Best for Seniors Without Internet Connection

As the only caption phone reviewed that works solely on an analog phone line with no internet required, the CapTel 840 offers the best option for seniors without an internet connection. With a built-in screen that’s not a touchscreen, this caption phone is also an excellent choice for older adults who may be living with arthritis. Featuring a simple design that looks and functions like a conventional phone, the CapTel 840 is easy to learn to use, even for those who aren’t tech-savvy. Features include customizable font size and color that make captions easier to read, as well as a built-in answering machine and voicemail with captioning support.

Pros:

  • Doesn’t require an internet connection
  • Adjustable font sizes and colors
  • Built-in answering machine and voicemail that works with captions
  • Automatically connects to captioning service when placing an outbound call
  • Offered at no cost in some states for qualified individuals via state programs

Cons:

  • No touchscreen display
  • ncoming callers need to dial the number of the captioning service first

Overview of CapTel

CapTel is the nation’s leading maker of caption phones for people who are hard of hearing. It also provides a 24/7 helpline, a free real-time captioning service and installation support over the phone or in the home of its customers. CapTel offers four caption phone models: 840, 840i, 880i and 2400i. These models are available to qualified users at no upfront cost or monthly fee, thanks to a federally-funded program.

Features
How It Helps

Adjustable Font Size and Colors

The font size and colors are customizable to make the captions easier to read.

Features Catered Towards Hearing-Impaired Users

The hearing-aid compatible handset and adjustable tone/volume are great additions for hard-of-hearing users.

Answering Machine and Voicemail

The built-in answering machine and voicemail works with the captioning feature. It allows you to save and display all the messages you’ve missed.

Built-In Phonebook and Caller ID

Stores up to 95+ contact names and identifies incoming calls.

Speed Dial

Quick access to frequently used numbers including family members and medical professionals.

How Much Does CapTel 840 Cost?

The cost of a CapTel 840 caption phone varies. It depends on the seller and whether the buyer is certified by a medical professional. You can buy it directly on the CapTel website for $75, whereas some independent sellers may sell it for over $100. CapTel also provides free captioning services and installation support. Thanks to the Americans with Disabilities Act, the government offers free caption phones, including the CapTel 840, to eligible persons with hearing loss. To qualify, visit a doctor or audiologist and ask them to sign and submit a Third Party Certification of Eligibility form. If you can’t make the trip, complete the form yourself and send it to your doctor via fax, mail or email.

Full Review of CapTel’s Features

CapTel offers four models of caption phones — 840, 840i, 880i and 2400i — to cater to users with different needs.

CapTel 840

CapTel 840 is the only CapTel caption phone that works solely on an analog phone line with no Internet required, making it the best choice for seniors without high-speed Internet. It also comes with many features to enhance its ease of use, hearing impairment support and vision impairment support.

Cost

CapTel 840 costs $75 on the CapTel website. Eligible persons with hearing loss can get one for free. To qualify, visit a physician or audiologist and ask them to complete a Third Party Certification of Eligibility form. Alternatively, download the form and send it to your doctor for their signature. Submit the signed form to CapTel by mail, fax or email.

High-speed Internet Requirement

Among all caption phones reviewed, CapTel 840 is the only model that doesn’t require high-speed internet. All you need is a regular phone line.

Without an internet connection, getting captions on incoming calls requires an extra step. To activate the captioning service, anyone calling you must dial a toll-free CapTel number first and then enter your phone number.

Outgoing calls don’t need to go through this extra step. You can directly dial the number you want to call, and captioning will be provided.

If you want to avoid this extra step on incoming calls, you can use the 2-line mode, which requires a second phone line to connect to the CapTel captioning service when your phone receives a call on the first phone line.

Screen Technology

To display captions, CapTel 840 comes with a traditional screen with no touchscreen functionality. Many people, especially those who have experience with smartphones or tablets, may prefer a touchscreen due to its familiarity.

On the other hand, a 2021 study shows that older adults have poorer touchscreen skills than the younger population. According to another study, conditions common among seniors, such as dry and thick skin, arthritis, cognitive decline and Parkinson’s, can impair someone’s ability to use touchscreens.

For seniors with difficulties using touchscreens, CapTel 840 is an excellent choice.

Ease of Use

CapTel 840 comes with many features that enhance its ease of use.

  • Answering Machine: With a built-in answering machine, CapTel 840 can replay any calls you’ve missed with captioning.
  • Phonebook: The integrated phonebook can save more than 95 contacts.
  • Caller ID: This phone displays the caller’s ID on all incoming calls.
  • Speed Dial: Users can store their most frequently used numbers in the speed dial for quick access.

Hearing Impairment Support

Besides captioning, CapTel 840 offers several features to support hearing impairment.

