Translating your content is like opening up a door to limitless growth. Sometimes the problem is that you just don’t know where to start and, what’s even more important, how much will all of this cost? So, let’s answer just that.
The Cost of Translation
When creators ask about the cost of dubbing YouTube videos, the answer usually comes down to one thing: depends on your strategy. Yes, that’s a rather dull and unsatisfying answer, but it’s the truth.
The price can vary significantly depending on the approach you take, the number of videos involved, and the languages you want to target. Below are the three main localization options creators typically consider: from budget-friendly AI solutions to full-scale channel replication, and what you should expect from each.
Option 1: AI Dubbing Tools
The most budget-friendly option. AI dubbing tools have gained a lot of attention (both positive and negative) in recent years. When YouTube introduced their own built-in dubbing feature, the discussions have re-ignited anew. A lot of creators push back against it because the results are a bit wonky. However, it’s good to remember that the feature is still in its infancy, and YouTube itself keeps on improving it.
While it's true that the results are far from perfect, even in its current state we found a way to use this feature to the creator's benefit.
The reality of the matter is that no AI dubbing tool can do the job perfectly on its own. If your channel can benefit from full dubbing translation and you want it to look (or rather sound) good, you still need a mix of AI tools and human dubbing experts.
However, if you would like to explore the AI option first before diving into the full scale translations, here’s a list of tools and their price points to get you started:
- Elevenlabs - paid plan starts at around $1 per month.
- Speechify - paid plans start at $19/month for the Basic version.
- Dubverse - starting from $35 per video.
- Deepdub GO - prices vary depending on length of the video/language.
This goes to show that even with AI (the cheapest option), you would need to budget around $30-$40.
But that’s not it.
Also spare some budget for native translators who can revise everything from scripts to final dubs. Expect to pay around $10–$25 per script revision, depending on the language and complexity. It’s a small price to pay for quality that works better.
Do keep in mind that not every channel needs to be fully dubbed. If you aren’t relying heavily on narration, it would be better to go with full metadata translation instead.
Seeking the perfect solution for translating your content?
We produce cinema-quality voiceovers designed to hold attention and drive global growth — just like we’ve done for 400+ YouTube channels worldwide. By combining professional voice talent with, we deliver audio that performs. Drop us a message to learn more.
Option 2: One-off Expert Dubbing
On the other hand, if you’re truly serious about growing your channel in other languages, you’ll need more than just tech: you’ll need experts.
There are YouTube-specialized dubbing teams that can take your top-performing videos, translate them, and produce movie-level dubbed versions with native-speaking voice actors (all optimized for YouTube success).
This is ideal for creators who want results without the DIY efforts.
Let’s be clear: YouTube-first localization isn’t the same as general media dubbing. Which is why it’s better to work with YouTube-recommended teams.
Here’s a questionnaire that will help you to spot a team that knows all the ins and outs of YouTube:
- Do they have a portfolio of localized YouTube channels?
- Do they handle channel optimization and promotion as well?
The pricing for this kind of dubbing depends on the number of videos, their length, and the languages you want to cover. Need an estimate? Contact us and we’ll calculate a custom quote for you.
Option 3: Full Scale Localization
This option is built for larger creators, who already have strong traction.
We’re talking channels with millions (or tens of millions) views. Turnkey localization (full channel localization) it’s a process where a team of experts launches full-fledged translated versions of your channel completely from scratch. They handle everything from voice actors, AI tools, dubbing, optimization and down to the growth strategy (even thumbnail and metadata localization).
Explore the full service here: Translation & Localization
What makes this model unique? There are no upfront costs for the creator. Instead, everything operates on a revenue share model. So you earn from the new localized channels while the team handles the heavy lifting.
Amelka Karamelka Case
Full localization of channels is no easy feat, but with the AIR Media-Tech team by your side it’s very manageable. Point in case: Amelka Karamelka channel. We helped them fully localize in several key languages: first testing waters with Bulgarian, then Hungarian, Polish, Greek, Georgian, and French. The results were amazing!
Brave Wilderness Case
The man, the myth, the legend. Brave Wilderness channel is that popular for a good reason. We helped them fully localize in: Spanish, German, French, Polish, Hungarian, Italian, Bulgarian, Portuguese, and Italian languages. And in just short six months, the results spoke for themselves.
Remember: we’re here to help. Reach out for a free consultation: we’ll answer any questions you might have, help calculate costs, and guide you towards the most efficient dubbing and localization strategy for your content.
