Review · Hearing & audio
Apple Live Captions review
A built-in iPhone accessibility feature that captions spoken audio from apps, calls and the conversation around you.
By the HearSmart research desk · Updated November 7, 2026
- Performance (40%)
- 8.0
- Ease of use (25%)
- 9.2
- Value (35%)
- 9.8
Live Captions is the easiest place to start for iPhone users, because it is already on the phone. Turn it on in Settings under Accessibility, and the iPhone transcribes spoken audio in apps such as FaceTime or Podcasts, on phone calls, or from the microphone when someone is talking to you. You can change the text size and color, drag the caption window around, make it full screen or hide it. For calls, Apple lets you keep captions for 1 minute, which clears them when the call ends, or 1 hour, which lets you copy or screenshot the transcript but plays a short announcement that the call is being transcribed. The limits are clear in Apple's own guide: it needs an iPhone 11 or later, it is not available in all languages or regions, and accuracy may vary, so Apple says not to rely on it in high-risk or emergency situations. For important calls, a captioned telephone app with human backup is safer.
Who it is for
iPhone owners who want captions for FaceTime, calls and nearby speech without installing an app.
Price
Built into iOS on iPhone 11 or later (USD check pending).
US price check pending. See the vendor pricing page.
Key features
- Real-time transcription of spoken audio in any app, such as FaceTime or Podcasts
- Microphone mode for live conversations around you
- Captions on phone calls, with a choice to keep call captions for 1 minute or 1 hour
- Customizable text, size and color
- Movable, full-screen or hidden caption window
Strengths and weaknesses
- Strength: Nothing to install on iPhone 11 or later
- Strength: Works system-wide across apps and calls
- Strength: No account or eligibility check
- Weakness: Apple says accuracy may vary and it should not be relied on in high-risk or emergency situations
- Weakness: Not available in all languages, countries or regions
- Weakness: Keeping call captions for 1 hour plays an announcement to everyone on the call
Key facts
- Requirement: iPhone 11 or later
- Setup: Settings, Accessibility, Live Captions
- Sources: App audio, calls, microphone
- Call caption retention: 1 minute or 1 hour
- Price: Included with iOS
Where it ranks
Apple Live Captions is No. 4 in our Best Captioning Apps verdict.
Alternatives we scored
Visit apple.com · Questions or corrections: editorial@hearsmart.org