ClearCaptions
ClearCaptions is an FCC-certified provider of Internet Protocol Captioned Telephone Service delivering real-time captioned phone calls at no cost to qualified U.S. residents with hearing loss, funded by the FCC Telecommunications Relay Services Fund under Title IV of the ADA.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2011
- HeadquartersRoseville, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What ClearCaptions does
ClearCaptions, LLC is an FCC-certified Internet Protocol Captioned Telephone Service (IP CTS) provider founded in 2011 and headquartered in Antioch, California. The company delivers near-real-time captioned telephone service to qualified U.S. residents with medically recognized hearing loss, serving a primary end-user base of hard-of-hearing individuals, seniors with age-related hearing loss, veterans with service-related hearing damage, and hearing aid or cochlear implant users who continue to struggle with telephone intelligibility. Its core products include the ClearCaptions Phone (a VoIP-enabled touchscreen caption telephone launched in 2019), the ClearCaptions Mobile Application for iPhone, iPad, and Android, and the IP CTS service itself, which supports both English and bilingual (English/Spanish) captioning. Captioning is generated via Automatic Speech Recognition, sometimes augmented by live communications assistants. The service includes FEMA emergency alert integration, customizable caption display, voicemail functionality, and visual call notifications.
The business model is a federally-funded, single-payor reimbursement model. ClearCaptions is funded almost entirely through the FCC's Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS) Fund under Title IV of the Americans with Disabilities Act, with interstate carriers and VoIP providers contributing to the fund and the FCC administering reimbursements to certified providers. End users pay nothing for hardware, installation, training, lifetime warranty, or the captioning service, with the only ancillary customer charge being a one-time $19.99 telephone number acquisition fee for landline-free customers. Go-to-market combines direct-to-consumer outreach (phone, website, sign-up forms) with a healthcare provider referral channel that leverages direct integrations with five major Office Management Software platforms (Noah/HIMSA, TIMS, Blueprint, HearForm/Hearing Fusion, CounselEAR) used by audiologists and hearing specialists, supplemented by a white-glove in-home setup and training model. Operations are limited to the United States and its territories.
ClearCaptions firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- ClearCaptions
- Legal name
- ClearCaptions LLC
- Website
- https://clearcaptions.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2011
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- ClearCaptions is an FCC-certified provider of Internet Protocol Captioned Telephone Service delivering real-time captioned phone calls at no cost to qualified U.S. residents with hearing loss, funded by the FCC Telecommunications Relay Services Fund under Title IV of the ADA.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
ClearCaptions industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Captioned Telephone Services (Telecommunications Relay Services for the hearing impaired)
- NAICS
- All Other Telecommunications (517810)
- SIC
- Telephone Communications (No Radiotelephone) (4813), Communications Services, Nec (4899)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Numbering, DID, Porting & Carrier-of-Record Services (HDAIAHAK)
Keywords
Where ClearCaptions is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Roseville
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
ClearCaptions business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- TRS Fund Reimbursement: ClearCaptions' IP Captioned Telephone Service is funded by the Federal Communications Commission's Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS) Fund. Interstate telecommunications carriers and VoIP providers contribute to this federally administered fund, which covers the costs of providing call captioning services to qualified individuals. Services are provided at no cost to eligible users with hearing loss.
- One-time Number Acquisition Fee: For customers who do not have a landline, ClearCaptions assigns a dedicated telephone number to the ClearCaptions Phone, which requires a one-time number acquisition fee of $19.99. There are no recurring fees.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | No-cost caption phone service for qualified hard-of-hearing U.S. residents |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | One-time telephone number acquisition fee (landline-free customers only) |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
ClearCaptions product offering
Product offeringCore offering
ClearCaptions provides FCC-certified Internet Protocol Captioned Telephone Service (IP CTS) through a VoIP-enabled touchscreen caption phone and cross-platform mobile applications, delivering near real-time speech-to-text captions of phone conversations for hard-of-hearing individuals. The service is provided at no cost to eligible U.S. residents with hearing loss, funded by the FCC's Telecommunications Relay Services Fund under Title IV of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and includes free in-home setup, hands-on training, and lifetime warranty support. A one-time $19.99 number acquisition fee applies only for customers without an existing landline.
