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Apps for Meetings, Classes and Lectures

Last checked November 10, 2026. Next full check February 2027.

Email to a family member

In a group, speakers change often and sit far away. That makes talk hard to follow with hearing loss.

These apps caption talk or boost sound from the speaker. Check each page for the setup and the limits.

The apps

We list the apps in no order. 5 apps.

  • Ava

    Transcense, Inc.

    Captions group talk and shows who is speaking.

    Good for: People who join group talks or meetings and need to see who is speaking.

    No-cost tier and paid plansiPhone, iPad, Android

  • NALscribe

    National Acoustic Laboratories

    A live captioning app from a hearing research laboratory.

    Good for: People who want a simple captioning app with privacy controls.

    No costiPhone, iPad

  • Google Live Transcribe

    Google LLC

    Turns speech around you into text on an Android phone.

    Good for: Android users who want captions in the room.

    No costAndroid

  • Live Captions (iPhone)

    Apple

    Captions audio on your iPhone and talk around you.

    Good for: iPhone users who want captions with nothing to install.

    Built iniPhone, iPad

  • Sound Amplifier (Google)

    Google LLC

    Uses your Android phone and headphones to make speech easier to hear.

    Good for: Android users who want to try a phone tool in noisy rooms.

    No costAndroid

Limits to keep in mind

  • A phone far from the speaker hears less. Move it closer when you can.
  • Ask the host first if you plan to record or share a transcript.
  • Some venues have loop systems or Auracast. Ask the venue before the event.

This guide is general information. It does not diagnose hearing loss and it does not replace a hearing evaluation. An app cannot tell you why you hear less. An audiologist can.

Compare two apps side by side

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Questions to bring to your visit

Write these on your phone or print this page. Bring them to your hearing evaluation.

  • Can my hearing aids connect to a loop system?
  • Does my hearing aid support Auracast?
  • Which caption tool suits my work?

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Talk to an audiologist

Group talk getting harder? Call 650-342-9449. We can check your hearing and talk about aids with loop and Auracast support.

California Hearing Center has offices in San Mateo and San Carlos. One phone number reaches both: 650-342-9449.

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