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iScribe vs RogerVoice: Which App Is Better for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Users? (2026)
Two apps. Both free. Both built for deaf and hard of hearing people.
But they solve very different problems.
RogerVoice is a captioned phone call app. iScribe is a live transcription app for in-person conversations.
Before you download either one, this guide will show you exactly what each app does, where each one wins, and which one you actually need.
- Written by: karishma Rautela
- Review by: Mahipal Dosad
RogerVoice vs iScribe - Full Comparison
| Feature | RogerVoice | iScribe |
|---|---|---|
| Captions phone calls | Yes | No |
| Captions in-person conversations | No | Yes |
| Live real-time captions | Yes | Yes |
| AI conversation summary | No | Yes |
| Flip screen mode | No | Yes |
| Visual voicemail | Yes | No |
| Upload audio files | No | Yes |
| Languages supported | 100+ | 100+ |
| Requires internet | Yes | Yes |
| E911 emergency captions | Yes (US only) | No |
| 100% private, no server storage | Yes | Yes |
| Works outside US | Yes (paid plans) | Yes |
| Hearing aid Bluetooth support | Not specified | Yes |
| Requires registration | Yes (SSN required, US) | No |
| Price (US) | Free (FCC-funded) | 7-day free trial, then subscription |
What Is RogerVoice?
RogerVoice is a real-time call captioning app for iPhone and Android.
It was founded in 2014 by Olivier Jeannel, who has been profoundly deaf since the age of two. He built RogerVoice because he wanted deaf and hard of hearing people to make phone calls independently – without relay operators, without interpreters, without asking someone else for help.
In April 2026, RogerVoice officially launched US operations and surpassed 10 million captioned calls across 100 languages in over 50 countries. It is now FCC-certified, meaning eligible US users with hearing loss can use it completely free.
What RogerVoice Can Do
- Real-time captions on phone calls – words appear as the other person speaks
- Keep your existing phone number – no complicated setup
- Two-sided captions – both sides of the conversation appear on screen
- Text-to-speech – type your reply and the app speaks it for you in multiple voice profiles
- Quick responses – save custom phrases for fast replies during calls
- Visual voicemail – read transcriptions of voicemail messages
- Call search history – find past conversations easily
- E911 compatible – emergency calls with live captions and location services (US only)
- Supports over 100 languages – make international calls to over 50 countries
- 100% private – no audio or transcripts stored on servers; everything stays on your device
- Customizable display – high-contrast modes, dark/light themes, extra-large fonts
- App-to-app calling – hearing friends and family can download RogerVoice and read captions as they speak
- Works on iPhone, Android, and supports FaceTime captioning
RogerVoice Pricing
For eligible US residents with hearing loss, RogerVoice is free. It is FCC-certified and funded through the Telephone Relay Service (TRS) program. You need a US Social Security Number and address to register.
For users outside the United States, RogerVoice offers paid plans. A 2-hour credit valid for one year is available for occasional callers. Monthly subscriptions are available for regular use.
What Is iScribe?
iScribe is a live transcription app for in-person conversations on iPhone and iPad.
When someone is talking to you in the same room – a doctor, a teacher, a friend – iScribe converts their speech into text on your screen. Right now. As they speak.
It was built specifically for deaf and hard of hearing people who need to follow face-to-face conversations, lectures, meetings, and everyday interactions.
What iScribe Can Do
- Live captions for in-person conversations – text appears word by word as someone speaks
- No session time limit – transcribes as long as the conversation continues
- AI-powered summary after every session – key points, decisions, and action items
- Supports 100+ languages
- Flip screen – rotate text 180 degrees so the person across from you can read your phone
- Adjustable text size, font, and color contrast for easier reading
- Save and export full transcripts – PDF, text file, or share to any app
- Upload audio and video files – get a full transcript with AI summary
- Works on iPhone and iPad
iScribe Pricing
iScribe offers a 7-day free trial with full access to all features. After the trial, a subscription is required. Weekly and annual plans are available.
The Core Difference Between RogerVoice and iScribe
This is the most important thing to understand:
RogerVoice captions your phone calls. iScribe captions in-person conversations.
They were built for different situations. They do not compete – they cover different parts of daily life.