Product overview
ClearCaptions is a telecommunications company providing IP Captioned Telephone Service (IP CTS) to individuals with hearing loss. The product portfolio consists of the ClearCaptions Phone (hardware device) and ClearCaptions Mobile Application (iOS/Android), which provide the same captioning functionality across different form factors. The company also maintains legacy products (Ensemble, Ensemble 2) from earlier market entries. All products convert telephone conversations to readable text in real-time using speech recognition technology, with captions displayed on touchscreen displays. The service is provided at no cost to qualified U.S. residents with hearing loss, funded through the FCC Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS) Fund under Title IV of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Ensemble: A breakthrough home phone captioning service launched in 2013, later updated to Ensemble 2 in 2015 as the first amplified captioning phone with larger screen and built-in speakerphone.
- ClearCaptions Phone
- ClearCaptions Mobile Application
Products and services
- ClearCaptions Phone VoIP-enabled captioned telephone with a clear, easy-to-read touchscreen display that shows near real-time text captions of phone conversations for individuals with hearing loss. Features include customizable caption size and background color, built-in speakerphone, a visual light bar for incoming call notifications, FEMA emergency alerts, white-glove in-home setup and training, and a lifetime warranty. Provided at no cost to eligible U.S. residents, funded through the FCC TRS Fund.
- ClearCaptions Mobile Application Downloadable mobile application for iPhone, iPad, Android, and tablet devices enabling captioned calls on mobile platforms. Supports voicemail functionality, account management, and self-certification of hearing loss, delivering the same IP Captioned Telephone Service functionality as the ClearCaptions Phone hardware on personal mobile devices.
- IP Captioned Telephone Service (IP CTS) Telecommunications relay service providing near real-time call captions of telephone conversations for individuals with hearing loss. Uses Automatic Speech Recognition software with optional support from a live communications assistant to transcribe the other party's speech into text. Available in English and bilingual English/Spanish, funded through the federal Interstate Telecommunications Relay Services Fund.
Quantifiable outcome
- No-cost caption phone and service provided to qualified hard-of-hearing U.S. residents — funded by the federally administered TRS Fund
Companies that use ClearCaptions
Customer profileSegments6 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
ClearCaptions technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration5 records
AI capability3 records
Feature6 records
ClearCaptions partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Noah (HIMSA)coreClearCaptions integrates directly with Noah (Health Information Software Manufacturers Association), enabling audiologists and hearing specialists to refer patients to ClearCaptions from within their Noah practice management software. The integration is available as a downloadable module (ClearCaptions.Noah.Addon.Setup.exe) that installs within the Noah software environment.
- TIMScoreClearCaptions integrates with TIMS (a hearing industry practice management system) enabling providers to submit patient referrals directly from the TIMS Patient Summary panel via the Reports/Letters icon and Captioned Phones button.
- Blueprint SolutionscoreClearCaptions integrates with Blueprint practice management software, allowing hearing care providers to refer patients directly via Patient > Forms > ClearCaptions within the Blueprint system.
- HearForm / Hearing FusioncoreClearCaptions integrates with HearForm/Hearing Fusion, enabling hearing specialists to submit patient referrals directly from the patient page using the ClearCaptions button, with options to View, Email, or Print the referral form.
- CounselEARcoreClearCaptions integrates with CounselEAR, allowing providers to open the Patient Profile and select Actions > ClearCaptions to auto-populate patient information and submit a referral directly to ClearCaptions.
- FCC (Federal Communications Commission)coreClearCaptions is certified by the FCC as a provider of fully automatic IP Captioned Telephone Service. The company's services operate under Title IV of the Americans with Disabilities Act and are funded through the FCC-administered Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS) Fund. The FCC requires telephone and internet companies to contribute to the TRS fund, which covers the cost of ClearCaptions' captioning services.
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
ClearCaptions competitors and assessment
Company assessmentRegional players
- Purple Communications: Purple Communications provides VRS and related relay services for deaf and hard-of-hearing users. It is comparable to ClearCaptions within the broader FCC relay-services ecosystem, though primarily focused on video rather than voice captioning.
