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

Smartphones have become an integral part of our daily routines, from connecting with friends and family to ordering food. But smartphones for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals, these devices 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.

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.

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

For iPhone users:

• 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, 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. 

For Android users:

• 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.

The 10 Most Useful Apps for Pople Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing 

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

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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 and save transcripts for later review.

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.

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).

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!

Additional Resources

Additional Resources

Here are three community resources where individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing can connect, share experiences, discuss app recommendations, and provide support for using technology:

Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) Community Forum

The HLAA Community Forum is an online space provided by the Hearing Loss Association of America. It serves as a supportive platform where individuals with hearing loss, including those who are deaf or hard of hearing, can share their experiences, ask questions, and discuss various topics related to hearing loss and technology. The forum covers a wide range of subjects, including app recommendations, assistive technology, and communication strategies.

AllDeaf Forum

AllDeaf is a popular online community that brings together individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. The forum allows members to connect, share stories, and discuss various topics, including technology and apps that enhance communication. It's a diverse community where users can seek advice, exchange information about helpful apps, and offer support to one another.

HearingTracker Community

HearingTracker is a platform focusing on hearing-related discussions, including hearing aids, cochlear implants, and assistive technologies. The community forum allows users to ask questions, share insights, and explore topics related to hearing health and technology. Individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing can find valuable discussions on apps and devices that can improve their communication experiences.

These community resources provide a supportive environment for individuals to connect, learn from each other, and stay informed about the latest developments in assistive technology.

If you found this article helpful, share it with a friend who might also benefit!