RogerVoice answers: “How do I understand what someone is saying on the phone?”
iScribe answers: “How do I understand what someone is saying right in front of me?”
Where RogerVoice Wins
Phone Call Captions – RogerVoice Wins
This is what RogerVoice was built for, and nothing else in this comparison does it.
When you make or receive a phone call, RogerVoice shows you real-time captions of exactly what the other person is saying. Word for word. As they speak.
iScribe cannot caption phone calls. It uses your device’s microphone for in-person audio only.
If captioned phone calls are what you need, RogerVoice is the answer.
Text-to-Speech – RogerVoice Wins
RogerVoice has a full text-to-speech feature. During a call, you can type your reply and the app reads it aloud to the other person. Multiple voice profiles – male and female – are available.
You can also save custom phrases like “Please hold on” or “Can you repeat that?” for quick one-tap responses.
iScribe has a flip screen so others can read your phone, but it cannot speak replies aloud during a call.
Works Outside the US – RogerVoice Partial Win
RogerVoice is free for eligible US users and available via paid plans for users outside the United States. It supports international calls to over 50 countries in 100+ languages.
iScribe also works internationally but requires a paid subscription for everyone.
If you are outside the US and making international calls, RogerVoice’s paid international plans may be worth comparing depending on your usage.
Privacy – Both Apps Win, RogerVoice Emphasizes It More
RogerVoice stores no audio or transcripts on its servers. Everything stays on your device only. No third party is ever involved in your calls.
iScribe also keeps your data private and does not share transcripts with third parties.
Both apps take privacy seriously. RogerVoice is particularly vocal about it because phone call privacy is a sensitive area for many deaf users who previously had to rely on relay operators.
App-to-App Calling – RogerVoice Only
RogerVoice allows your hearing friends and family to download the app and join captioned calls together. They can read what they are saying in real time as they speak.
This is a unique social feature that makes group calls more inclusive. iScribe does not have this type of shared captioning for calls.
Where iScribe Wins
In-Person Conversations – iScribe Wins
You are at a medical appointment. You are in class. You are having coffee with a friend.
RogerVoice cannot help here. It was built for phone calls only.
iScribe puts live captions on your screen as the person in front of you speaks. It works for any in-person conversation without needing a phone number, a call setup, or registration.
For everyday face-to-face communication – which is where most deaf and hard of hearing people struggle most – iScribe is the right tool.
AI Summary – iScribe Wins
After every conversation, iScribe automatically creates an AI-powered summary. It pulls out the key points, main decisions, and action items so you do not have to re-read the entire transcript.
RogerVoice saves call transcripts and voicemail transcriptions, but it does not generate an intelligent summary. You get the text – nothing more.
For a long doctor’s appointment, a class lecture, or a work meeting, iScribe’s summary is genuinely useful and saves time.
Flip Screen – iScribe Wins
iScribe has a flip screen feature. Tap it and the text rotates 180 degrees so the person sitting across from you can read your phone directly.
This makes face-to-face conversations natural – in shops, at pharmacies, at restaurants, in any situation where you are talking to someone in person.
RogerVoice has no flip screen because it was not designed for face-to-face use.
No Registration Required – iScribe Wins
To use RogerVoice in the US, you need to provide your Social Security Number and address to register with the FCC. This is required for FCC-funded services.
iScribe requires no registration at all. Download the app, start the free trial, and begin transcribing immediately.
Upload Audio and Video Files – iScribe Wins
iScribe lets you upload any recorded audio or video file and receive a full transcript plus AI summary.
This is useful for reviewing a recorded lecture, transcribing an interview, or getting the key points from a long meeting you could not attend live.
RogerVoice does not offer file upload transcription.
Real-Life Scenarios - Which App Do You Use?
Scenario 1: Calling Your Doctor to Book an Appointment
You need to call the clinic. The receptionist is listing available times and asking questions.
Use RogerVoice. Real-time captions of the call appear as the receptionist speaks. You can type your replies and the app speaks them a loud. Your number shows up as your own on the other end. No one knows you are using a captioning service.
iScribe cannot caption phone calls.
Scenario 2: At the Doctor’s Office – In Person
You are sitting across from the doctor. She is explaining a diagnosis and giving instructions.
