Comparison

iPA Phonetics vs IPA Scribe

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

Head to head
About

iPA Phonetics

Explore the International Phonetic Alphabet and voice production with an intuitive touch interface. Hear and see accurate examples of symbols and articulations, enhanced by real-life laryngoscopic and ultrasound videos. Adjust playback speed for detailed study.

Highlights
  • Interactive IPA chart
  • Voice quality exploration
  • Articulations demonstration
  • Laryngoscopic videos
  • Ultrasound videos
  • Adjustable playback speed
  • Full-screen video viewing
Features
Read full description

This App provides a unique and intuitive touch interface for exploring the International Phonetic Alphabet as well as numerous voice qualities and articulations. Simply press any symbol or label in the illustrations to see and hear an accurate example. Amazing real-life laryngoscopic and ultrasound videos never before documented accompany sounds articulated in the mouth and throat! You can speed up and slow down all the video examples, view full-screen, and more!

About

IPA Scribe

This app instantly transcribes speech or text into IPA notation, saving professionals time. It offers real-time phonetic transcription, audio playback of symbols, and easy sharing options. Advanced features and unlimited transcriptions are available through a pro version.

Highlights
  • Instant IPA transcription from text or voice
  • Real-time phonetic notation display
  • Audio playback of IPA symbols
  • Export transcriptions as text, images, or spreadsheets
  • Advanced IPA keyboard for typing
  • Local, private transcription processing
Features
Read full description

IPA Scribe – Effortless IPA Transcriptions for SLPs & Language Professionals Save hours of tedious work—IPA Scribe transcribes language to IPA notation instantly, so you can focus on what matters most. HOW IT WORKS • Transcribe Effortlessly – Enter speech input via text or voice with a fast, intuitive interface. • Watch in Real-Time – See the phonetic transcription appear instantly. • Hear IPA Characters – Tap any IPA symbol to hear your device pronounce it. • Share with Ease – Export transcriptions as text, images, or spreadsheets. WORLD-CLASS TRANSCRIPTIONS IPA Scribe delivers smooth, accurate phonetic transcriptions in seconds. Get five free transcriptions per day with support for: • Text to IPA – Type with your device’s keyboard. • Live Speech to IPA – Use your microphone for instant phonetic transcription. • Document to IPA (IPA Scribe Pro Only) – Snap a photo of text and transcribe it instantly. • Audio File to IPA (IPA Scribe Pro Only) – Transcribe recordings from Voice Memos or the Files app. EXPORT & SHARE ANYWHERE Easily share your transcriptions via iMessage, AirDrop, and more. Export as: • Text – Copy and paste into any app. • Image (PNG) (IPA Scribe Pro Only) – Save transcriptions as images. • Spreadsheet (CSV) (IPA Scribe Pro Only) – Organize transcriptions in spreadsheets. IPA COMPOSER – TYPE IPA EFFORTLESSLY Need to type IPA? The advanced IPA keyboard supports over 20 languages. Just type, copy, and paste your IPA transcription anywhere. BUILT FOR PRIVACY Your data stays on your device. All transcription processing is handled locally—no cloud uploads, no third-party sharing. ACCESSIBILITY FEATURES Supports Dynamic Type for adjustable font sizes. Dark Mode reduces eye strain in low-light environments. Tap any IPA transcription to hear it pronounced by your device. IPA SCRIBE PRO – POWER UP YOUR TRANSCRIPTIONS Unlock unlimited transcriptions, enhanced export options, and advanced features with IPA Scribe Pro. • Unlimited Transcriptions & Exports • No daily limits—transcribe as much as you need. • Export transcriptions as text, PNG, or CSV without restrictions. • Transcribe in Multiple Languages IPA Scribe Pro supports IPA transcriptions in 10 languages, including: • English (UK & US) • French (France & Québec) • German • Spanish (Spain & Mexico) • Chinese (Simplified) • Japanese • Arabic • Finnish • Swedish • Norwegian Advanced Transcription Tools • Audio File Transcription – Convert speech in recordings to IPA. • Document Transcription – Scan written text and transcribe it instantly. • Print Your Transcriptions • Print directly to any AirPrint-compatible printer. Enhanced Privacy & Security • Lock IPA Scribe with Face ID or Touch ID for added security. Download IPA Scribe today and save hours on IPA transcriptions!

