By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. View our Privacy Policy for more information.
PreferencesDenyAccept
Nagish Acquires Sign.mt to Drive Research in AI and Sign Language. Read the announcement
Deaf Culture
April 19, 2023
5 min

The 10 Most Useful Apps for Deaf and Hard of Hearing in 2025

There are many apps for deaf people that can help with communication, hearing, and accessibility. Learn about the top ones in this helpful guide!

Author:
Matt Sherman
The 10 Most Useful Apps for Deaf and Hard of Hearing in 2025
Example h2
Example h3

Smartphones have become integral to our daily routines, from connecting with friends and family to ordering food. But smartphones for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals are more than just a convenience—they're game changers. 

Thanks to specialized apps for deaf people, smartphones have opened up a world of possibilities and accessibility. And that's not all. Today's technology encourages seamless integration between deaf and hard-of-hearing communities and the hearing population.

A Woman having a video call conversation on her phone.
A Woman having a video call conversation on her phone.

So, it's time to appreciate smartphones' transformative power as they break communication barriers with ingenuity and purpose. 

In this blog post, we'll share the best apps for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. What new app will you discover? Read on.

Setting Up Your Phone

Before we list the best mobile apps for people who are deaf or hard of hearing, check your smartphone's accessibility settings. These settings are often overlooked and underused but are easy to activate and highly useful.

iPhone Settings

  • Sound Recognition lets your phone detect certain sounds and notify you of them. Some examples are fire/siren/smoke alarms, animal sounds, appliances, car horns, doorbells/knocking, water running, baby crying, and many others. 

To set it up, go to Settings > Accessibility > Sound Recognition > toggle on > select the sounds you wish to be notified of. 

  • Live Listen is a great functionality for hard of hearing individuals as it helps hear conversations more clearly in noisy areas and is compatible with AirPods or Beats.
  • Mono audio is ideal for people with hearing loss in one ear, as you can adjust, balance, and cancel noise according to individual needs.
  • RTT and TTY configurations transmit text or audio as you type. However, it’s not supported by all carriers or countries and regions.
  • Alerts set up vibration and LED Flash and never miss a message, notification, or call again. To set up, go to Settings > Accessibility > Audio/Visual > LED Flash for Alerts
  • Type to Siri gives you access to Siri by typing. To set it up, go to Settings > Accessibility > Siri > toggle on Type to Siri
  • Live Captions automatically display captions across all apps. Accuracy may vary. 

Android Settings

  • Live Transcribe & Notifications help follow live conversations and add subtitles or captions to live content. The deaf community has given Live Transcribe many positive reviews. The developers tested and used feedback from Gallaudet University, and the app now has over one billion downloads.
  • Hearing aid compatibility pairs with hearing aids to help hear more clearly.
  • RTT and TTY transmit text or audio as you type during live calls.

Now, onto the good stuff. Here are the 10 most useful apps for deaf and hard of hearing individuals.

We’ve rounded up the best free apps for people who are deaf or hard of hearing, available for iOS and Android.

A woman communicates through sign language during a video call on her laptop.
A woman communicates through sign language during a video call on her laptop.
No more feeling left out. Nagish lets your voice be heard.
Sign me up now!

01. Nagish

Nagish offers free real-time captioning for calls using AI to convert text-to-speech and speech-to-text so that one side of a phone call can type and read while the other side hears and speaks, all while keeping conversations 100% private. In addition, you can keep your current phone number.

Many other features are included, such as:

  • Light/dark mode
  • Save transcripts of past conversations
  • Customizable voicemail greeting
  • Optional profanity filter
  • Option to type or voice

NEW! Caption your speech in real-time

02. Nagish Live Transcribe

Nagish Live Transcribe makes everyday conversations and surrounding sounds more accessible for people who are deaf or hard of hearing with real-time transcription in the Nagish app. Best of all, it’s ad-free, fast, and private.

Other amazing features: 

  • Light/dark mode
  • Customizable font sizes
  • Ability to flip for viewing ease
  • Ability to type your replies

03. FaceTime

‍Relying on visual communication is made easy with FaceTime. Use features like SharePlay to watch videos together, share your screen, and now even add live captions in English (US, Canada).

Best Apps for Sound Recognition

04. Tap Tap (iOS) and The Deaf and Hearing Impaired (Android)

These free apps alert you when there is a sound in your environment that you may not have otherwise heard. From a ring at your doorbell to potentially life-saving sounds like a fire alarm. The Android version of the app also has speech-to-text capabilities that translate what is being said.

