Use Cases
12.06.2025
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

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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