Screenshots

iPA Phonetics4 screens
IPA Scribe4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: iPA Phonetics at 83% against IPA Scribe's 36%. iPA Phonetics also leads on rating (4.2 vs 3.9). IPA Scribe's advantage is price (Free vs $3.99) and update cadence (every 9 days vs every 6 months). On ratings volume, ads, in-app purchases 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

IPA Scribe is free to download; iPA Phonetics costs $3.99 up front. iPA Phonetics sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and IPA Scribe sells 14 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

iPA Phonetics holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 3.9. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 64 and 67 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 83% of iPA Phonetics's written reviews are positive against 36% of IPA Scribe's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

iPA Phonetics ships an update every 6 months, IPA Scribe every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 5, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
iPA Phonetics versus IPA Scribe: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameteriPA PhoneticsIPA Scribe
Price$3.99Free — better
Rating4.2 (64 ratings) — better3.9 (67 ratings)
Positive reviews83.0% of reviews — better36.0% of reviews
Number of ratings6467 — better
Update frequencyEvery 6 monthsEvery 9 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationPaidFreemium — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.017.0
Further details — not scored
Size900 MB153 MB
Age rating4+9+
DeveloperJohn EslingBlue Mountain Studios, LLC

Customer experience

iPA Phonetics

All ratings64 ratings
Positive79.7%
Neutral6.3%
Negative14.1%
Written reviews94 reviews
Positive83.0%
Neutral5.3%
Negative11.7%

IPA Scribe

All ratings67 ratings
Positive73.1%
Neutral4.5%
Negative22.4%
Written reviews25 reviews
Positive36.0%
Neutral12.0%
Negative52.0%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

iPA Phonetics

One-time1
  • Voice Qualities Plus$1.99
14 purchases

IPA Scribe

Subscriptions13
  • IPA Scribe Pro$0.997 Days
  • IPA Scribe Pro - Monthly$1.991 Month
  • IPA Scribe Pro - Monthly2 variants$2.991 Month
Show 10 more
  • IPA Scribe Pro3 Days trial$2.997 Days
  • IPA Scribe Pro - Monthly$4.991 Month
  • IPA Scribe Pro - Yearly$8.991 Year
  • IPA Scribe Pro - Monthly$9.991 Month
  • IPA Scribe Pro - Yearly3 Days trial$16.991 Year
  • IPA Scribe Pro - Yearly3 Days trial$24.991 Year
  • IPA Scribe Pro - Yearly7 Days trial$24.991 Year
  • IPA Scribe Pro - Yearly7 Days trial$29.991 Year
  • IPA Scribe Pro - Yearly3 Days trial$49.991 Year
  • IPA Scribe Pro - Yearly7 Days trial$99.991 Year
One-time1
  • IPA Scribe Pro: Lifetime$49.99

Questions

Is iPA Phonetics free?
iPA Phonetics costs $3.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is IPA Scribe free?
IPA Scribe is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, iPA Phonetics or IPA Scribe?
iPA Phonetics is rated higher. iPA Phonetics averages 4.2 out of 5 from 64 ratings, while IPA Scribe averages 3.9 from 67 ratings.
Do iPA Phonetics or IPA Scribe have ads?
Neither iPA Phonetics nor IPA Scribe shows ads.
Which is updated more often, iPA Phonetics or IPA Scribe?
iPA Phonetics ships an update every 6 months, and IPA Scribe every 9 days. Most recently, iPA Phonetics was updated on September 24, 2026 and IPA Scribe on September 5, 2026.

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