Captio AI

Captio AI vs CaptionMate

Captio AI vs CaptionMate: free FCC phone-call captions in the US vs live captions for people in the room, languages, translation, transcripts and price.

Facts checked on each company's own pages. How we compare

CaptionMate

by Mezmo

iPhone, iPad, Android

WebsiteApp StoreGoogle Play
vs

Captio AI

Our app

iPhone, iPad, Android

WebsiteApp StoreGoogle Play

The short answer

Use CaptionMate if you live in the US and need captions on phone calls: it is free through the FCC for eligible users, captions both sides of a call and covers more than 100 languages. Use Captio AI for conversations with people in the same room, which CaptionMate says it can't be used for, or if you live outside the US. They do different jobs, so in the US you may want both: one for calls, one for the room, where on iPhone Captio AI can show who is talking by name.

Choose CaptionMate if

you live in the US and need free captions on phone calls and voicemail, on your own number, in one of more than 100 languages.

Choose Captio AI if

you need captions for people in the same room, want to see where a voice comes from (iPhone 16 and later), need live translation or recordings you can summarise, or you live outside the US.

Side by side

Captio AI vs CaptionMate, feature by feature

Tap any fact to see the details and the page it comes from.

Captio AI vs CaptionMate: features compared, facts checked 28 October 2026
Works onCaptio AI
Yes: iPhone, iPad, Android

On the App Store (also listed for Apple silicon Macs and Apple Vision) and on Google Play since October 2026.

Sources: Apple App Store listing, Google Play listing

CaptionMate
Yes: iPhone, iPad, Android

On the App Store for iPhone and iPad (also listed for Apple Vision) and on Google Play for phones and tablets. One account can be signed in on several devices. The CaptionMate web app was retired; the company points computer users to InnoCaption Web.

Sources: Apple App Store listing, Google Play listing, Use CaptionMate on multiple devices (CaptionMate Help Center), CaptionMate web app notice (CaptionMate (Mezmo Corporation))

Where it's availableCaptio AI
Yes: Worldwide

Available on the App Store and Google Play; prices differ by country.

Sources: Apple App Store listing, Google Play listing

CaptionMate
Partly: US and US territories only

Only for eligible users based in the US or a US territory such as Puerto Rico or Guam, with a US cell number, home address and SSN. The app was not found in the UK, Canada or Mexico App Stores.

Sources: CaptionMate availability outside of the United States (CaptionMate Help Center), CaptionMate eligibility and why it's free (CaptionMate Help Center), App Store data (UK) (Apple)

Captions phone callsCaptio AI
No

Made for in-person speech picked up by the microphone, not for captioning phone calls.

Source: Live Captions (Captio AI)

CaptionMate
Yes, calls and voicemail

Captions both sides of incoming and outgoing calls on your own number through call forwarding, and voicemail as text (no audio). You can call numbers outside the US. The privacy policy describes how 911 calls are handled. Text messages aren't covered.

Sources: CaptionMate website (CaptionMate (Mezmo Corporation)), Apple App Store listing, How to view and delete voicemail messages (CaptionMate Help Center), International phone calls (CaptionMate Help Center), Text messages and CaptionMate (CaptionMate Help Center), CaptionMate (Mezmo Corporation) privacy policy

Captions video callsCaptio AI
No

It is not a video-call captioning service.

Source: Live Captions (Captio AI)

CaptionMate
Partly: Dial-in by phone; no FaceTime

You can dial into a video conference or online meeting by phone. The app can't caption FaceTime calls; the company points to its sister app, InnoCaption Video.

Sources: Apple App Store listing, In-person Captioning (CaptionMate Help Center), Get captions for FaceTime calls (CaptionMate Help Center)

Captions people in the roomCaptio AI
Yes, from the phone's microphone

Speech in the room appears as text while the person is still talking.

Sources: Apple App Store listing, Live Captions (Captio AI)

CaptionMate
No, phone calls only

CaptionMate says it can't be used when both people are in the same room. It is paid for by a federal relay fund, and using it instead of an in-person captioner is against the law.

Source: In-person Captioning (CaptionMate Help Center)

Human captionersCaptio AI
No

Captions are automatic.