Use iScribe. Live captions appear as she speaks. Use the flip screen so she can see your typed responses on your phone. The AI summary at the end gives you a clear recap to share with a family member.
RogerVoice only works for phone calls – it will not help here.
Scenario 3: A University Lecture – 90 Minutes
Your professor speaks for 90 minutes on a complex topic.
Use iScribe. Live captions appear continuously with no time limit. An AI summary of the key points is ready as soon as the lecture ends. Save the transcript to study from later. Works as long as you have a mobile data or Wi-Fi connection.
RogerVoice cannot caption in-person lectures.
Scenario 4: A Work Video Conference Call
Your team is on a video call. You need to follow what your colleagues are saying.
RogerVoice is the stronger choice here. It handles phone and VoIP call captioning with real-time accuracy. The visual voicemail feature also means you will not miss anything said before the call.
iScribe can pick up room audio through your microphone during a video call.
Scenario 5: International Call to Family Abroad
You want to call a family member in another country. They speak a different language.
RogerVoice supports international calls in 100+ languages to over 50 countries. This is a genuine strength. Outside the US, paid plans are available.
iScribe supports 100+ languages for in-person transcription but cannot caption phone calls.
Do You Need Both Apps?
Many deaf and hard of hearing people use both RogerVoice and iScribe because they cover different situations.
RogerVoice handles phone calls – incoming, outgoing, voicemail, and international. iScribe handles everything else – face-to-face conversations, lectures, appointments, and meetings.
They do not overlap. They work together.
RogerVoice = your ears on the phone. iScribe = your ears in the room.
For a fuller picture of accessibility tools available to deaf and hard of hearing people, see our guide to for the deaf and hard of hearing individuals.
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The Bottom Line
RogerVoice and iScribe are both excellent apps for deaf and hard of hearing people. But they solve different problems and belong in different situations.
Need real-time captions on phone calls? Use RogerVoice. It is free for US users, private, and supports 100+ languages with text-to-speech built in.
Need real-time captions for conversations in front of you? Use iScribe. Live captions, AI summaries, flip screen, and 100+ languages for every in-person situation.
Both require an internet connection. Neither works offline.
Most people need both.
Ready to try it? Download iScribe and start your 7-day free trial – no commitment required. Follow every conversation, every time.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is RogerVoice?
RogerVoice is a real-time call captioning app for deaf and hard of hearing people. It converts phone call audio into text on your screen as the other person speaks. It was founded in 2014 by Olivier Jeannel, who has been profoundly deaf since the age of two. In April 2026, RogerVoice officially launched US operations and surpassed 10 million captioned calls globally.
Is RogerVoice free?
For eligible US residents with hearing loss, RogerVoice is free. It is FCC-certified and funded through the Telephone Relay Service (TRS) program. You need a US Social Security Number and address to register. For users outside the United States, paid plans are available.
Does RogerVoice work outside the US?
Yes. RogerVoice works in over 50 countries and supports 100+ languages. Users outside the US pay for the service through monthly subscriptions or credit-based plans.
Can RogerVoice caption in-person conversations?
No. RogerVoice captions phone calls only. For face-to-face conversations, a live transcription app like iScribe is the right tool.
Does RogerVoice store my call transcripts?
No. RogerVoice stores no audio or transcripts on its servers. All call data stays on your device only. No third party is involved in your calls.
What languages does RogerVoice support?
RogerVoice supports over 100 languages and allows international calls to over 50 countries.
Which app is better - RogerVoice or iScribe?
They serve different needs. RogerVoice is better for captioning phone calls – and it is free in the US. iScribe is better for live in-person conversations, doctor visits, classes, and face-to-face daily communication. Most deaf and hard of hearing users benefit from using both.
Can I use RogerVoice and iScribe together?
Yes – and many people do. RogerVoice handles phone calls. iScribe handles in-person conversations. Together they cover the two most important communication situations a deaf or hard of hearing person faces every day. Explore more assistive technology for deaf and hard of hearing users for additional tools.
How do I register for RogerVoice in the US?
Download RogerVoice from the App Store or Google Play. You will need to provide your US Social Security Number and address to register with the FCC. Once registered, the service is free.
