During the years I’ve been creating content for FixThePhoto, I frequently had to create professional subtitles for my videos to ensure our audience has more options to consume our content with maximum convenience. That said, even the best subtitles translator I’ve used hasn’t been perfect and would provide inaccurate translations, fail to account for the context of the message, or demand time-consuming manual editing. Some solutions failed to format the subtitles properly, while others only support a small number of languages.
To ensure I recommend the best option possible, I chose to check out the top 25 subtitle translators that received a lot of praise across Reddit, Google, Amazon reviews, and other reputable platforms.
Additionally, I asked my coworkers for their opinions to ensure my overviews include inputs from people who have first-hand experience using these subtitle translators. We test and evaluate every option based on the provided translation accuracy, user-friendliness, formatting precision, and range of supported languages. We strived to find the most dependable solutions that will allow you to receive quick results without sacrificing the quality of the translation.
Platform | Top Feature | Languages Supported | Translation Quality | Free Plan |
---|---|---|---|---|
Fast and intuitive
|
200+
|
Excellent
|
✔️
|
|
Supports different file uploads
|
40+
|
Good
|
✔️
|
|
Convenient timeline editing
|
20+
|
Excellent
|
✔️
|
|
Auto-subtitle feature and editor
|
125+
|
Medium
|
❌
|
|
Intuitive interface
|
46
|
Good
|
✔️
|
|
Perfect for Social media
|
100+
|
Medium
|
✔️
|
|
Brand Glossary tool
|
70+
|
Medium
|
✔️
|
When choosing which options to include on this list of the best subtitle translation software, I prioritized these aspects:
Compatible formats. I ensured each option is compatible with all the main subtitle (SRT, VTT, etc.) and video formats (MP4, MOV).
Languages supported. Most AI-based translators only recognize a couple of popular languages (English, Spanish, and French, for example). That’s why I prioritized solutions that allow you to receive subtitles in a wide range of common languages.
User-friendliness. I was looking for a solution with a user-friendly UI that allows for convenient subtitle synching and adjustments.
Audio file compatibility. I checked if the software can automatically transcribe audio to create subtitles, as that can be a huge time-saver.
Translation accuracy. The quality and contextual relevance of the translated text is of paramount importance to me.
Customizability. I want to be able to tweak the subtitle style to fit the overall aesthetics of specific videos.
Cost & subscription plans. I evaluated the price and value for money based on the functionality and versatility of each option.
Reviews & user feedback. I studied reviews to make sure the subtitle translator in question is dependable and offers fast processing speeds.
Pricing:
Compatibility: Web
The best subtitle translator online today is definitely TranslateSubtitles. I used it to import an SRT file for a guide I’ve been editing. This solution is compatible with all the main formats, including SUB, SBV, ASS, VTT, and STL. Once imported, the subtitles were displayed in a table and I simply had to choose the desired target language (Spanish, for my project). This platform employs Google Translate, so the entire file was processed in less than 30 seconds.
After the subtitles were translated, I could edit them if I found any mistakes before saving the resulting subtitle file. Additionally, I’ve used this subtitle editor for a documentary-style project, translating English subtitles into French and Hindi. The process was nearly identical and I received the results within a minute. Sadly, this platform doesn’t support batch processing.
My colleague Kate from FixThePhoto, used TranslateSubtitles when working on a travel video. She translated English subtitles into German and Italian. While she was happy with the speed of this tool, Kate found several contextual mistakes, primarily related to slang and idioms, meaning she had to fix them manually. That said, she still appreciated how efficient TranslateSubtitles is at quickly creating a base translation of a large text file before proofreading it.
Pricing:
Compatibility: Web, iOS, Android
Notta might be the best AI subtitle translator in terms of versatility, as I used it to process a YouTube video tutorial by simply copying its link. The platform performed the transcription process automatically within 60 seconds. After the subtitles were generated, I employed the provided translator to transform them into French, Hindu, and Czech languages. The side-by-side comparison of both text versions made it more convenient to edit the result.
