over 800 pictures with descriptions. Images available include famous world figures (world leaders, athletes, musicians, and more) from 1950-1990, common animals, household objects, sports, holidays, elements of nature, and more. These images are aimed at helping the user remember and reminisce about key figures and items throughout their lives. Overall, the AlzBuddy app has functionalities capable of engaging seniors and helping them reminisce about great memories. This free app is an excellent addition to the device of any senior looking for friendly, engaging, and quality content in an inviting format.

Screenshots

Live Transcribe4 screens
AlzBuddy4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: AlzBuddy at none against Live Transcribe's 10. AlzBuddy also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.6) and review sentiment (75% vs 58%). Live Transcribe's advantage is update cadence (every 4 days vs every 2 months) and ratings volume (8.1K vs 3). On price, ads and device support 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Live Transcribe sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. AlzBuddy asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

AlzBuddy holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Live Transcribe has 8.1K ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 58% of Live Transcribe's written reviews are positive against 75% of AlzBuddy's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Live Transcribe ships an update every 4 days, AlzBuddy every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 12, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 3 level
Live Transcribe versus AlzBuddy: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLive TranscribeAlzBuddy
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (8.1K ratings)5.0 (3 ratings) — better
Positive reviews57.6% of reviews75.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings8.1K — better3
Update frequencyEvery 4 days — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
Best chart rank#84 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.012.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size108 MB33 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMighty Fine Apps LLCAlzBuddy

Customer experience

Live Transcribe

All ratings8,121 ratings
Positive91.3%
Neutral3.6%
Negative5.1%
Written reviews592 reviews
Positive57.6%
Neutral6.6%
Negative35.8%

AlzBuddy

All ratings3 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive75.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative25.0%

Bugs and requests

Live Transcribe

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Transcription stops unexpectedly
  • Deletes correct transcription
  • Incompatible with some devices

Requested features

4 requests
  • Distinguish between multiple speakers
  • Ability to use on Mac
  • More than 5 hours of premium transcription per month
  • Improved accuracy for medical/technical terms

AlzBuddy

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

8 purchases

Live Transcribe

Subscriptions8
  • Live Transcribe Monthly2 variants$4.991 Month
  • Live Transcribe Monthly3 Days trial$4.991 Month
  • Live Transcribe Monthly$9.991 Month
Show 5 more
  • Starter$9.991 Month
  • Try Real-Time Transcription3 Days trial$49.991 Year
  • Live Transcribe Yearly3 Days trial$49.991 Year
  • Starter3 Days trial2 variants$79.991 Year
  • Live Transcribe Yearly3 Days trial$79.991 Year
None

AlzBuddy

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Live Transcribe free?
Live Transcribe is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is AlzBuddy free?
AlzBuddy is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Live Transcribe or AlzBuddy?
AlzBuddy is rated higher. Live Transcribe averages 4.6 out of 5 from 8.1K ratings, while AlzBuddy averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.
Do Live Transcribe or AlzBuddy have ads?
Neither Live Transcribe nor AlzBuddy shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Live Transcribe or AlzBuddy?
Live Transcribe ships an update every 4 days, and AlzBuddy every 2 months. Most recently, Live Transcribe was updated on November 12, 2026 and AlzBuddy on November 3, 2026.

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