Comparison

BeAware Deaf Assistant vs Transcribe Live.

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

Head to head
About

BeAware Deaf Assistant

This app offers advanced communication tools for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. It features real-time voice-to-text transcription, customizable alerts for loud noises, and a unique text-to-speech function for phone calls. It also includes a notepad with preset phrases and an emoji board for easier communication.

Highlights
  • Real-time voice-to-text transcription
  • Customizable noise and alert notifications
  • Text-to-speech for phone calls
  • Note-taking with preset phrases
  • Flip text for easy viewing
  • Emoji and image communication board
Features
Read full description

BeAware is the most advanced communication tool for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community with the latest features that do not exist on other apps! It even hit top 5 on Ycombinator's HackerNews! Are you tired of using apps with bad user experience, while being forced to watch ads and paying $50 a year for functionality that you need to use everyday? Look no further, BeAware is the only free, privacy-safe, no-ads, open-source, completely offline, battery-efficient app designed for Deaf users. With a proven and award-winning development process, BeAware was built from the ground-up with the deaf community in mind. It would not have been possible without the help of 100's of volunteers, testers and dozens of design and development iterations. - BeAware comes with a customizable Alert tool, that can detect loud noises and communicate that to the deaf using vibrations, LED flashes, and sending notifications to your phone and connected Apple Watch. So now, a Deaf new mom can leave the app running and get alerted if her baby is crying, or a Deaf delivery driver can move to the side to make way for emergency vehicles. - BeAware comes with the fastest Speech-to-Text transcription tool that is optimized for accuracy and works in any language that is set in the device Settings - The Text functionality is the best note pad app for the Deaf. The "Preset phrases" feature can make note taking a breeze and the "Flip Text" provides ease while showing the note. Enjoy your custom order at the coffee shop, without having to retype it every time, or having to turn your phone around. - Play Text - The Text tool also comes with a unique ability to Play the Text that you type in through your voice and video phone calls! So if you are not able to speak over the phone in an interview, you can just type out your responses and have the phone play it to the other side of your call. The language of the speech depends on the one selected in your settings - Emoji Board allows you to communicate with people who don't use ASL using emoji or images uploaded from your photo gallery *Users with Usher Syndrome can switch the phone to dark mode to view the app designed to accommodate them.

About

Transcribe Live.

This app provides live speech-to-text transcription and captioning in over 60 languages. It's designed for ease of use, offering features like adjustable text size, dark mode, and offline support for select languages. Ideal for individuals with hearing impairments or anyone needing to capture spoken words accurately.

Highlights
  • Live speech-to-text transcription
  • Live captioning for hearing impaired
  • Supports over 60 languages
  • Offline transcription for 10+ languages
  • Adjustable text size and dark mode
  • Share and save transcripts
Features
Read full description

LiveTranscribe is a helper for people who are hard of hearing and for anyone who doesn't want to miss what the other person is saying. The app instantly turns speech into large, easy-to-read text, speaks your replies aloud and alerts you to important sounds around you. IMPORTANT: LiveTranscribe is not a medical device or a medical tool. The app does not diagnose or treat hearing loss and does not replace a hearing aid, a doctor's consultation or any other medical care. Speech and sound recognition may be inaccurate. Do not rely on the app in situations that involve safety or health. HOW IT WORKS 1. Tap the big microphone button and let the other person speak. 2. The words appear on screen right away in large type, with punctuation. 3. Type your reply on the keyboard and tap “Speak” — your phone says it aloud. SPEECH TO TEXT IN REAL TIME • The other person's words appear on screen as they speak • Automatic punctuation and a light vibration on each mark (optional) • “Full screen” mode: very large text that is easy to show to the other person or read from a distance • Flip button: the text turns around so it is easy to read for someone sitting across from you TYPE — YOUR PHONE SPEAKS • Write or edit text on the keyboard • Choose the voice and the speaking speed • Share or copy the text with a single tap TEXT THE WAY YOU WANT IT • Size, weight, color, spacing between lines and letters • Light, dark or system theme • The screen stays on while recording DOZENS OF LANGUAGES, WORKS WITHOUT INTERNET • Many recognition languages, switch with the flag button on the main screen • Downloaded languages work without an internet connection • “Offline mode”: speech is recognized right on your device • For some languages you first need to download dictation once in Settings. Availability and quality depend on the language and iOS version ALERTS FOR IMPORTANT SOUNDS • The app listens to the sounds around you and tells you about them: doorbell, knock on the door, baby crying, car horn, siren, smoke alarm, car alarm, dog barking, breaking glass • Adjustable sensitivity • Ways to alert you: vibration, camera flash, full-screen message, notification (including on your watch) • Sound is processed on your phone and is never recorded • Sound recognition is only an aid: it may be wrong or fail to trigger. Do not use it instead of a fire alarm, security alarm or any other alarm system NOTES • Save conversations and important phrases to notes, search the text, keep dictating • Note protection: Face ID, your device passcode or your own 4-digit code • Automatic saving of conversations, if you like Terms of Use: https://sites.google.com/view/coderua/terms Privacy Policy: https://sites.google.com/view/coderua/privacy-policy Support: coderua7@gmail.com The app is intended for informational and assistive purposes and does not replace medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. If you have trouble hearing, please see a doctor.