Source: Live Captions (Captio AI)

CaptionMate
No, AI captions only

CaptionMate says its captions are 100% AI and it does not use human stenographers. InnoCaption, from the same company, also offers live stenographers.

Sources: Call confidentiality (CaptionMate Help Center), How to save custom words or phrases (CaptionMate Help Center), CaptionMate Joins the InnoCaption Family (CaptionMate (Mezmo Corporation))

Languages for live captionsCaptio AI
Yes: 60+ languages

Captions and translation in 60+ languages, including speech that switches languages mid-sentence.

Sources: Apple App Store listing, Live Captions (Captio AI)

CaptionMate
Yes: 100+ languages (AI captions)

You pick the languages you want and can switch during a call. The app's menus come in English, Spanish, Vietnamese and Chinese. The About page says 150+ languages; the home page uses 150+ for the app's menus.

Sources: Languages available for captioning (CaptionMate Help Center), CaptionMate website (CaptionMate (Mezmo Corporation)), Apple App Store listing, Change the CaptionMate app to a different language (CaptionMate Help Center)

Live translationCaptio AI
Yes, live, two-way mode

Live translation next to the original captions, with a two-way mode where each person reads the other in their own language.

Sources: Apple App Store listing, Live Translator (Captio AI)

CaptionMate
No

Captions match the language spoken on the call. CaptionMate says it can't translate speech from one language to another.

Source: Languages available for captioning (CaptionMate Help Center)

Live captions without internetCaptio AI
Partly: Records offline, captions later

Live captions need internet. Without a connection it keeps recording and transcribes automatically when the phone is back online.

Sources: Apple App Store listing, Live Captions (Captio AI)

CaptionMate
No, needs internet

Calls connect over Wi-Fi or mobile data, so the app needs an internet connection.

Source: CaptionMate data usage (CaptionMate Help Center)

Shows who is talkingCaptio AI
Yes, live and saved; names by voice on iPhone

Separates speakers (Speaker 1, Speaker 2). On iPhone it can learn saved voices and show their names instead.

Sources: Apple App Store listing, Recognize voices (Captio AI) (Captio AI), Live Captions (Captio AI)

CaptionMate
Partly: Both sides of a call

It captions what you say and what the other person says, so you can read the whole call. Nothing is described for groups in the room.

Sources: CaptionMate website (CaptionMate (Mezmo Corporation)), Apple App Store listing, About CaptionMate (CaptionMate (Mezmo Corporation))

Remembers people's voicesCaptio AI
Yes, Recognize Voices (iPhone)

Save someone's voice once (about 20 seconds of talking, or an audio file) and their name and emoji show on every line they say, live and in saved recordings, instead of "Speaker 2". Voiceprints are made on the iPhone and never uploaded. When someone new talks for a while, Captio AI asks who it is. Free plan: your own voice plus one other person; Plus: more people.

Source: Recognize voices (Captio AI) (Captio AI)

CaptionMate
Not stated
Shows where a voice comes fromCaptio AI
Yes, on iPhone 16 and later

With the iPhone flat on the table, a wave grows at the edge of the captions on the side the voice comes from, in that speaker's colour, while new words appear. It uses the iPhone's spatial microphones (not AirPods or an external mic), works in Live Captions and Live Translator, is calculated on the phone, and is free.

Source: Speaker direction (Captio AI) (Captio AI)

CaptionMate
Not stated
Alerts for soundsCaptio AI
Yes, sounds in the captions; alerts vibrate

Recognize Sounds (iPhone and iPad) writes sounds into the captions where they happen, like [doorbell rings], in Live Captions, Live Translator and uploaded files. A doorbell, knocking, a smoke alarm, a siren, a phone ringing or a baby crying makes the phone vibrate, with a notification when the screen is locked during a recording. It works while Captio AI is recording, not as an always-on alarm. Recognized on the phone; free; not on Android yet.

Source: Recognize sounds (Captio AI) (Captio AI)

CaptionMate
Not stated

No alerts for sounds around you are described.

Saves transcriptsCaptio AI
Yes, with audio, synced

Recordings are saved with their audio in a searchable library and synced to your account.

Sources: Apple App Store listing, Captio AI privacy policy

CaptionMate
Yes, on the device only

Each call's transcript is saved on the device used for the call. Transcripts aren't stored on CaptionMate's servers or synced to your other devices, and deleting the app deletes them.

