InnoCaption review

InnoCaption is the strongest call captioning app because it gives you a choice most rivals do not: during any call you can switch between a live stenographer and automated speech recognition. That matters for a call with a doctor, a bank or an insurer, where a misheard number causes real trouble. Mezmo, the developer, says the service is free to eligible users in the United States through the FCC's Telecommunications Relay Services Fund. The app works like a regular dialer, captions both incoming and outgoing calls, and uses One Number technology so you can keep your own phone number. Recent updates add a Custom Word List for names and technical terms and a picture-in-picture window that keeps captions on screen while you use other apps. Typed replies are spoken with text-to-speech, and AI Refine turns short replies into full sentences. Saved transcripts, captioned voicemail and AI summaries round it out. It is a phone tool, though, so pair it with a separate app for face-to-face talk.

Who it is for

People in the US with hearing loss who want the most accurate captions on important phone calls.

Price

Free to eligible US users, funded by the FCC's TRS Fund.

InnoCaption: Call Captioning Live Captions for Phone Calls Free
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 7, 2026.

Key features

• Switch between live stenographers and automated speech recognition captions at any time during a call
• Captions on incoming and outgoing calls, including 3-way calls
• One Number technology so you keep your existing phone number
• Custom Word List for names and specialized terms
• Captioned voicemail, saved transcripts and AI summaries of call transcripts

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: The only app here that offers human stenographers on demand
• Strength: No cost to eligible users in the United States
• Strength: 4.7 average from about 13,000 US App Store ratings
• Weakness: Only for registered US users with hearing loss
• Weakness: Built for phone calls, not in-person conversation
• Weakness: Needs a cellular data plan or Wi-Fi

Key facts

• Caption source: Live stenographers or ASR, switchable
• Platform: iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch
• App Store rating: 4.7 from about 13,000 ratings
• 911 calls: Yes, with captions
• Price: Free for eligible US users

Where it ranks

InnoCaption is No. 1 in our Best Captioning Apps verdict.