Subtitle Translator

If you are using Kapwing on a Free account then all exports — including from the Subtitles Translator — will contain a watermark. Once you upgrade to a Pro Account the watermark will be completely removed from your creations, and you'll get access to 300 monthly minutes of auto-subtitling and subtitle translation into over 100 languages.

Kapwing allows subtitles translation into more than 100 languages — including Spanish, Chinese, Hindi, Arabic, and French — so you can reach people around the globe.

Yes, YouTube offers an automatic subtitle translation feature. When you upload subtitles to your YouTube video, enable the "Translate" option. YouTube's translation algorithm then uses machine learning to automatically translate the subtitles into various languages, which users can choose as they watch the video.

Keep in mind that the accuracy of YouTube's auto-captions may vary, and reportedly they tend to be only 60-70% accurate. Coupled with translating to a new language, and accuracy likely worsens. You can improve them by manually editing your subtitles files or full-length videos using an AI-powered tool like Kapwing.

Video localization is the process of adapting video content to fit the language and cultural preferences of a new audience. This often involves translating subtitles, dubbing the audio, and updating written elements like titles, captions, and descriptions.

The goal of video localization is to bring existing content to new regions and thereby increase a brand's market reach. It often offers a competitive advantage by helping brands connect with customers in new places before competitors enter those regions.

Full localization includes caption translation, but also involves making cultural adjustments, such as using country-specific references, different units of measurement, and culturally relevant visuals.

When you hardcode subtitles, you embed them directly into a video file, making them permanently visible during playback and unchangeable. Once hardcoded, the subtitles become part of the video, similar to a watermark or overlay, and cannot be turned off or adjusted. In other words, it’s like "burning" the subtitles onto the video — once they’re hardcoded, they stay there. They remain visible no matter what device or video player is used.

VTT is similar to SRT but offers more editing and styling options, making it more versatile, though it’s not always compatible with every social media platform. VTT supports additional features like metadata (e.g., title, author) and styling, making it more robust than the simpler SRT format. Here’s a quick comparison:

• SRT timecode format: hours:minutes:seconds, milliseconds
• SRT lacks metadata and styling options
• SRT is a simple, basic format
• VTT timecode format: hours:minutes:seconds.milliseconds
• VTT includes metadata
• VTT supports HTML5 features
• VTT is more robust and feature-rich than SRT

AI dubbing technology transcribes the original language of a video, aligns it with the audio, translates it, and then generates a matching voiceover in the new language. Then, the application makes changes to the audio track and original video to ensure that they're timed naturally and that other background noise is preserved. Kapwing's voice dubbing platform also clones the voice of the original speaker to ensure that the new voice matches it as closely as possible. Supported by ElevenLabs AI dubbing, Kapwing has a built-in video dubber, making it a video editing platform where you can dub a video, auto-generate subtitles, and continue editing in one online location.

SDH refers to subtitles specifically designed for individuals who are Deaf or hard of hearing (hence "SDH" = "Subtitles for the Deaf and hard of hearing"). These subtitles not only capture spoken dialogue but also provide additional details like sound effects, music, and identification of speakers, assuming the viewer cannot hear the audio.

Our Subtitle Translator typically produces your translation in under a minute, though the time can vary between 1 to 3 minutes depending on your video length.

Yes, Kapwing can translate subtitles from languages like Spanish, French, Arabic and Mandarin into English, or translate English subtitles into 100+ target languages. Upload your video, audio, SRT, or VTT file, choose English as your target language, and translate your subtitles in the Studio.

Yes, upload your SRT or VTT file to Kapwing's online subtitle translator, choose your target language, and translate the subtitle text while keeping it connected to the video's existing timing. Kapwing's AI-powered translator will automatically keep the timestamps lined up after translating. Review the translation in the subtitle editor, then download the translated SRT file.