Sources: View and delete call transcripts (CaptionMate Help Center), Use CaptionMate on multiple devices (CaptionMate Help Center)

AI summariesCaptio AI
Yes: Summary, key points, to-dos

Turns transcripts into summaries, key points, notes, to-dos and follow-up messages. Free plan: 3 summaries in total.

Sources: Apple App Store listing, AI Summary (Captio AI)

CaptionMate
Not stated

No CaptionMate page mentions AI summaries of calls.

Where speech is processedCaptio AI
Yes: Cloud; audio not stored on its servers

Speech is processed by third-party speech recognition after you agree. Audio is not stored on Captio AI's servers; content is never sold or used to train AI models.

Source: Captio AI privacy policy

CaptionMate
Yes: Cloud; call audio not kept after the call

Call audio is sent to servers in the US, some run by third parties, and discarded when the call ends. CaptionMate says no call audio is logged for machine learning and only you can read your transcripts.

Sources: CaptionMate (Mezmo Corporation) privacy policy, Call confidentiality (CaptionMate Help Center), CaptionMate website (CaptionMate (Mezmo Corporation))

Account neededCaptio AI
Partly: Optional

Sign in with Apple or Google to sync, or skip and use it on one phone.

Source: Captio AI privacy policy

CaptionMate
Yes; name, DOB, last 4 of SSN

Registration asks for your full name, date of birth, last four digits of your SSN, home address and cell number, for the FCC's relay fund. No doctor's or audiologist's statement is needed.

Sources: Personal information required for registration (CaptionMate Help Center), CaptionMate eligibility and why it's free (CaptionMate Help Center)

Free through a government programmeCaptio AI
No

No government funding programme; see captioai.app/organizations for licences through an organisation.

Source: Captio AI for organizations

CaptionMate
Yes, FCC (IP CTS)

The FCC lists Mezmo Corporation (dba CaptionMate) with full certification for IP captioned telephone service. The service is paid from the federal TRS Fund.

Sources: Internet-Based TRS Providers (Federal Communications Commission), CaptionMate eligibility and why it's free (CaptionMate Help Center)

Free planCaptio AI
Yes: 100 free credits a day + 3 summaries

Free every day: 100 free credits a day for live captions or transcription, and 3 AI summaries in total.

Sources: Apple App Store listing, Captio AI for AI assistants (llms.txt)

CaptionMate
Yes: Free for eligible US users

Free for eligible people who are deaf or hard of hearing and need captions on phone calls, paid from the FCC's relay fund. Your phone plan's data and call charges still apply.

Sources: CaptionMate eligibility and why it's free (CaptionMate Help Center), CaptionMate terms (CaptionMate (Mezmo Corporation)), CaptionMate website (CaptionMate (Mezmo Corporation))

Paid plansCaptio AI
Yes: US$14.99/month or US$79.99/year

Captio AI Plus on the US App Store, October 2026. No free trial. Prices differ by country.

Source: Apple App Store listing

CaptionMate
No paid plans

Free on the App Store with no in-app purchases (US App Store, October 2026).

Sources: Apple App Store listing, App Store data (US) (Apple)

Key differences

What actually sets them apart

Can you use CaptionMate for in-person conversations?

No. CaptionMate says it can't be used when both people are in the same room, and that using it instead of an in-person captioner is against the law. Captio AI is made for that: it captions speech around you through the phone's microphone.

Sources: In-person Captioning (CaptionMate Help Center), Apple App Store listing, Live Captions (Captio AI)

Does Captio AI caption phone calls like CaptionMate?

No. CaptionMate captions both sides of incoming and outgoing calls on your own number, and turns voicemail into text. Captio AI is made for speech in the room and does not caption phone or video calls, so the two do different jobs.

Sources: CaptionMate website (CaptionMate (Mezmo Corporation)), Apple App Store listing, How to view and delete voicemail messages (CaptionMate Help Center), International phone calls (CaptionMate Help Center), Text messages and CaptionMate (CaptionMate Help Center), CaptionMate (Mezmo Corporation) privacy policy, Live Captions (Captio AI)

Is CaptionMate the same as InnoCaption?