  • Hearing Aid Compatibility: This model comes with a handset compatible with hearing aids, which enables you to keep using your hearing aid when talking on the phone.
  • Volume Control: A volume control allows users to amplify call volume by up to 40dB, making conversations easier to hear.
  • Tone Control: If you have trouble hearing certain sound frequencies, the tone control lets you enhance them to make speeches more audible.

Vision Impairment Support

CapTel 840 offers help to those with trouble reading regular-sized captions.

  • Adjustable Caption Font Size and Color: With this feature, seniors can enlarge the caption font and change its color to make it easier to read.

CapTel 840i

CapTel 840i offers the same functionality as CapTel 840, except that it requires a high-speed Internet connection.

Cost

CapTel 840i lists at $75, the same as CapTel 840. As they can with all CapTel captioning phones, those with hearing loss can get one for free after getting certified by a doctor.

High-speed Internet Requirement

This phone requires a high-speed Internet connection, and incoming callers can dial your number directly without needing to call a CapTel service first.

Screen Technology

The display is a traditional screen with no touch-sensitive capability.

Ease of Use

The same ease-of-use features of CapTel 840 are available in this model.

  • Answering Machine
  • Phonebook
  • Caller ID
  • Speed Dial

Hearing Impairment Support

All CapTel phones offer the same features for hearing impairment support.

  • Hearing Aid Compatibility
  • Volume Control
  • Tone Control

Vision Impairment Support

The 840i provides the standard vision impairment support feature.

  • Adjustable Caption Font Size and Color

CapTel 880i

CapTel 880i offers the same features of 840i but with an extra-large screen to provide enhanced support to people with vision impairment.

Cost

Like all CapTel phones, the 880i has a list price of $75 but is free to those certified by a doctor to have hearing impairment.

High-speed Internet Requirement

A high-speed internet connection is required. Incoming callers can call you directly.

Screen Technology

CapTel 880i comes with a traditional screen with no touch-sensitive capability.

Ease of Use

All CapTel phones offer the same ease-of-use functionality.

  • Answering Machine
  • Phonebook
  • Caller ID
  • Speed Dial

Hearing Impairment Support

This phone comes with the standard hearing impairment support features.

  • Hearing Aid Compatibility
  • Volume Control
  • Tone Control

Vision Impairment Support

Seniors with vision impairment get extra support from the supersized display on CapTel 880i.

  • Extra-large 7 inch by 10 inch screen
  • Adjustable Caption Font Size and Color

CapTel 2400i

CapTel 2400i is essentially the same phone as the 840i, but with a touchscreen instead of a traditional screen.

Cost

The list price is $75, but free to people with hearing loss certified by a doctor.

High-speed Internet Requirement

A high-speed Internet connection is required. Incoming callers can call you directly without calling CapTel first.

Screen Technology

CapTel 2400i features a large touchscreen display with an intuitive UI.

Ease of Use

All standard ease-of-use features are available.

  • Answering Machine
  • Phonebook
  • Caller ID
  • Speed Dial

Hearing Impairment Support

You can find all the standard hearing impairment support features in this phone.

  • Hearing Aid Compatibility
  • Volume Control
  • Tone Control

Vision Impairment Support

With a bright and large touchscreen, this phone makes it easy for those with low vision to read captions.

  • Large Touchscreen
  • Adjustable Caption Font Size and Color

Who Should Consider CapTel?

As the leading caption phone maker in the U.S., CapTel is a good choice for anyone looking for a caption phone. Which model to choose depends on your specific needs.

Seniors Without Internet Connection

For those who don’t have an Internet connection, CapTel 840 is the best and only option for a caption phone. It’s the only model reviewed that works solely on a regular phone line without requiring the Internet.

Seniors With Vision Impairment

CapTel 880i offers the best support to those with vision impairment. If you have difficulty reading regularly sized captions, this model’s extra large display (7 inch by 10 inch) can help. 

Tech-Savvy Seniors

Tech-savvy seniors who are comfortable using smartphones or tablets may prefer CapTel 2400i. As the most technologically advanced model from CapTel, this phone comes with a large touchscreen that’s bright and crisp. The touch-based user interface is intuitive and well-designed.

What Are People Saying About CapTel?

People generally speak highly of CapTel’s caption phones. A user of CapTel 840 calls the model a “great phone” that “looks good and performs very well.” 

The model 840i receives 4.2 stars out of 5 on Amazon, based on more than 200 ratings. The top review calls it an “excellent phone” that’s “easy to set up.” A buyer says the phone “works well for my mother-in-law, who is very hard of hearing.” However, a few reviewers report problems with the Wi-Fi connection, including reliability issues and difficulty of setup. 

At 4.3 stars based on more than 1,000 ratings, the CapTel 2400i is even better received. The top reviewer gives it five stars and says he’s “very impressed” with this phone.