Last Updated on August 26, 2025 by Jonathan Javid Au.D.
For people with hearing loss, everyday conversations can be challenging—especially in noisy environments, during group discussions, or when talking with someone who speaks quickly. While hearing aids improve speech clarity, they don’t always solve every communication hurdle. That’s where live captioning apps step in.
The good news? You don’t need expensive equipment. With just your smartphone, you can instantly turn speech into text. Below are the best free apps that provide live captioning right from your phone.
1. Google Live Transcribe (Android)
- Platform: Android (built-in for many devices)
- How It Works: Developed by Google, Live Transcribe uses advanced speech recognition to provide real-time captions directly on your screen.
- Key Features:
- Works in over 80 languages and dialects
- Adjustable text size for readability
- Detects environmental sounds (doorbells, alarms, etc.)
- Saves transcripts for later review
- Why It’s Great for Hearing Aid Users: You can pair your hearing aids via Bluetooth while following along with the captions as a backup.
- Link: Google Live Transcribe
2. Ava (iOS & Android)
- Platform: iOS & Android
- How It Works: Ava focuses on group conversations, making it ideal for classrooms, meetings, and family gatherings. Each speaker’s captions are color-coded for clarity.
- Key Features:
- Supports over 100 languages
- Color-coded captions for multiple speakers
- Allows saving transcripts and exporting them
- Free vs Paid: The free plan gives you limited captioning minutes per month; premium options unlock unlimited use.
- Link: Ava App
3. Otter.ai (iOS & Android)
- Platform: iOS & Android
- How It Works: Originally designed for note-taking, Otter.ai is now a go-to for captioning meetings, lectures, and video calls.
- Key Features:
- Real-time transcription with speaker identification
- Integrates with Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams
- Saved transcripts with keyword search
- Free Plan: Includes 300 minutes per month, which is often enough for casual use.
- Link: Otter.ai
4. Microsoft Group Transcribe (iOS)
- Platform: iOS only
- How It Works: Designed for multi-person conversations, each participant can join with their phone, and captions appear in real time.
- Key Features:
- Multi-device collaboration for accuracy
- Supports multiple languages with real-time translation
- Easy to share transcripts
- Link: Group Transcribe
5. Google Meet & Zoom Built-In Captions
- Platform: iOS, Android, and Desktop
- How It Works: Both Zoom and Google Meet now include free built-in live captions for video calls.
- Key Features:
- Automatic captions for meetings and calls
- Works with smartphones and laptops
- Supports multiple languages (Google Meet has the widest support)
- Why It’s Important: Many hearing aid users rely on captions during virtual work meetings or school lectures.
- Link: Zoom Accessibility | Google Meet Captions
📊 Comparison Table
| App/Service | Platforms | Best For | Free Plan Limitations | Offline Support |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Google Live Transcribe | Android | Everyday conversations | Unlimited | Yes (limited offline) |
| Ava | iOS & Android | Group chats & classrooms | Limited minutes | No |
| Otter.ai | iOS & Android | Meetings & notes | 300 minutes/month | No |
| Group Transcribe | iOS | Group conversations | Free, but iOS only | No |
| Zoom / Google Meet | iOS, Android, Web | Video calls & meetings | Unlimited captions | No |
Final Thoughts
For hearing aid users, captions can be life-changing. They bridge the gap when hearing aids alone aren’t enough—especially in noisy environments, fast-paced meetings, or when dealing with unfamiliar accents.
If you’re on Android, start with Google Live Transcribe. If you’re in a lot of group conversations, Ava or Group Transcribe may be better. And if you want transcripts you can save and search, Otter.ai is hard to beat.
👉 Want to explore more tools? Check out our Complete Guide to Captions & Subtitles.