Which YouTube subtitle translator should I use?
Start with YouTube's own auto-translate when a video has captions; switch when names come out wrong or there are no captions at all. WatchTranslate translates captions with the surrounding lines in view, and writes subtitles from the audio when a video has none.
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YouTube subtitle translators side by side
How YouTube's built-in option and three extensions handle the same jobs, each cell sourced to the vendor's own page.
| CC button greyed out | Off YouTube | Price model | |
|---|---|---|---|
| WatchTranslate | Generates captions from what people say, then translates[1] | Same extension on X, Bilibili and other sites; files and phone apps too[1, 2, 3] | Points per minute after 20 free; already-translated videos usually free[4] |
| Immersive Translate | Audio-made subtitles belong to Pro[5] | Lists dozens of other video platforms[6] | Pro membership for audio subtitles[5] |
| Trancy | YouTube-only AI Subtitle with Premium[7] | Streaming and course sites with their own captions[8] | Premium plan[9] |
| Built-in YouTube translation | Can't help: it translates existing captions[10] | Not available[10] | No charge[10] |
This table is WatchTranslate's own summary; we are not connected with the other products named.
Start from the problem you have
Most YouTube viewers don't need an extension until something goes wrong: the translated captions stop making sense, the CC button is greyed out, or the video they want lives somewhere else. Each of these points to a different tool.
Auto-translate garbles names and slang
YouTube's auto-translate can lose the context: on an episode of the Turkish series Sevdiğim Sensin we captured it turning the heroine's name, Dicle, into the Tigris river. WatchTranslate translates each line with its neighbours in view, so names and forms of address hold steady.
The video has no captions
Pick a tool that can listen. WatchTranslate does it on any supported site with pay-per-minute points; Immersive Translate does it in Pro; Trancy does it in Premium, on YouTube only.
You also watch elsewhere
If X, Bilibili, other video sites or your own files matter, WatchTranslate covers them in the same extension, and its Android and iPhone apps open web videos in a built-in browser.
A YouTube video we tried
On a computer with the live extension, signed out of YouTube, on a video with no caption track, using audio recognition.
- Works
Japanese street interview · first English line in about 10 s
The video had no caption track. Audio recognition picked up the Japanese speech; English on top, Japanese below.
Tested 8 Nov 2026 · extension 0.5.732 · Chrome · signed out of YouTube
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Try it on the YouTube video whose captions don't make sense.
About YouTube subtitle translators
What is the best YouTube subtitle translator extension?
It depends on the problem: WatchTranslate for no-caption videos and sites beyond YouTube, Trancy for vocabulary study, YouTube's own auto-translate for the gist.
Is YouTube's auto-translate good enough?
For the gist, often. We have seen it slip on names and slang, and it needs captions to start from.
How do I translate a YouTube video without captions?
Use a tool that listens: in WatchTranslate, click WT on the player and choose audio recognition.
Do I need to sign in to YouTube?
No. Our tests were run signed out of YouTube.
Can I keep the original caption visible?
Yes, choose bilingual display with the translation or original on top.
Can I use it on YouTube on my phone?
Yes, inside the Android and iPhone apps' built-in browser.
What does it cost?
20 free minutes, then per minute in points; a video someone already translated is usually free.
Can I export the subtitles?
Yes, as SRT or VTT.
Keep reading
Related comparisons
YouTube problems
Keep the result
More: All articles · YouTube video translator
Sources (checked on the date shown)
- watchtranslate.com/supported-sites ·
- watchtranslate.com/app/download ·
- watchtranslate.com/guides/watch-local-video-without-subtitles ·
- watchtranslate.com/pricing ·
- immersivetranslate.com/en/video/watch-foreign-movies-with-english-subtitles/ ·
- immersivetranslate.com/en/video/ ·
- manual.trancy.org/en/billing-and-plans/faq ·
- manual.trancy.org/en/get-started/use-extension/bilingual-subtitles ·
- manual.trancy.org/en/billing-and-plans/premium ·
- support.google.com/youtube/answer/6373554?hl=en ·