Live Transcribe
An app that captions the people talking around you in real time.
What Live Transcribe does
Live Transcribe is Google's free captioning app for Android. Set your phone down and it turns nearby speech into text on screen as people talk. It can also flag sounds like a doorbell or an alarm, and it keeps working offline once you download a language.
Live Transcribe was made for people who are deaf or hard of hearing, but it's handy for anyone in a loud room. Open it, put your phone on the table, and words show up as people speak. You can pick a second language and switch between the two.
Offline transcription turns on by itself once a language is downloaded. On Android 12 and newer you can save several languages for offline use. On some older phones running Android 8 to 11, only English works offline. Transcripts are kept for up to three days, and you can export them before they're cleared.
There's a sound side too. The app can label sounds like music or laughter in the transcript, and its sound alerts can buzz or flash your phone when it hears something like a smoke alarm or a dog barking. It's Android only, so on iPhone you'll want a different caption app.
Alternatives to Live Transcribe
Who it's for
Skip it if: iPhone owners. Anyone who wants transcripts kept for weeks (history clears after three days).
Pricing
Free planFree. We didn't find a paid plan or in-app purchases.
Prices can vary by country. Checked 19 Oct 2026.
What people like
- Free, made by Google
- Works offline once your languages are downloaded
- Sound alerts cover more than just speech
- You can plug in an external mic for better pickup
Watch out for
- Android only
- Saved transcripts are deleted after three days unless you export them
- Offline languages are limited on older phones
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Questions people ask
Is Live Transcribe free?
Yes. It's a free app from Google for Android phones.
Does Live Transcribe work offline?
Yes, once you download a language. On Android 12 and newer you can download several languages. Some older phones can only use English offline.
Is Live Transcribe on iPhone?
No, it's Android only. On iPhone, look at a caption app such as Ava.
How long are transcripts saved?
Up to three days, then they're deleted. You can export them from settings before that.