The AI-created translations offered terrific accuracy, even though I had to edit a couple of phrases manually to ensure they fit the context. The entire process took me less than 3 minutes. I saved the subtitles in SRT format, meaning I can easily import them into any video editing tool I want. Moreover, Notta can be integrated with such third-party solutions as Slack, Salesforce, and Zapier, which should be useful to many business users.
My colleagues from FixThePhoto employed Notta for a lengthy interview video that needed Spanish and Italian subtitles. Kate and Ann praised the automatic transcription speed. Moreover, they enjoyed using the mobile version of this solution, as it allowed them to make fast edits on the fly. We all believe that this is the best subtitle translator for Android and iOS that offers terrific AI-based functionality as long as you’re willing to make a couple of manual corrections.
Pricing:
Compatibility: Windows and MacOS
I use Adobe Premiere Pro when working on the majority of my videos. It offers the best way to translate subtitles if you’re primarily looking for robust video editing software. It has a user-friendly UI, adjustable timeline, handy shortcuts, and in-depth media management functionality. It recently received an AI-based subtitle translation tool and I was very eager to test it.
I opened a 4-minute interview in English and employed Premiere-Pro to automatically generate captions for it. The speech-to-text accuracy was top-notch, as I only had to fix a couple of small mistakes. I then pressed “Translate Captions” in the Captions menu and chose Italian, Dutch, and Spanish. The AI-based translation tool performed its task incredibly quickly, taking less than 40 seconds to process the entire video.
The produced translations were largely accurate, even though I had to reword several complex phrases to ensure they read naturally. I exported the subtitles in SRT format to ensure they were compatible with other software and media players. Additionally, I used the recently added beta AI-based feature that recognizes visuals as people, objects, and locations across thousands of videos within seconds, which is great if you’re looking for scenes with dialogue that require subtitles.
Kate used the Generative extend (beta) tool that let her extend footage to fill missing parts and create smoother transitions, which can be also useful for timing subtitles. She leveraged this feature to hold a shot longer to fit the translated subtitle, and the result was perfect. The software’s color management functionality now automatically transforms raw and log footage into polished, cinematic videos. This can save a lot of time, particularly when dealing with videos recorded on several cameras that require a consistent visual style.
Pricing:
Compatibility: Web
Maestra AI allowed me to translate a 15-minute English video guide with subtitles into French. The delivered results are fairly accurate, meaning I only had to make a couple of small edits to match the context of the tutorial. I leveraged the available tools to tweak the subtitles and then save them in my preferred video format. Maestra AI just might be the best free online subtitle translator in terms of user-friendliness.
I greatly enjoy the ability to work on the same project with my coworkers simultaneously, which has done wonders for improving our productivity. This platform lets you import videos from YouTube without having to upload them manually. This is perfect for YouTube content creators who want to adjust existing subtitles straight from Maestra AI.
Kate has also tried out this platform to translate a French documentary into English. She praised both the upload and translation process, noting that Maestra AI excels at dealing with videos of any length or format. That said, Kate did feel like this software wasn't great at tackling idioms, forcing her to translate them manually to ensure their meaning was clear.
Pricing:
Compatibility: Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android, iPad
I decided to test Adobe Express to evaluate how it compares to the best free subtitle translator options. This solution allows you to design stunning social media assets, promo videos, and single-page sites. Additionally, it provides a translation feature to relieve you from the need of having to manually translate your subtitles thanks to the GPT-4-powered AI model available in 46 languages.
I used its automated captioning feature to create subtitles for my tutorial. It only took me a couple of clicks to import a 10-minute video and employ this video editing software for Windows and MacOS to automatically generate relevant captions with proper timing. I translated the subtitles from English to German and Italian by leveraging the available functionality. Editing the generated text is also very convenient, as I can even change its fonts, colors, and positioning.
Other than supporting subtitle translation, Adobe Express can also:
Pricing:
Compatibility: Web
While I don’t think SubtitleBee is the best subtitle translator software out there, I was still satisfied with its user-friendliness and fast generation speeds, as well as the range of supported languages. Even though it’s not as accurate as some other options, the provided customization freedom partly makes up for it.
