How to Find Free Phones for Seniors with Hearing Loss: 2026 Resource Guide

Unabhängig. Unvoreingenommen.

Produktbewertungen.

Feature	Amplified Phones	Captioned Phones (IP CTS)
Primary Function	Makes speech louder / easier to hear	Displays text of what the other person says
Best For	Mild to Moderate Loss	Mild to Severe Loss
Technology	Acoustic Amplification	Internet-based Transcription
Funding Source	State Programs / Out-of-Pocket	Federal TRS Fund (FCC)
Connectivity	Standard Phone Line	Internet or Smartphone Required

A comparison of amplified phones versus IP CTS captioned phones.

Frequently Asked Questions

For eligible users, the captioning service and even the captioned phone itself may be provided at no direct monthly charge through the federally supported Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) system. But “no cost” does not always mean no other costs at all: depending on the device and provider, you may still need (and pay for) your own internet service, smartphone and/or mobile plan, or telephone service to make the system work.

Captioned phone providers prefer the phrase “no cost” over “free” for this reason and also because the service is publicly supported through the TRS Fund, which is financed by required contributions from telecommunications and VoIP providers.

Yes, but they'll have to use it with the captions turned off. Only registered, eligible users may use the IP CTS phone with captions enabled; other household members may use the device only as a regular telephone with captions turned off.

IP CTS is voice calling with captions added. With captioned telephone service, the user generally speaks for themselves and can often listen with their residual hearing or hearing device, while simultaneously reading captions of what the other party says on a screen. In IP CTS, the caption stream between the provider and the user travels over the internet (even if the audio part of the call may still use a traditional phone line on some setups).

TTY is text-first (often text-only). A TTY user types messages that travel over the phone network using a special kind of TTY signaling (historically Baudot). If the other person also has a TTY, it can be a direct text-to-text call. If the other person is a voice user, the call typically goes through a relay, where a communications assistant (CA) facilitates between typed text and spoken voice.

Both IP CTS (Internet Protocol Captioned Telephone Service) and VRS (Video Relay Service) are FCC-regulated forms of Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS), but they’re built for different users and different communication styles:

• IP CTS is for voice users who need captions. The user speaks for themselves, and the service provides real-time captions of what the other party says (typically via ASR and/or a captioning assistant), delivered over the internet to a phone/app screen.

• VRS is for sign language users. A deaf/hard-of-hearing person who uses ASL connects by video to a sign language interpreter, who relays the conversation between the ASL user and a hearing person on a voice phone call.

IP CTS Captioned Telephones and What "No Cost" Really Means

The main option for people whose hearing loss makes captions necessary for effective phone communication is the Internet Protocol Captioned Telephone Service (IP CTS). The FCC describes IP CTS as a type of telecommunications relay service that lets a person “simultaneously listen to the other party and read captions of what the other party is saying,” using a dedicated captioned phone or another connected device such as a tablet, computer, or smartphone. This service is part of the broader accessibility framework created under Title IV of the Americans with Disabilities Act and administered by the FCC.

IP CTS is designed for people who are hard of hearing, are able to speak (using their own voice), and have a:

Documented hearing loss that affects phone communication: The person has hearing loss that makes it difficult to understand phone calls by hearing alone.
Necessity for captions: The person needs captions to use the phone effectively and in a functionally equivalent way.

IP CTS telephones and captioning are not paid for through a direct user fee. Instead, the captioned phone providers are reimbursed through the federal TRS Fund, which is supported by mandatory contributions from telecommunications carriers and interconnected VoIP companies, with FCC-set reimbursement rates generally tied to captioned minutes of use. That means the service may be offered at no direct charge to eligible users, but it is still publicly supported through the relay system, including small fees often built into phone bills.

At the same time, “no cost” does not necessarily mean zero other expenses. Depending on the phone model and setup, a user may still need internet/mobile phone service or a landline. And because IP CTS is a regulated accessibility service, the captioning can only be used by those who are officially registered and have certified or self-certified their eligibility. Other (non-registered) household members may use these phones, but only with the captions turned off.

How to Find "Free" Phones for Seniors with Hearing Loss: 2026 Resource Guide

Captioned Phones vs. Amplified Phones

Frequently Asked Questions

IP CTS Captioned Telephones and What "No Cost" Really Means

Government Assistance Programs for Amplified and Specialized Phones

iCanConnect (National Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution Program)

TEDP and State-funded Agencies

The Lifeline Program

How to Apply for a No-Cost Captioned Phone

Privacy and Security

Getting Started…

Karl Strom

Abram Bailey, AuD

How to Find "Free" Phones for Seniors with Hearing Loss: 2026 Resource Guide

Captioned Phones vs. Amplified Phones

Frequently Asked Questions

Are captioned phones really free?

If I get a captioned phone, can others in my home use it?

What's the difference between IP CTS (Internet Protocol Captioned Telephone Service) and TTY (text telephone/teletype)?

What's the difference between IP CTS and VRS (Video Relay Service)?

IP CTS Captioned Telephones and What "No Cost" Really Means

Government Assistance Programs for Amplified and Specialized Phones

iCanConnect (National Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution Program)

TEDP and State-funded Agencies

The Lifeline Program

How to Apply for a No-Cost Captioned Phone

Privacy and Security

Getting Started…

Karl Strom

Abram Bailey, AuD