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12.06.2025

What Does It Cost to Translate a Video? A Professional Cost Comparison

What Does It Cost to Translate a Video? A Professional Cost Comparison

Demand for multilingual video content is rising fast – whether for marketing, e-learning, internal training, or social media. But one key question always comes up:
How much does it actually cost to translate a video professionally?

As you might expect, it depends on how you approach it.

In this article, we break down:

  • The main translation methods available
  • Typical costs per minute
  • Strengths and weaknesses of each option
  • And why AI-driven platforms like Dubly hit the sweet spot between cost, speed, and quality

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

Automatic Subtitles Using Basic AI Tools

What it involves:

  • Auto-transcription of speech
  • Machine translation
  • Automated subtitle generation

Pros:

  • Extremely fast
  • Minimal cost
  • Built into many platforms (e.g. YouTube)

Cons:

  • Inaccurate translations
  • No brand control or tone-of-voice adaptation
  • Weak timing and formatting
  • Not suitable for professional use

Cost estimate:

Essentially free, but with clear quality limitations

AI-Powered Translation & Voiceover with Dubly

What it involves:

  • Upload video to Dubly
  • Automated transcription and translation
  • Generation of synthetic voiceover using natural-sounding AI voices
  • Optional: lip sync, custom vocabulary, audio optimization, multi-speaker handling, native speaker review
  • Export as audio or fully synced video

Pros:

  • High-quality voice output in 30+ languages
  • Fast turnaround: minutes, not days
  • Affordable even at scale
  • Fully editable translations and glossaries
  • Optional review by native speakers
  • Exportable audio for all major platforms
  • GDPR-compliant, EU-hosted infrastructure

Cons:

  • Extreme emotion (e.g., screaming or crying) may need minor manual adjustments

Cost estimate:

€2–€4 per minute, depending on language, features, and volume

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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.

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