Best apps for work

05. Boostlingo

Offers video remote interpretation (VRI) services that connect you to on-demand qualified interpreters speaking 300 languages all over the globe to ensure effective communication. Also, face-to-face visibility adds a more personal connection.

06. Otter.ai

A transcription app for people who are deaf or hard of hearing that helps keep up with meeting notes and summaries at work and can be used during Zoom meetings. Otter.ai generates a live transcript and even allows adding comments, highlighting key points, and assigning action items. Guaranteed that you will get all the details at the end of a meeting. There is a paid and free version; the free tier is limited in minutes, while paid is unlimited.

07. Web Captioner

‍Hosting a webinar? Attending an online class? Web Captioner provides speech-to-text transcription in over 40 languages and dialects in your browser. Best of all? It’s free!

Best apps for social settings

08. Marco Polo

A video chat app that helps you communicate face-to-face in a private, ad-free space. It’s simple: send a video, get one back. Popular with sign language users, the app is free, although the paid tier offers additional features, such as the ability to speed up videos.

09. SoundHound & Shazam

Whether you’re on a road trip or hanging out with friends, both these apps help identify what song is playing in the background so you can follow along with the lyrics on the screen. 

10. Sound Amplifier (iOS & Android)

Great for hard of hearing users, this free app applifies the sound around you. It offers the ability to connect to your headphones or AirPods via Bluetooth. It also helps filter out background noise and provides added clarity. 

That’s a wrap! We hope our list of 10 useful apps for people who are deaf or hard of hearing is a starting point for discovering new tools and technologyto enhance your communication and social connections and positively impact your daily life. If you found this article helpful, share it with a friend who might also benefit!

Honorable Mention

Deaf Wake

Created by a deaf person, this app helps create a visual alert for your phone alarms. You can select from vibration, flash, flashing screen, or sound as your alert. It is also compatible with Apple watches.

WhatsApp

Used by Deaf people internationally, this app helps with communication without incurring roaming charges. You can set up group text chats and even send short video messages. 

There you have it, ten-plus apps for the deaf you can use today. Whether you need an app for phone calls, sound recognition, or socializing, we hope you find one that fits your needs. If you found this article helpful, share it with a friend who might also benefit from it!

Whether you're 18 or 100, staying connected matters—and Nagish is here to help.
Sign me up now!
Matt Sherman

Matt Sherman is the Head of Community at Nagish, where he serves as a bridge between the company and its community, working to identify accessibility needs and break down communication barriers. He leads conferences, partnerships, strategic initiatives, and advocacy efforts, while also nurturing Nagish’s online and offline communities to keep them thriving and growing every day. Outside of work, Matt is an avid outdoorsman who enjoys fishing and exploring the serenity of Minnesota’s land of 10,000 lakes.

Blog
Get Nagish for Free.
Join the thousands of people who use Nagish!
Sign me up now!
Get Nagish for Free.
Join the thousands of people who use Nagish!
Sign me up now!
Catch every word with captions.
Join the thousands of people who use Nagish!
Sign me up now!
No more feeling left out. Nagish lets your voice be heard.
Join the thousands of people who use Nagish!
Sign me up now!
Don’t let life without captions slow you down.
Join the thousands of people who use Nagish!
Sign me up now!
Share on:

Suggested Articles

Hearing Loss
April 19, 2023
6 min
The 7 Best Text-to-Speech iPhone Apps in 2025
Hearing Loss
April 19, 2023
7 min
Top 9 Hearing Aid Apps For Android: Hearing Made Easy
Hearing Loss
March 16, 2023
10 min
Caption Call Apps: Everything You Need To Know
Nagish Acquires Sign.mt to Drive Research in AI and Sign Language. 
‍Read the announcement

The 10 Most Useful Apps for Deaf and Hard of Hearing in 2025

Key Findings

  • Workplace Impact: 62% of Deaf and 66% of Hard-of-Hearing individuals report that communication barriers hinder career mobility.
  • Healthcare Challenges: 62% of Deaf and 66% of Hard-of-Hearing individuals experience communication barriers in healthcare settings, contributing to delays in treatment.
  • Concerns About Emergency Communications: 20% of Deaf and 24.3% Hard-of-Hearing users also expressed serious concerns that communication barriers would prohibit them from contacting healthcare personnel in an emergency situation.
  • Independence Boost: Assistive technology nearly doubled rates of independence, with 60% of Deaf users and 63% of Hard-of-Hearing users reporting increased autonomy.
  • Emotional Strain: 55% of Deaf users and 83% of Hard-of-Hearing users reported emotional distress due to communication frustrations.
  • Social and Professional Opportunities: 46% of Deaf and 32.9% of Hard-of-Hearing users saw improved social and career prospects thanks to assistive technologies.