This solution offers a simple workflow that consists of importing a video in English and then delegating the subtitle generation to the AI. This only takes a couple of minutes and afterward you can click on “Translate Subtitles” and choose the target languages for your video subtitles. This platform offers a side-by-side view of the original and translated text, making it easier to find possible mistakes. After I have proofread the translation for my tutorial video, I saved separate versions of it with subtitles in different languages.
Kate used SubtitleBee to create French subtitles for an interview video and then translated them into English and Spanish. She praised the software’s ability to change the style, font, color, and location of the subtitles. The translation results were acceptable, with idioms once again being the biggest problem.
Pricing:
Compatibility: Web
Kapwing allows you to receive AI-provided subtitle translation in over 70 languages, while also leveraging SRT/VTT editing, AI dubbing, and brand-dedicated translation policies. I started by opening a brief interview video in English with premade SRT captions. I appreciated the ability to either import a subtitle file or create captions from scratch.
I pressed "Translate Subtitles" and chose Spanish, Dutch, and Portuguese, while the AI took care of everything else. It only took Kapwing a couple of seconds to translate the subtitles and I could compare both versions of the text side-by-side, which made proofreading a lot more convenient. This software lets me tweak the subtitles before saving the results.
While I was mostly happy with the translation, I still edited several sentences to make them flow better. Afterward, I exported the subtitles in SRT, VTT, and TXT formats. This software was also developed to serve as a text to speech converter, enabling you to receive realistic, AI-generated voices.
Kate used Kapwing to translate subtitles for a video lecture in French into English and Spanish. The translation was largely on-point, outside of a couple of phrases that needed light editing. The AI dubbing feature also performed incredibly, despite the slight mispronunciation of several words. Kate also appreciated the ability to save the subtitles in multiple formats (SRT, VTT, TXT) to ensure they’re compatible with different platforms.
Since I create videos for FixThePhoto daily, I constantly need subtitles for my tutorials and promo footage. They are crucial for making the content more accessible and engaging, and missing or poorly implemented subtitles can make the video look unprofessional or even unwatchable. Here are the typical problems I’ve encountered when dealing with subtitle translation and how to deal with them.
❌ Inaccurate translations that disfigure the original meaning
I previously created a tutorial that featured the words "soften the edges" (about a Photoshop feature), which were translated into a phrase unrelated to the subject. This type of problem will confuse viewers who don’t speak English and might make them close the video.
✔️ It’s mandatory to proofread your translations manually, particularly when it comes to industry-specific phrases. AI tools like Premiere Pro or Maestra are among the best software for subtitle translation since they are better at recognizing content related to specific knowledge areas.
❌ Bad timing and synchronization problems
When working on a behind-the-scenes video for a portrait shoot, it caught my eye that the generated subtitles were a second behind, making it difficult to follow the speaker. Poor timing is particularly annoying when watching dynamic content like tutorials or interviews.
✔️ Prioritize software that supports subtitle timing adjustments. In Adobe Premiere Pro, I can easily tweak the captions to match speech perfectly. AI solutions are great for time-efficiency, but human overseeing is still paramount.
❌ Poor formatting or line breaks
One of our clients asked for revisions since the subtitles took up too much screen space, making the footage appear cluttered. Some tools try to fit lengthy sentences into a single subtitle, which isn’t always optimal for the viewer.
✔️ The general recommendation is 37–42 characters per line, and break sentences during natural pauses. I rely on Notta, Adobe Express or Premiere Pro to format the subtitles in my videos.
❌ Missing punctuation or capitalization
Some time ago, I used a free subtitle translator for a vlog on image editing, and the generated text didn’t have any punctuation. This led to captions like: “this feature is perfect for skin retouching it’s highly recommended to use it when working on studio portraits” instead of “This feature is perfect for skin retouching. It’s highly recommended to use it when working on studio portraits!”
✔️ Remember to proofread subtitles before you save the results. AI-based software like SubtitleBee does a good job preservign proper punctuation, but manual editing is still essential.