No, but the same company runs both. InnoCaption bought CaptionMate in November 2024 and keeps it as a separate service. CaptionMate's captions are 100% AI, in more than 100 languages, with no human stenographers; InnoCaption also offers live stenographers. CaptionMate's web app was retired, and computer users are pointed to InnoCaption Web.

Sources: CaptionMate Joins the InnoCaption Family (CaptionMate (Mezmo Corporation)), Call confidentiality (CaptionMate Help Center), How to save custom words or phrases (CaptionMate Help Center), Languages available for captioning (CaptionMate Help Center), CaptionMate website (CaptionMate (Mezmo Corporation)), Apple App Store listing, Change the CaptionMate app to a different language (CaptionMate Help Center), CaptionMate web app notice (CaptionMate (Mezmo Corporation))

Can either one translate?

Captio AI translates conversations live, next to the original captions, in 60+ languages. CaptionMate captions calls in more than 100 languages, but only in the language being spoken: it says it can't translate.

Sources: Apple App Store listing, Live Translator (Captio AI), Live Captions (Captio AI), Languages available for captioning (CaptionMate Help Center), CaptionMate website (CaptionMate (Mezmo Corporation)), Apple App Store listing, Change the CaptionMate app to a different language (CaptionMate Help Center)

Can you use CaptionMate outside the US?

No. It is for eligible users based in the US or a US territory, with a US cell number, home address and Social Security number. From the US you can still call numbers abroad. Captio AI is available worldwide on the App Store and Google Play, and an account is optional.

Sources: CaptionMate availability outside of the United States (CaptionMate Help Center), CaptionMate eligibility and why it's free (CaptionMate Help Center), App Store data (UK) (Apple), International phone calls (CaptionMate Help Center), Apple App Store listing, Google Play listing, Captio AI privacy policy

What does each one cost?

CaptionMate is free for eligible US users, paid from the FCC's relay fund, and has no paid plans. Captio AI is free with 100 free credits a day; Captio AI Plus costs US$14.99 a month or US$79.99 a year on the US App Store (October 2026).

Sources: CaptionMate eligibility and why it's free (CaptionMate Help Center), CaptionMate terms (CaptionMate (Mezmo Corporation)), CaptionMate website (CaptionMate (Mezmo Corporation)), Apple App Store listing, App Store data (US) (Apple), Apple App Store listing, Captio AI for AI assistants (llms.txt)

Honest take

Where each one wins

Where CaptionMate is the better choice

Where Captio AI is the better choice

  • It captions people in the same room, which CaptionMate says its FCC-funded service may not be used for.

    Sources: Apple App Store listing, Live Captions (Captio AI), In-person Captioning (CaptionMate Help Center)

  • Recognize Voices (iPhone): save someone's voice once and their name shows on every line they say, like "Mum" instead of "Speaker 2", live and in saved recordings. Voiceprints stay on the iPhone.

    Source: Recognize voices (Captio AI) (Captio AI)

  • Speaker Direction (iPhone 16 and later): with the phone flat on the table, a wave at the edge of the captions shows which side the voice comes from, so you know whose face to look at.

    Source: Speaker direction (Captio AI) (Captio AI)

  • Recognize Sounds (iPhone and iPad): sounds around you are written into the captions where they happen, like "[doorbell rings]", and kept in the saved recording. A doorbell, a smoke alarm or a baby crying also makes the phone vibrate while Captio AI is recording.

    Source: Recognize sounds (Captio AI) (Captio AI)

  • It translates conversations live in 60+ languages, keeps recordings with their audio, syncs them, and writes summaries and to-dos. It works outside the US, and you can use it without an account.

    Sources: Apple App Store listing, Live Translator (Captio AI), Live Captions (Captio AI), Captio AI privacy policy, AI Summary (Captio AI), Google Play listing

Try Captio AI free

Download on theApp StoreGet it onGoogle Play
Which one should you use?

It depends on where you are

CaptionMate

Calling your doctor, bank or pharmacy

In the US, CaptionMate captions both sides of the call for free if you are eligible. Captio AI doesn't caption calls.

Captions for this situation
Captio AI

A doctor's appointment in person

CaptionMate can't be used with both people in the room. Captio AI captions the appointment and keeps the recording.

Captions for this situation
CaptionMate

A Zoom or Teams meeting

With CaptionMate you can dial into the meeting by phone and read the captions. Captio AI doesn't caption video calls.

