Now available on the App Store

Hearing alerts that actually matter.

Sound alerts you can see — built for deaf and hard-of-hearing iPhone users.

Nora listens for the doorbell, the smoke alarm, the kettle, the baby — and lets you know with a flash, a buzz, and a banner on your screen. No more guessing what you missed.

How it works

Three steps. No headphones. No setup headaches.

Nora uses Apple's on-device sound recognition to identify what she hears — and lets you know the way that works for you.

1

She listens

Open Nora and tap start. Your iPhone's microphone listens for over 50 everyday sounds — quietly, in the background.

2

She recognises

The moment Nora hears a knock, alarm, or alert, on-device AI matches the sound and confirms what it is — in milliseconds.

3

She tells you

The screen flashes, your phone vibrates, and a banner shows you exactly what was heard. You'll never wonder again.

What Nora can do

Built for the moments that matter most.

Designed by someone with hearing loss, for people who shouldn't have to miss a thing.

60+ sound types

Doorbells, smoke alarms, knocking, baby cries, sirens, kettles, dogs barking, glass breaking, and dozens more — across 11 categories.

Visual flash alerts

The full screen flashes the moment a sound is detected — impossible to miss, even from across the room.

Custom vibration patterns

Different sounds get different buzz patterns, so you can tell a doorbell from a smoke alarm without looking.

Alert history

Review every sound Nora heard, with timestamps and confidence scores. Useful for spotting patterns at home.

100% on-device

Audio never leaves your iPhone. No cloud, no recordings, no listening servers. Privacy is the default.

Works offline

No internet needed. Nora works on a plane, in a basement, in a power cut — wherever you are.

Who Nora is for

If you've ever missed a knock, this is for you.

Deaf & HoH adults

Hearing aid wearers, cochlear implant users, and anyone navigating a hearing world.

Parents

Sleep through the night and let Nora wake you when the baby cries.

Anyone home alone

Take off your hearing aids without missing the doorbell or a smoke alarm.

Service dog handlers

A backup or stand-in for hearing assistance dogs when they're off duty.

Privacy by design

Your sounds never leave your phone.

Most "smart" listening apps stream audio to the cloud. Nora doesn't. Everything happens on your iPhone using Apple's on-device sound recognition.

  • No audio is ever recorded or stored.
  • No internet connection required to listen.
  • No accounts, no tracking, no third-party SDKs.
  • Built on Apple's SoundAnalysis framework.
Honest pricing

Pay once. Yours forever.

No subscriptions. No "unlock for $9.99/month." Pick a tier, pay once, and Nora's yours — including all future updates.

Pro
Everyday essentials
The 50+ sounds that matter most around the home.
$4.99
USD · One-time · No subscription
Includes 5 categories
  • Home, kitchen & water sounds
  • People & communication sounds
  • Vehicle & transport sounds
  • Weather & outdoor sounds
  • Quiet hours & Do Not Disturb
  • Visual flash, vibration & banner alerts
Elite
Everything in Pro, plus the wild
For hikers, cabin-dwellers, and anyone with a garden.
$9.99
USD · One-time · No subscription
Everything in Pro, plus
  • Wildlife & nature sounds — birds, deer, coyotes, snakes, more
  • All future categories added at no extra cost
Best value if you spend time outdoors or in rural areas.

Most accessibility apps charge $5–$15 every month. We don't think that's right.

The story

Made by someone who's been missing the doorbell her whole life.

I'm Emma, and I've had sensorineural hearing loss since I was a child. Severe in the high frequencies — the kind that makes consonants disappear and doorbells slip past unheard.

For years I relied on hearing aids, my partner, my service dog Smokey, and a lot of "what did you say?" Then I realised: my iPhone has a microphone, an AI chip, and is already in my pocket. So why couldn't it be listening too?

Nora is the app I wished I'd had ten years ago. Built privately, on-device, and priced like an accessibility tool should be — not like a SaaS subscription.

25+
Years of hearing loss
60+
Sounds Nora detects
100%
On-device privacy
Questions

Things people often ask.

Where can I get Nora?
Nora is live on the App Store now. Download her here — she's free to try, with Pro and Elite upgrades available in-app.
Which devices does Nora work on?
Nora is a universal iOS app — she runs on iPhone and iPad. An Apple Watch companion is on the roadmap. Android isn't currently planned, but we're listening.
Does Nora work in the background?
Yes. Nora keeps listening when the app is minimised, using background audio mode. You'll see a "Nora is listening" notification at the top of your screen so you always know she's active.
Can Nora replace my hearing aids or a hearing service dog?
Nora is a complement, not a replacement. She's brilliant for moments when your hearing aids are out (sleeping, showering, charging) or when you need a backup at home. For life-safety situations, please always use certified equipment alongside Nora.
Is my audio sent anywhere?
No. All sound recognition happens on your device using Apple's SoundAnalysis framework. No audio is recorded, stored, or transmitted. Nora doesn't even need an internet connection to work.
How accurate is the sound detection?
Nora uses Apple's built-in sound classifier and shows a confidence score with every alert. Common, distinct sounds (smoke alarms, doorbells, knocking) are very reliable. Quieter or ambient sounds work better when your phone is in the same room.
Why a one-time payment instead of a subscription?
Because accessibility shouldn't be rented. Nora is something you'll use every day — paying $5–$10 every month for that felt wrong. Pay once at the tier you need, keep her forever, get all future updates.
What's the difference between Pro and Elite?
Pro ($4.99) covers the 50+ everyday sounds most people need — home, kitchen, water, vehicles, weather, and people sounds. Elite ($9.99) adds wildlife and nature sounds, which is genuinely useful if you spend time hiking, camping, or live somewhere rural. If you're not sure, start with Pro — you can always upgrade later.
Can I try Nora before paying?
Yes. The free version of Nora lets you try sound detection with a limited set of sounds. When you're ready, choose Pro or Elite — no recurring charges.
Press & contact

Writing about Nora?

I'd love to chat. Whether you're a journalist, a deaf-community blogger, an accessibility advocate, or someone who'd like to feature Nora — get in touch and I'll send over the press kit.

Email Emma

Get in touch

Nora is live. Go get her.

Free to try. Pro and Elite available as one-time in-app purchases. No subscription, no nonsense.