Empowering the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Through Technology: A New Era of Communication and Independence

At Nagish, we’ve seen firsthand just how much communication shapes daily life for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing communities. Our recent survey highlights the significant barriers they face in the workplace, healthcare settings, and in their social lives. But it also sheds light on a powerful solution: assistive technology. The results of this survey reinforce our commitment to empowering these communities and remind us why our mission matters: with access to the right tools, independence grows, opportunities expand, and well-being improves.

We collected data through a comprehensive survey involving over 300 individuals who are Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing and currently use hearing assistive technology. The survey included 179 Deaf and 140 Hard-of-Hearing participants, with data collected in an inclusive and accessible manner to ensure that everyone could participate and share their experiences without barriers.Communication Barriers in the Workplace: Limiting Career Mobility

Communication challenges in the workplace remain one of the most significant hurdles for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing individuals, preventing them from fully realizing their career potential. Assistive technology offers a solution by removing these barriers and expanding access to a broader range of job opportunities and career growth.

Download the PDF Report

A majority of Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing participants reported that communication barriers affected their career decisions, making it harder to pursue job opportunities or advance in their careers.

Deaf Participants

Hard-of-Hearing participants

65% of Deaf users rely on assistance from hearing individuals at least once a week to communicate effectively, which can limit their ability to fully engage in dynamic work environments.

Communication Barriers in Healthcare: A Matter of Public Safety
Communication challenges are not just a workplace issue — they extend into healthcare settings, where they can directly impact individuals’ health outcomes. Accessible communication tools are essential for ensuring that Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing individuals can receive timely and accurate medical care, especially in emergency situations

Many Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing users face communication barriers in healthcare settings, which can lead to missed appointments, misunderstandings about medical treatments, and delayed care.

Deaf users:

62%

Hard of Hearing users:

66%

Some Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing users have concerns about reaching healthcare professionals in emergencies, highlighting serious public safety risks.

Deaf users

Hard-of-Hearing users

Empowering Independence Through Assistive Technology
One of the most encouraging findings from our survey is just how much independence is boosted with assistive technology. This improvement in independence is not just about doing things on their own; it’s about having the confidence and ability to engage fully in both professional and personal settings.

Assistive technology has significantly increased the independence of Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing users in managing daily tasks, showing clear improvements after adoption.

Deaf users

Hard-of-Hearing users

Expanding Social and Professional Opportunities
Beyond independence, assistive technology creates connection.By removing communication barriers that keep people from joining in socially or professionallyassistive technology allows users to engage more deeply in social activities and pursue career opportunities that were previously out of reach.

Assistive technology has helped Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing users expand their social networks and professional opportunities, enabling new connections and career growth.

Emotional and Psychological Impact: The Hidden Toll of Communication Barriers
People often overlook the emotional and psychological toll of communication , but they can have a profound impact on the mental well-being of Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing individuals. Assistive technology can help alleviate this emotional strain, empowering users to communicate more effectively and reducing the anxiety associated with relying on others for basic communication.

A significant number of Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing users experience frustration and anxiety when communicating with family and friends, leading to isolation and stress.

Deaf users

Hard-of-Hearing users

Why This Matters: A Call for Widespread Adoption of Assistive Technologies
The findings from our survey are clear: communication barriers continue to limit the lives of Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing individuals in many areas, from the workplace to healthcare to their social lives. What’s also clear to us is that the question isn’t whether assistive technology helps—it’s how quickly we can make this powerful solution universally available.. By making these tools more accessible, we can open up new opportunities for individuals to thrive in their careers, maintain better health, and lead more independent lives.
At Nagish, we are committed to advocating for the integration of assistive technologies in all aspects of life. Whether it’s in healthcare, the workplace, or social settings, these technologies have the potential to create a more inclusive society where Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing individuals can live fully empowered lives. 
Our hope is that these findings inspire not just awareness, but action. We hope this survey creates awareness and action in promoting accessibility and inclusion for these communities. Together, we can create a world where everyone, regardless of their hearing abilities, has equal access to opportunities and services.