❌ Missing cultural context and incorrect tone
When handling a rap music video, I detected that slang like "on fire" (in the sense of “impressive”) was translated literally, leading the viewer to believe that something was actually in flames, which can feel very jarring.
✔️ Use software that allows you to edit the generated text manually. When working on important creative projects, it’s advised to ask a native speaker to proofread the translated subtitles.
Even though AI-generated translators are a lot more advanced nowadays, their accuracy can still be inconsistent. For instance, Maestra AI and Notta usually deliver contextually accurate results, but even they can benefit from proofreading industry-specific terminology or elaborate expressions. TranslateSubtitles is perfect for basic translations but might not be proficient enough to tackle nuanced idioms or turns of phrase.
Premiere Pro is the go-to choice for professionals since it features subtitle translation straight in its video editing workflow with unrestricted customization options.
Notta and SubtitleBee allow you to choose from more than 100 languages, meaning they are a fantastic pick for translating subtitles into a large number of languages.
Most software, such as Notta, Maestra AI, and Kapwing, is compatible with all the main subtitle formats like SRT, VTT, and ASS. If you're creating videos for such sites as YouTube or Vimeo, you’ll appreciate how easy they make it to save subtitles in the desired format.
Certain solutions, like Notta and Maestra AI, have a multilingual subtitle translation feature, enabling you to generate subtitles in several languages at the same time.
Yes, such software as Premiere Pro, Adobe Express, Maestra AI, and TranslateSubtitles let you make manual edits, which are necessary for improving the accuracy of your translations.
We reviewed more than 25 subtitle translators, including Google Translate, Happy Scribe, Rev, VEED.IO, SendShort, YouTube Tools, Notta, Aegisub, OnlineSubtitleTranslator & Editor, Vovsoft SubtitleTranslator, EditingTools, Flixier and many others. While every option has its fair share of benefits, most weren’t good enough to be listed above.
I think TranslateSubtitles is the best subtitle translator app because of its high accuracy, free distribution, user-friendliness, and a large range of supported formats. Notta earned its 2nd place thanks to its high translation speed and accuracy, even though it’s missing some cutting-edge tools like AI dubbing. Premiere Pro took the third sport with its robust editing functionality, but it suffers from requiring more manual work when handling translated subtitles compared to the previous two options.
Accuracy and context awareness. We employed subtitle translators to handle a wide selection of videos, including interviews, guides, and cinematic projects. To evaluate the provided accuracy, we compared the AI-created translations with human-made translations. Some software had trouble with slang, cultural references, and industry-focused terms. For example, when translating dialogue from a movie with local idioms from Italian to English, some software missed the intended nuance, while others like Premiere Pro produced a more natural result.
Supported languages and format compatibility. We accounted for the number of supported languages and whether the software is compatible with popular subtitle formats like SRT, VTT, and ASS. Notta, for instance, supports SRT files and enables us to edit subtitles manually, while certain cloud-based solutions lack lesser-used languages like Icelandic or Lithuanian. Most of our tests included English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, and Dutch.
Speed and automation. We calculated the amount of time required for each software to translate a 10-minute video. AI-powered platforms like Adobe Express and SubtitleBee provided the translation in a matter of seconds while solutions that require manual editing, like Aegisub, took a lot more time.
Audio-to-text conversion. As most people want to have the subtitles be generated automatically from their video’s audio, we prioritized AI-based software with speech recognition. We opened a professional video interview and a noisy vlog in Rev and Kapwing. In our experience, the latter provides better accuracy and requires less proofreading. Meanwhile, Rev delivered solid results for the interview, but had more trouble trying to decipher overlapping speech.
Customization and editing functionality. We examined the customization options of every solution to determine if they allow formatting and tweaking the subtitles. Premiere Pro and Adobe Express offer the largest degree of freedom, enabling you to adjust the fonts, colors, and animations. SubtitleBee and Kapwing are pleasantly intuitive and offer drag-and-drop editing. Meanwhile, TranslateSubtitles and Notta don’t have any notable customization options but are great for editing the text itself.