- Convo Communications: Convo is a relay-services provider offering VRS and IP Relay for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community. It is comparable to ClearCaptions as part of the broader FCC-funded relay ecosystem serving the same underlying population.
Others
- Communication Service for the Deaf (CSD): CSD is a nonprofit providing relay services, deaf education, and interpreting, including VRS and other FCC-funded programs. It is comparable to ClearCaptions as a participant in the same federally regulated accessibility ecosystem, though structured as a nonprofit rather than a for-profit provider.
- Otter.ai: Otter.ai provides AI-powered live transcription and captioning across meetings and calls using ASR. It is comparable to ClearCaptions through overlapping speech-to-text technology and a potential long-term substitute for some IP CTS use cases, especially on mobile and conferencing workflows.
- Ava: Ava provides real-time captioning for group conversations, meetings, and accessibility use cases, including for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community. It is comparable to ClearCaptions as an emerging AI-driven captioning provider that could absorb portions of the same end-user demand over time.
Emerging players
- InnoCaption: InnoCaption provides mobile-first captioned calling for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community, with both on-demand live-operator and ASR captioning modes. It overlaps with ClearCaptions on captioning technology and audience but leads on a mobile-only delivery model.
Broad incumbents
- Sorenson Communications: Sorenson is the largest US provider of telecommunications relay services, including Video Relay Service (VRS), IP Relay, and (via CaptionCall) IP CTS. It operates at much greater scale than ClearCaptions across the broader relay-services category and owns CaptionCall, a direct IP CTS competitor.
Direct peers
- CaptionCall (Sorenson): CaptionCall is an FCC-certified IP CTS provider offering captioned phones and service to people with hearing loss. It was previously suspended from the FCC's TRS program and then reinstated, and competes directly with ClearCaptions for TRS-funded minutes and end users.
- Hamilton CapTel (Hamilton Relay): Hamilton CapTel provides IP CTS captioned telephone service for individuals with hearing loss, also funded through the TRS Fund. It is a state-relay-program-affiliated provider offering near-identical products and target customers as ClearCaptions.
- CapTel (Ultratec): CapTel is an FCC-certified IP CTS provider offering captioned telephone service and hardware for the hard-of-hearing, funded through the same TRS Fund as ClearCaptions. It is the most directly comparable competitor, operating with a virtually identical product, regulatory model, and target customer.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses3 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
ClearCaptions social profiles
Digital presenceClearCaptions compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
ClearCaptions financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
ClearCaptions leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
ClearCaptions funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
ClearCaptions M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about ClearCaptions
What does ClearCaptions do?
ClearCaptions provides FCC-certified Internet Protocol Captioned Telephone Service (IP CTS) through a VoIP-enabled touchscreen caption phone and cross-platform mobile applications, delivering near real-time speech-to-text captions of phone conversations for hard-of-hearing individuals. The service is provided at no cost to eligible U.S. residents with hearing loss, funded by the FCC's Telecommunications Relay Services Fund under Title IV of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and includes free in-home setup, hands-on training, and lifetime warranty support. A one-time $19.99 number acquisition fee applies only for customers without an existing landline.
Is ClearCaptions a public or private company?
ClearCaptions is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was ClearCaptions founded?
ClearCaptions was founded in 2011. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is ClearCaptions based?
ClearCaptions is headquartered in Roseville, United States, in the North America region.
How does ClearCaptions make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. TRS Fund Reimbursement is the primary driver. The others are one-time Number Acquisition Fee.
Who are ClearCaptions's main competitors?
Regional players on record are Purple Communications and Convo Communications. Others are Communication Service for the Deaf (CSD), Otter.ai and Ava. InnoCaption is listed as an emerging player. Sorenson Communications is listed as a broad incumbent. Direct peers are CaptionCall (Sorenson), Hamilton CapTel (Hamilton Relay) and CapTel (Ultratec).
Does ClearCaptions have an API?
No public API is recorded for ClearCaptions.
What industry is ClearCaptions in?
ClearCaptions's product category is Captioned Telephone Services (Telecommunications Relay Services for the hearing impaired). Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDAIAHAK, Numbering, DID, Porting & Carrier-of-Record Services. Its NAICS code is 517810 and its SIC code is 4813.