Use Cases
September 12, 2025
What Does It Cost to Translate a Video? A Professional Cost Comparison

Traditional Studio Dubbing with Voice Actors
What it involves:
- Script translation by a localization agency
- Voice talent selection for each target language
- Studio recording and editing
- Syncing and post-production
- (Optional) Manual lip sync matching
Pros:
- Very high production quality
- Fully customizable tone and voice selection
- Ideal for high-stakes, creative projects
Cons:
- Expensive and time-consuming
- Limited scalability
- Requires significant project coordination
Cost estimate:
€150–€400 per minute, depending on language, voice actor rates, studio costs, and complexity
Manual Subtitling via Translation Agencies
What it involves:
- Manual transcription of original video
- Professional human translation
- Subtitle timecoding and formatting
- Output as SRT or burned-in subtitles
Pros:
- More affordable than dubbing
- Widely accepted across platforms
- Good for clear, informational content
Cons:
- Viewers must read while watching
- Less immersive and emotional
- Not ideal for all audiences or use cases
Cost estimate:
€8–€20 per minute, depending on language pair, formatting, and vendor

Automatische Untertitelung mit Standard-KI
Was passiert dabei?
- Auto-Transkription und maschinelle Übersetzung
- Generierung von Untertiteln durch KI
- Geringer oder kein menschlicher Eingriff
Vorteile:
- Sehr schnell
- Niedrige Kosten
- Integriert in viele Plattformen (z. B. YouTube, LinkedIn)
Nachteile:
- Häufige Übersetzungsfehler
- Keine stilistische Kontrolle
- Ungenaue Timestamps und schlechte Lesbarkeit
- Kein Branding oder technisches Vokabular möglich
Kostenrahmen:
Nahezu kostenlos, aber auf Kosten der Professionalität
KI-basierte Übersetzung & Voiceover mit Dubly
Was passiert dabei?
- Video wird hochgeladen und automatisch transkribiert
- Übersetzung durch fortschrittliche Sprachmodelle
- Audio wird mit natürlichen KI-Stimmen erzeugt
- Optional: Lip Sync, Glossar, Native Speaker Control, mehrere Sprecher, Audio-Optimierung
- Ausgabe als Audiofile oder vollständig synchronisiertes Video
Vorteile:
- Hochwertige Ergebnisse in 30+ Sprachen
- Extrem schnell: Minuten statt Wochen
- Deutlich günstiger als Studiosynchron
- Anpassbar und skalierbar
- Datenschutzkonform & DSGVO-sicher
- Optional mit menschlichem Feinschliff (Native Speaker Review)
- Ideal für YouTube, E-Learning, Social Media, Unternehmensvideos
Nachteile:
- Bei extrem emotionalem oder schauspielerischem Content ggf. manuelle Nachbearbeitung sinnvoll
Kostenrahmen:
2 – 4 € pro Minute, je nach Sprache, Funktionsumfang und Volumen
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Summary: The Right Balance Between Cost and Quality
When comparing different methods for video translation and localization, the differences in cost, quality, effort, and scalability are clear:
- Traditional studio dubbing is the most expensive option, at around €150 to €400 per minute. It delivers excellent quality but requires significant effort and is difficult to scale.
- Manual subtitling costs between €8 and €20 per minute. It offers medium quality, requires moderate effort, and provides moderate scalability.
- Automatic subtitles using basic AI are virtually free and highly scalable but deliver low quality and require minimal effort. They're best suited for simple content.
- Dubly with AI voiceover costs only €2 to €4 per minute. It offers high quality, minimal effort, and excellent scalability.
If you want to translate videos professionally, quickly, and at a sustainable cost, Dubly offers one of the best options available – with outstanding voice quality, lip sync capabilities, and full control over the result.
Why do video translation prices vary so much?
Costs depend on length, number of target languages, quality requirements, and extras like lip sync or voice cloning.
Why is AI-powered translation cheaper than traditional dubbing?
Traditional dubbing requires studios, voice actors, and long production cycles. AI reduces effort significantly and lowers costs.
What makes Dubly’s cost-performance ratio attractive?
Dubly combines fast turnaround with professional results, offers flexible pricing models, and scales easily for high volumes.
When are additional services worth the investment?
For high-stakes campaigns, sensitive topics, or legally relevant content, native speaker review ensures maximum accuracy.
How should companies evaluate the overall cost?
Look beyond the per-minute rate and consider time savings, audience growth, and quality improvements. This makes AI translation highly cost-effective.
Über den Autor

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