Captio AI vs Tolkcontact

Tolk op afstand connects you with a Sign Language of the Netherlands interpreter by video, without an appointment, seven days a week from 7:00 to 22:00, for up to 20 minutes per conversation. Sign language calls through KPN Teletolk run at the same hours.

Sources: Tolk op afstand (remote interpreter) in the app (Tolkcontact), Tolkcontact app FAQ, KPN Teletolk in the Tolkcontact app (Tolkcontact)

With Tolk op afstand, a Sign Language of the Netherlands (NGT) interpreter joins by video when you're with a hearing person, in sign language, not text. For live text you book a writing interpreter (schrijftolk) through mijn.tolkcontact.nl, who types everything said onto a tablet, in person or by video. Writing interpreters can't be called on the spot through the app.

Sources: Tolk op afstand (remote interpreter) in the app (Tolkcontact), Booking a writing interpreter (schrijftolk) (Tolkcontact), Tolkcontact app FAQ

Through KPN Teletolk you call and get called in text (24 hours a day) or Sign Language of the Netherlands (7:00 to 22:00), and can also speak yourself; an operator voices what you type or sign and turns the reply into text or sign language. You get a personal 085 number. 112 can be called by voice or text, answered in text.

Sources: KPN Teletolk in the Tolkcontact app (Tolkcontact), Dutch App Store listing (Apple App Store), Calling 112 with the Tolkcontact app (Tolkcontact)

You can video call other people who have the app, and KPN Teletolk relays calls in sign language by video.

Sources: Tolkcontact app for employers, KPN Teletolk in the Tolkcontact app (Tolkcontact)

Health insurers pay for the app. Interpreters are paid from interpreting hours granted by UWV: 30 a year for private situations (168 if deafblind), 15% of working time for employees, and 1,000 a year at school or in higher education (1,600 in MBO), funded by three ministries. In private situations the first 15 hours of remote interpreting cost one hour per three.

Sources: Tolkcontact app: costs and reimbursement, Interpreting hours: who pays (Tolkcontact), UWV: writing or sign language interpreter, UWV: interpreting hours for private situations, What Tolkcontact does (Tolkcontact)

Every Dutch health insurer covers the app for deaf and hard of hearing people, with no eigen risico, most from 35 dB of hearing loss. Through an employer it costs €250 a year excl. VAT (the employer page says €20.66 a month per employee). Without interpreting hours a remote interpreter is billed at 130% of the normal rate; booking through Tolkcontact costs €82 per booking plus €81.61 an hour (excl. VAT, 2026).

Sources: Tolkcontact app: costs and reimbursement, Tolkcontact app for employers, Tolkcontact app FAQ, Interpreters without interpreting hours (Tolkcontact)

You request an account at tolkcontact.nl/app, or activate it with one click if you have mijn.tolkcontact.nl through UWV interpreting hours. The application asks for name, address, date of birth and citizen service number (BSN), and the insurer needs proof of deafness such as an audiogram or a GP's letter.

Sources: Requesting the Tolkcontact app (Tolkcontact), Tolkcontact app: costs and reimbursement, Berengroep privacy statement (Tolkcontact), UWV: writing or sign language interpreter

The app is for deaf and hard of hearing people in the Netherlands, with Dutch interpreters only. Tolk op afstand works anywhere in Europe, Tolkcontact says, and may not work outside it.

Sources: What you can do with the Tolkcontact app (Tolkcontact), Tolkcontact app FAQ, Dutch App Store listing (Apple App Store)

Interpreters work in Sign Language of the Netherlands (NGT), Sign Supported Dutch (NmG) and spoken Dutch; for another language the interpreter decides. The app is in Dutch only.

Sources: Tolkcontact app FAQ, What you can do with the Tolkcontact app (Tolkcontact), Dutch App Store listing (Apple App Store)

A writing interpreter's text shows what is said and by whom. Tolkcontact says remote interpreting suits meetings with many people less well, because the interpreter can't see who is talking.

Sources: What sign language and writing interpreters do (Tolkcontact), Tolkcontact app FAQ

Writing interpreters write who said each thing. The app itself shows no speaker labels; it connects you to people.

Source: What sign language and writing interpreters do (Tolkcontact)

Not on Tolkcontact's pages.

Not on Tolkcontact's pages.

Writing interpreters type what can be heard around you, such as a phone beeping or someone sneezing. Tolkcontact's pages mention no sound alerts in the app.

Sources: Booking a writing interpreter (schrijftolk) (Tolkcontact), What sign language and writing interpreters do (Tolkcontact)

Interpreters have a professional code and a duty of confidentiality, and you may not record a Tolk op afstand session without Tolkcontact's explicit permission.

Source: Tolkcontact app FAQ

Every service in the app is a live connection to a person, and Tolkcontact says the app needs Wi-Fi or mobile internet.

Source: Tolk op afstand (remote interpreter) in the app (Tolkcontact)

Tolkcontact says the app runs on Android phones and tablets, iPhones and iPads, and Windows computers, laptops and tablets.

Sources: Installing the Tolkcontact app (Tolkcontact), Dutch App Store listing (Apple App Store), Google Play listing