Captioned Telephone Service Cost: What You Actually Pay in 2026

What does a captioned telephone cost? For most Americans with hearing loss: nothing. The captioning service itself is federally funded. The phone hardware may be free too, depending on your state program. But “free” has conditions — income limits in some states, certification requirements, and a service model that’s changing as more users shift to smartphone apps. Here’s the full picture.

Captioned Telephone Cost Summary

How Captioned Telephone Funding Works

The federal Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) fund — administered by the FCC — pays for the live captioning agents and automated captioning systems that make captioned phone calls possible. You don’t pay per-call fees, monthly captioning charges, or any ongoing service cost. It’s built into a small surcharge collected from all telecom customers nationwide.

The NIDCD estimates that about 28.8 million American adults could benefit from hearing aids or assistive hearing technology, but only about one in five who could benefit actually uses hearing aids. Captioned telephones serve a large portion of this population — particularly older adults who find phone calls difficult but haven’t yet obtained or fully adjusted to hearing aids.

To access the free service, most programs require a brief certification that you have a hearing loss that makes telephone use difficult. This is typically a self-certification form — you don’t need a formal audiogram or doctor’s letter for most programs, though some state equipment distribution programs require professional documentation.

Captioning Service Providers

Three main companies offer captioned telephone service in the U.S., all funded through the FCC’s TRS program:

CapTel (Ultratec): Traditional landline-style captioned phones with built-in screens. Popular with older adults. The CapTel 840i and 2400i models are common in state distribution programs.

CaptionCall (Sorenson): Offers a stylish tabletop phone with a large touchscreen. Service requires certification; phone hardware may be provided free through Sorenson’s program or state programs.

Hamilton CapTel: Another FCC-certified service provider. Similar model — free captioning, hardware through state programs.

All three provide the same federally funded captioning service. The real differences are in hardware design and app ecosystems.

State Equipment Programs

Beyond the free captioning service, most states have separate programs that provide captioned telephone hardware at no cost to eligible residents. Eligibility typically requires:

• Documented hearing loss (audiogram or professional letter)
• State residency
• Income limits in some states (varies widely)

To find your state’s program: search “[your state] telecommunications equipment distribution program” or visit the Hearing Loss Association of America’s state resources page. The application process is usually straightforward — submit documentation, receive equipment by mail or pickup.

Some states have moved to prioritizing app-based solutions over hardware distribution, so if you’re told hardware isn’t available, ask specifically about app subsidies or tablet programs.

The Hidden Costs Nobody Mentions

Captioned telephone service itself is free, but using it effectively has some real-world costs:

Broadband internet: IP-based captioning (CaptionCall, smartphone apps) requires a reliable internet connection. If you’re already paying $50–$80/month for broadband, there’s no additional cost. If you don’t have home internet and are considering it specifically for captioned calling, that’s $40–$100/month in new expense.

Setup and training: Most providers offer free setup assistance, but in rural areas, getting hands-on help can be difficult. Phone-based setup support is available but sometimes frustrating if the captioning service is what you needed to use the phone in the first place.

Landline costs: Traditional captioned phones require a landline. If you’ve cut your landline, you’ll need to either maintain it (~$20–$40/month) or switch to a VoIP-compatible captioning solution.

Amplified vs. Captioned Telephones

If your hearing loss is mild-to-moderate and you mainly need volume rather than captions, amplified phones are a simpler option. Amplified phones boost receiver volume to 40–60 dB above normal. They’re not free through federal programs the same way captioned phones are, but many states’ equipment programs include them.

Retail amplified phones run $30–$150. For mild losses that respond well to amplification, an amplified phone plus your hearing aids may handle phone calls effectively without captioning at all.

For moderate-to-severe loss or anyone who finds following speech difficult even at high volume, captioned calling is the more reliable solution — and since it’s free, there’s no financial reason to avoid it.