Who uses it
| You are | What to do |
|---|---|
| A YouTuber adding foreign-language captions | Download your SBV or SRT from YouTube Studio, translate, upload as a new language |
| A teacher or course creator | Translate the VTT of a lesson; keep cue IDs so your player still matches |
| Watching a film with subtitles in the wrong language | Translate the SRT, then load it in VLC or your TV player |
| Learning a language | Tick Bilingual to see the original and your language together |
| Fansubbing | Translate the .ass file; Aegisub styles and karaoke tags are kept |
How the translation works
- The translation runs on your device with the translator built into Chrome and Edge on Windows, Mac and Linux. The first time you translate a language pair, the browser downloads a language pack once; after that it works offline.
- Only the words are translated. Numbering, timestamps, cue settings, ASS styles and position tags such as {\an8} are copied from your file unchanged, so the result lines up with the video exactly like the original.
- Two-line cues stay two lines when the translation is long; repeated lines are translated once and reused.
- On Safari, Firefox or a phone, copy the numbered lines into ChatGPT, DeepL or Google Translate and paste the answer back — the tool rebuilds the file with the original timing.
Supported subtitle formats
| Format | Typical source | What is kept |
|---|---|---|
| SRT (.srt) | YouTube, Premiere, DaVinci, CapCut, most downloads | Numbers, timestamps, <i> italics, {\an8} positions |
| WebVTT (.vtt) | Web players, Vimeo, online courses | WEBVTT header, NOTE blocks, cue IDs and settings |
| SBV (.sbv) | YouTube Studio caption download | Timestamps |
| ASS / SSA (.ass, .ssa) | Anime fansubs, Aegisub | Script info, styles, layers, margins, override tags |
The download keeps the format you uploaded. Need an SRT from a video that has no subtitles yet? Use the SRT generator or add subtitles to video.
ScribeCue vs. other subtitle translators
| ScribeCue | TranslateSubtitles.co | VEED | DST (syedgakbar.com) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Account needed | No | No | Yes | No for free use |
| Where your file goes | Stays on your device | Uploaded | Uploaded | Sent to an AI provider |
| Formats | SRT, VTT, SBV, ASS/SSA | SRT, SUB, SBV, ASS, VTT, STL | SRT, TXT download | SRT, VTT, ASS, SUB |
| Keeps ASS styles and {\an8} positions | Yes | — | — | Yes |
| Bilingual subtitles (original + translation) | Yes | — | — | — |
| Several languages in one go | Yes, one ZIP (Pro or pack) | — | Yes | — |
| Edit each line before download | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Competitor details are from their public pages, checked 4 November 2026; a dash means we could not confirm it.
Free, and what needs a plan
| Free | Pro ($12/mo) or any pack (from $6) | |
|---|---|---|
| File length | Any length | Any length |
| Languages per run | One | Several at once, downloaded as one ZIP |
| Bilingual subtitles, editing, all four formats | Yes | Yes |
| Sign-up | Not needed | Needed to buy |
Frequently asked questions
Is there a free subtitle translator without sign-up?
Yes. ScribeCue translates SRT, VTT, SBV and ASS subtitles for free in your browser with no account; one language per run, any file length.
Does it keep ASS styles and positions?
Yes. Script info, styles, layers, margins and override tags such as {\an8} or {\pos} are kept; only the dialogue text is translated.
How good is the translation?
It is machine translation, comparable to a browser translate button: clear dialogue reads well, slang and names sometimes need a fix. Every line is editable before you download.
Can it translate subtitles inside an MP4 or MKV?
It translates subtitle files. If your video has no subtitle file, create one first with ScribeCue's SRT generator or Add subtitles to video tool.
What about YouTube videos?
For a YouTube link, use ScribeCue's YouTube transcript translator, which fetches the captions for you.