Are caption glasses a replacement for hearing aids?

No. Hearing aids amplify sound; caption glasses show words. Many people use both: captions help most in noisy rooms, group conversations and appointments where hearing aids struggle.

Do caption glasses need internet?

It depends on the product. Some send audio to the cloud for transcription; others, such as Odasho, transcribe on the phone so captions work offline and nothing is uploaded.

How much do caption glasses cost?

As of October 2026, US prices range from about $399 (Odasho Glasses, waitlist) to $799 (Meta Ray-Ban Display). Several brands also sell optional monthly subscriptions for translation or premium features.

Caption glasses for hearing loss: a 2026 buyer's guide

Q: What are caption glasses?

Caption glasses are smart glasses with a small transparent display that shows live subtitles of nearby speech. A paired phone (or the glasses themselves) listens, turns speech into text, and the words appear in the wearer's line of sight.

How live caption glasses work, what actually matters when you choose a pair, and how the options on sale today compare.

By the Odasho team · Updated October 8, 2026 · We make Odasho Glasses, one of the products below. We've kept the comparison to published facts and linked every source.

What are caption glasses?

Caption glasses are smart glasses with a small, see-through display that shows live subtitles of the speech around you. A microphone — usually your phone's — picks up the conversation, software turns it into text, and the words appear in your line of sight. You keep looking at the person instead of down at a screen.

They are not hearing aids. Hearing aids make sound louder; caption glasses show you the words. Many people wear both, because captions help most exactly where hearing aids struggle: noisy restaurants, family gatherings with several people talking, and medical appointments where every instruction matters.

What to look for

1. Readability

The display is small. Look for large text, few lines at a time and high contrast. Screens crowded with notifications, menus and small type are harder to follow mid-conversation — especially for older eyes.

2. Online or offline

Some products send your audio to the cloud to transcribe it; others do it on the phone. On-device captioning keeps working without signal (hospitals, basements, planes) and means conversations aren't uploaded.

3. Total cost, not just the price tag

Several brands charge a monthly subscription for translation, more languages or "premium" accuracy. Over two years, a $15/month plan adds $360 to the price of the glasses.

4. Prescription lenses

Most buyers need them. Check whether prescription is offered, how (clip-in inserts or custom-made lenses), the supported range and the extra cost.

5. Camera or no camera

Some smart glasses include a camera. Camera-free glasses avoid making the people you talk to wonder whether they're being recorded.

6. Ease of use

Wake words, gestures and accounts are fine for tech enthusiasts. For a parent or grandparent, the best glasses start captioning when they're put on.

How the 2026 options compare

US list prices as published by each company or in reviews, October 2026. Features change often — check the linked source before you buy.

Glasses	US price	Subscription	Built for	Notes
Odasho Glasses	$399	None required	Captions for hearing loss	Offline, on-phone captioning; no camera; large-text display. Waitlist — not yet shipping.
Captify Myvu / Pro	$499 / $699	Optional, $15/mo for translation	Captions for hearing loss	Captify won the AgeTech award at CES 2026 [1].
RayNeo iO	$499	Optional, $9.99/mo for more AI models	AI assistant, captions & translation	33 g; captions in 55 languages; no camera; prescription +$159 [2].
AirCaps (formerly TranscribeGlass)	from $599	See vendor	Captions for hearing loss	[3]
Even Realities G2	$599	See vendor	Everyday display glasses	Conversate shows live transcription; no camera; 36 g; prescription −12 to +12 [4].
XRAI AR2	$699	Free basic; $15 or $30/mo plans	Captions for hearing loss	300+ languages [3].
Meta Ray-Ban Display	$799 (with Neural Band)	See vendor	General AI glasses	Live captions and translation; includes a camera [5].

Our honest take. If you mostly want an everyday smart-glasses assistant, Even G2, RayNeo iO and Meta Ray-Ban Display are more capable devices. If you, or a parent, mainly want to follow conversations — big clear words, no subscription, nothing uploaded — that's the job we built Odasho for.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a smartphone?

For almost all caption glasses, yes. The phone does the listening and transcribing; the glasses display the text.

Can caption glasses identify who is speaking?

Some do, some don't, and accuracy varies in crowded rooms. If this matters to you, ask for a demo in a noisy setting before buying.

Are caption glasses covered by insurance?

Usually not by insurance. Some brands say their glasses are eligible for HSA/FSA spending accounts — check with your plan administrator.

Can I try captions before buying glasses?

Yes. The free Odasho app shows the same live captions on your phone, and works with Even G2 glasses you may already own.