Subtitles and dubbing

Video translation comes in two forms. Subtitles keep the original audio and add translated text on screen, which is cheaper, quick to correct and familiar to many viewers. Dubbing replaces the voice track with speech in the target language, which suits viewers who prefer listening, young audiences and content watched on phones without looking at the screen. AI tools now do both: they transcribe the speech, translate it, and either time the translation as captions or generate a new voice track, sometimes cloned from the original speaker.

The tools here split along that line. Happy Scribe, Matesub and Maestra start from transcription and subtitles, with editors for timing and styling captions, and add translation and voiceover on top. Subtitle Edit is an open source desktop editor for people who work with subtitle files directly. Rask AI, HeyGen and ElevenLabs focus on AI dubbing, with voice cloning and, in some cases, lip movement adjusted to the new language. Deepdub and CaptionHub serve media companies and enterprise teams with review workflows for larger volumes.

Subtitles have rules that general translation does not. Lines have to be short enough to read at a normal pace, break at natural points and appear in sync with the speech. A good subtitle translation often condenses what was said. Check the reading speed and line length settings in any tool, and look at the exported file in the player your audience will use.

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9 AI translation tools in subtitles and dubbing

Rask AI

Video localization tool that transcribes, translates and dubs video, with voice cloning and lip sync options.

  • Developer API

HeyGen

AI video platform whose video translation feature redubs a speaker in another language and adjusts lip movement to match.

  • Developer API
  • Free plan or free tier

ElevenLabs

Voice AI company whose dubbing studio translates speech in audio and video while keeping each speaker's voice.

  • Developer API
  • Free plan or free tier

Happy Scribe

Transcription and subtitle service with an editor for timing and styling captions, plus subtitle translation.

  • Developer API
  • Human translators or interpreters available

Deepdub

AI dubbing for film, television and streaming content, combining synthetic voices with human review.

Maestra

Transcription, subtitle and voiceover tool that translates captions and generates AI voice tracks from a browser editor.

CaptionHub

Subtitle and video localization platform for enterprise teams, with review workflows and synthetic voice.

Matesub

by Translated

Subtitle editor from Translated that creates and translates captions automatically and lets you correct them on a timeline.

Subtitle Edit

by Nikse

Open source Windows subtitle editor for timing, converting and translating subtitle files in many formats.

  • Free plan or free tier
  • Open source

Dubbing raises its own questions. A cloned voice saying something the speaker never said needs that speaker's consent, and many platforms require you to confirm it. Synthetic voices can sound flat on emotional or comic material. Lip sync features work best on clear, front-facing shots. Always have a fluent speaker watch the full dubbed video, since a wrong sentence spoken aloud is harder to catch than a wrong subtitle.

Last, look at formats and handoff. Most tools export SRT and VTT subtitle files and burned-in video, and some export separate audio stems for editing. If your video team uses a specific editor or platform, check that the files drop into it cleanly.

Plan the source side too. Clean audio, a script or transcript you have already checked, and a list of names and product terms make every later step more accurate. Fixing an error in the source transcript once is cheaper than fixing it in every language afterward.

Questions about subtitles and dubbing

Should I use subtitles or dubbing?

Subtitles are cheaper, faster to correct and keep the original voice. Dubbing reaches viewers who prefer to listen or watch on small screens. Many teams subtitle most videos and dub only the ones with the widest audience, such as product demos or course content.

Is it legal to clone someone's voice for dubbing?

You should have clear permission from the person whose voice is cloned, and many platforms require you to confirm that consent. Rules differ by country, so check with counsel for commercial work with talent or public figures.

What subtitle formats do these tools export?

SRT and VTT are the most common and work with most video players and platforms. Many tools also export burned-in video and other caption formats. Check the format your video host or editor needs before you start.

How do I check an AI dub before publishing?

Have a fluent speaker watch the full video, not just read the script. Listen for wrong translations, odd pronunciation of names, timing that drifts from the picture and tone that does not fit the scene. Most tools let you fix single lines and regenerate them.

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