Screenshots

BeAware Deaf Assistant4 screens
Transcribe Live.4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: BeAware Deaf Assistant at 59% against Transcribe Live.'s 0%. BeAware Deaf Assistant also leads on rating (4.5 vs 3.0) and in-app purchases (none vs 2). 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. Transcribe Live. sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. BeAware Deaf Assistant asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

BeAware Deaf Assistant holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: BeAware Deaf Assistant has 192 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 59% of BeAware Deaf Assistant's written reviews are positive against 0% of Transcribe Live.'s.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

BeAware Deaf Assistant ships an update every 10 days, Transcribe Live. every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 17, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
BeAware Deaf Assistant versus Transcribe Live.: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBeAware Deaf AssistantTranscribe Live.
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (192 ratings) — better3.0 (2 ratings)
Positive reviews59.1% of reviews — better0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings192 — better2
Update frequencyEvery 10 days — betterEvery 3 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterSubscription
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, Mac
Requires iOS14.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size39 MB48 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSaamer MansoorEvgeniy Labunchak

Customer experience

BeAware Deaf Assistant

All ratings192 ratings
Positive86.5%
Neutral6.8%
Negative6.8%
Written reviews22 reviews
Positive59.1%
Neutral18.2%
Negative22.7%

Transcribe Live.

All ratings2 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

Bugs and requests

BeAware Deaf Assistant

Reported bugs

11 issues
  • Speech recognition is finicky and not exact
  • App crashes regularly
  • Microphone does not capture sound for transcription
  • App consumes battery very quickly
  • App makes iPhone extremely hot
Show 6 more
  • Does not work in noisy environments
  • Icon options are cropped with larger text display zoom
  • No audio when typing in texts and hitting iPhone's play button
  • Transcription is full of errors and often makes no sense
  • Turning app off with blue/red dot does not work; transcription continues
  • Cannot have an entire conversation, only line by line recording

Requested features

5 requests
  • Improve speech recognition/transcription accuracy
  • Implement true AI system for better accuracy
  • Add automatic punctuation (commas, periods, question marks)
  • Allow paragraph breaks for better text structure
  • Distinguish between different voices

Transcribe Live.

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

BeAware Deaf Assistant

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

Transcribe Live.

Subscriptions2
  • 1 month Live Transcribe$3.991 Month
  • 1 year transcribe speech3 Days trial$39.991 Year

Questions

Is BeAware Deaf Assistant free?
BeAware Deaf Assistant is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Transcribe Live. free?
Transcribe Live. is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, BeAware Deaf Assistant or Transcribe Live.?
BeAware Deaf Assistant is rated higher. BeAware Deaf Assistant averages 4.5 out of 5 from 192 ratings, while Transcribe Live. averages 3.0 from 2 ratings.
Do BeAware Deaf Assistant or Transcribe Live. have ads?
Neither BeAware Deaf Assistant nor Transcribe Live. shows ads.
Which is updated more often, BeAware Deaf Assistant or Transcribe Live.?
BeAware Deaf Assistant ships an update every 10 days, and Transcribe Live. every 3 months. Most recently, BeAware Deaf Assistant was updated on October 14, 2026 and Transcribe Live. on October 17, 2026.

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