Captio AI

A family dinner or a group

Captio AI captions the table and labels each speaker. On iPhone it names the people whose voices you saved, and on iPhone 16 and later it shows which side a voice comes from. CaptionMate is for calls only.

Captions for this situation
Captio AI

A class or lecture

CaptionMate can't caption people in the same room. Captio AI captions the lecture and turns it into notes.

Captions for this situation
Captio AI

Living outside the US

CaptionMate is only for users based in the US and its territories. Captio AI works worldwide and translates conversations live.

Captions for this situation
How we compare

Facts you can check, not opinions.

From their own pages

Every fact comes from the company's website, help pages, privacy policy or store listing. Tap any fact to see the page it comes from.

Checked 28 October 2026

Each source has the date we opened it. If a company doesn't say something publicly, the table says "Not stated" instead of guessing.

We make Captio AI

So it's described with the same rules as every other app, limits included, and each page says where the other app is the better choice.

Something out of date? hello@captioai.app

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is CaptionMate free?

Yes, for eligible people in the US who are deaf or hard of hearing and need captions to understand phone calls. The FCC pays for it through the TRS Fund, and no doctor's note is needed; your phone plan's data charges still apply. Captio AI, for conversations in the room, is free with 100 free credits a day in any country, and Captio AI Plus removes the limit.

Is CaptionMate the same as InnoCaption?

No, but the same company runs both. InnoCaption bought CaptionMate in November 2024 and keeps it as a separate service. CaptionMate's captions are AI only, in more than 100 languages; InnoCaption also offers live stenographers. Both caption phone calls. Captio AI is a different kind of app: it captions people in the same room.

Can I use CaptionMate for in-person conversations or at a doctor's appointment?

No. CaptionMate says it can't be used when both people are in the same room, and that using it instead of an in-person captioner is against the law. For an appointment in person, a live caption app such as Captio AI captions the conversation through the phone's microphone.

Does CaptionMate caption calls in Spanish, Chinese or Vietnamese?

Yes. CaptionMate captions calls in more than 100 languages, and its menus can be shown in Spanish, Vietnamese or Chinese. Captions stay in the language being spoken: it doesn't translate. Captio AI captions conversations in the room in 60+ languages, including Spanish, and translates them live.

Can I use CaptionMate in Canada or the UK?

No. It is for eligible users based in the US or a US territory such as Puerto Rico or Guam, with a US cell number, home address and Social Security number. Captio AI is available worldwide.

Does CaptionMate work with FaceTime or Zoom?

Not FaceTime: CaptionMate says its app can't caption FaceTime calls and points to its sister app, InnoCaption Video. You can dial into a Zoom or other video meeting by phone through CaptionMate; its web app has been retired. Captio AI doesn't caption FaceTime or Zoom calls either: it is made for speech in the room.

Are CaptionMate call transcripts saved?

Yes, on the phone you used for the call. They aren't stored on CaptionMate's servers or synced to your other devices, and deleting the app deletes them, so send important ones to your email first. Captio AI saves recordings with their audio in a searchable library and syncs them to your account if you sign in.

Do I need both CaptionMate and Captio AI?

If you live in the US, you may: a call-caption service like CaptionMate for phone calls, and a live caption app like Captio AI for people in the same room. At a family dinner, Captio AI on iPhone can show who is talking by name, and on iPhone 16 and later which side the voice comes from. They do different jobs, and CaptionMate's service may not be used for in-person conversations.

Try Captio AI

Free to start, iPhone and Android

Compare

More comparisons

Captio AI vs InnoCaption

US phone-call caption app with live stenographers or automatic captions, free through the FCC for eligible people with hearing loss.

Captio AI vs Rylo (formerly Nagish)

US phone-call caption app, free through the FCC for eligible users, with free in-person captions (Live Transcribe) and a desktop app for video calls.

Captio AI vs Rogervoice

French app that captions phone calls in real time for deaf and hard of hearing people; since October 2026 it also captions in-person conversations.

All comparisons

Sources

Every page this comparison uses, with the date we checked it.

Captio AI

CaptionMate

Published 28 October 2026. App names and trademarks belong to their owners. This page is not affiliated with or endorsed by the companies it compares.