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
Big News: Nagish is now FCC-certified for IP Relay Services! 🎉  Read the announcement
Hearing Loss
April 11, 2024
4 Min

Top 3 Live Transcribe Apps

Live transcribe apps are innovative tools designed to convert spoken language into text in real-time. Check out our top 3 for 2025!

Author:
Nicole Brener
Top 3 Live Transcribe Apps
Example h2
Example h3

If you've ever experienced difficulty accurately capturing spoken content during meetings, lectures, presentations, or one-on-one conversations due to hearing loss, exploring live transcribe apps may be a good idea.

Live transcribe apps are innovative tools designed to convert spoken language into text in real-time, making everyday conversations and surrounding sounds more accessible among people who are deaf or hard of hearing using just your smartphone or tablet. How convenient does that sound?!

And it gets better. AI has taken this technology to the next level, increasing speed and accuracy and fostering inclusive communication in diverse settings.

We’ve compiled a list of the best live transcribe apps to help you pick the best one based on transcription accuracy, speed, convenience, ease of use, budget, and custom features. 

What are Live Transcribe Apps?

Live transcribe apps support accessibility by allowing individuals with hearing loss to participate fully in verbal interactions, fostering inclusive communication in diverse settings.

Thanks to AI, live transcribe technology captures spoken language and converts it to text in real-time. 

Where is this useful? Mostly, individuals use it for transcribing lectures and meetings, facilitating in-person interactions such as doctor appointments, placing orders at restaurants, and even being able to grasp live announcements in public spaces such as airports or in-flight announcements.

Live transcribe apps facilitate daily communication for deaf and hard of hearing individuals and bridge the gap between hearing and non-hearing communities, creating a world where we can all interact without boundaries.

Additionally, live transcribe apps provide users with comprehensive transcripts that can be easily saved and shared for future reference. This is a great tool to assist students in note-taking and studying and professionals for meeting minutes. 

This list will mainly focus on live transcribe apps that are best applicable to enhancing accessibility for deaf and hard of hearing communities.

Caption your calls and reconnect with the world.
Sign me up now!

Top 3 Live Transcribe Apps

  1. Nagish Live Transcribe

Nagish is an FCC-certified provider available for free in the Apple App Store. It also provides Live Transcribe functionality to their community, with real-time in-person and over-the-phone communication to individuals with hearing loss and a fully customizable experience. 

The app is highly accurate, fast, and supports multiple languages while remaining 100% private and secure. 

“This app is amazing for anyone who struggles to hear and communicate using traditional phone calls. Users can customize the size of the text, how to view captions, whether to keep transcripts, keyboard settings, etc.” - Cameryn

Many users appreciate the high accuracy of the transcriptions, which makes it easier to follow along with conversations. “The transcription given by many services is barely adequate. However, Nagish is top notch. The transcription is excellent.” - Frank

Additionally, the app is ad-free. Since it combines captioning during phone calls and in-person conversations, it eliminates the need for constant app switching, making communication feel natural and seamless. This allows users to focus on the conversation rather than the tools they use. 

Nagish Live Transcribe is built with the dynamics of real interactions in mind, so it easily integrates into your day-to-day with advanced features such as:

  • Bluetooth connectivity, which allows you to connect to external microphones and plug into personal hearing aids
  • Noise reduction filters so it works in noisy environments
  • Transcripts saved locally to your device
  • Quick access with a simple tap or shake
  • Unlimited captions, both online and offline
  • Flip the view to show the captions to someone else for easier interactions
  • Customizable font size and type that adjusts to your preferences
  • Switch between dark and light modes 

The app can often be integrated with other tools and platforms, such as video conferencing software. This versatility makes it useful in a range of scenarios, from personal conversations to professional meetings.

  1. Google Live Transcribe

Google offers a Live Transcribe app that automatically transcribes speech in near real-time in over 80 languages. This allows you to communicate in almost any situation. The app requires an internet connection to work and features a simple interface. 

It also includes personalization features, such as saving custom sound notifications and transcripts for three days. However, some users have reported inaccuracies in their transcriptions and highlighted that the app works better for in-person conversations in close proximity to the microphone rather than distant chatter, live announcements or lectures/meetings. 

  1. Live Transcribe+

Live Transcribe is another solution that can easily transcribe your speech to text in real-time with high accuracy. It supports 60+ languages. Easy access allows you to dictate on the mic and convert the voice to text using dictation or Bluetooth headphones in noisy environments.

The app is simple to use and includes personalized features, such as light and dark modes, to improve readability and the ability to export text after dictation for added convenience.

The app requires a paid subscription to access the "Live Transcribe + Full Access" functionality, with monthly and yearly auto-renewable subscriptions.

In Review

Nagish:

  • Highly Customizable Experience: Personalized features ensure you can tailor the app to your specific needs.
  • Privacy and Security: The FCC certification and Nagish’s commitment to privacy and security provide a trustworthy platform for all your communication needs.
  • Bluetooth Connectivity: Enables seamless integration with personal hearing aids, enhancing the overall user experience for individuals with hearing loss.

Google Live Transcribe:

  • Wide Language Support: Google Live Transcribe covers over 80 languages.
  • User-Reported Feedback: Users have reported inaccuracies in transcriptions.

Live Transcribe+:

  • Real-Time Transcription: Real-time transcription with high accuracy.
  • Personalization Features: Offers light and dark modes and the ability to export text for added convenience in managing transcripts.
  • Subscription Model: The app is not free, and features are available on a subscription-based model.

Conclusion

In conclusion, live transcribe apps represent an advancement in accessibility technology, particularly for deaf or hard of hearing individuals. As the technology evolves, you’ll continue to find even more diverse features catering to various user needs, from customization options to extensive language support. 

Beyond their utility in transcribing lectures and meetings, these apps hold immense potential in facilitating real-time communication in everyday scenarios, such as doctor appointments, restaurant interactions, and public announcements. 

Their integration with personal hearing aids and customizable settings further enhances usability for individuals with varying degrees of hearing loss. 

Continuing innovation in live transcribe technology promises even greater inclusivity and accessibility, empowering individuals in the hard of hearing communities to engage with the world around them fully.

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

Copywriter based in Miami, FL. Leads copywriting workshops and mentors women entrepreneurs at the Idea Center of Miami Dade College.

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

Nagish News
July 19, 2023
7 Min
19 Key Benefits and Features of Nagish
Hearing Loss
May 5, 2023
7 min
10 Best Speech-to-Text Apps For Android in 2025
Hearing Loss
July 31, 2023
6 Min
Best Apps for Seniors: Convenience, Longevity, and Entertainment
Big News: Nagish is now FCC-certified for IP Relay Services! 🎉  Read the announcement.

Top 3 Live Transcribe Apps

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.