LiveSubtitle
Real-time speech recognition and translation
for anything you play on your Mac
Turn any audio into real-time subtitles. Perfect for accessibility, communication clarity, language learning, and understanding foreign content. Watch foreign shows and movies that don't come with subtitles.
Available on the Mac App Store
Download LiveSubtitle today and understand every word — no matter the language.
Start with 30 minutes free daily, upgrade anytime.
Advanced Speech Recognition
Powered by cutting-edge AI models for accurate real-time transcription of any audio playing on your Mac.
Multi-Language Translation
Instantly translate subtitles into your preferred language. Support for dozens of languages worldwide.
Beautiful Interface
Clean, customizable subtitle display that doesn't get in your way. Adjust size, position, and styling to your preference.
Privacy First
All processing happens locally on your Mac. Your audio data and subtitles never leave your device. Complete privacy guaranteed.
Perfect For
Whatever you're watching or listening to
Video Content
Movies, shows, YouTube videos, and online courses
Podcasts & Audio
Podcasts, audiobooks, and any audio content
Meetings & Calls
Zoom calls, phone calls, presentations, and conferences. Perfect for accent barriers too.
Learning
Language learning, lectures, and educational content
Language Support
Comprehensive multilingual capabilities
9 Spoken Languages (Content)
Transcription Quality: Varies by language and topic but often Surprisingly Good. Not recommended for critical use-cases.
19 Translation Languages (Subtitle)
Translation Quality: Decent to Better Than Nothing. Good enough for casual entertainment but not accurate enough for business use.
Simple Pricing
Choose the plan that works for you
Free
Perfect for trying out LiveSubtitle
- ✓30 minutes of transcription per day
- ✓All 9 speech recognition languages
- ✓All 19 translation languages
In-App Purchase
USD pricing • Varies by country
Unlock unlimited transcription forever
- ✓Unlimited daily usage
- ✓All 9 speech recognition languages
- ✓All 19 translation languages
How to Use
Get started in three simple steps
Start the App
Launch LiveSubtitle from your Applications folder or Dock.
Select Spoken Language
Choose the right locale for better accuracy. Korean drama? Select Korea. Japanese anime? Select Japan. Indian English speaker? Select English (India).
Choose Translation
Optionally select from your Mac's preferred languages for translation. You may see a language download dialog when selecting a translation language.
RESET Button: LiveSubtitle has many moving parts working together. The RESET button is especially useful when the app doesn't seem to work — it restarts the entire processing pipeline from audio capture to transcription and translation.
See LiveSubtitle in Action
Real screenshots captured while watching the same Korean video with different translation languages selected. Each image shows LiveSubtitle translating different parts of the dialogue in real-time.
Korean (Original)
Two Display Modes
Seamlessly adapts to your viewing experience
Window Mode
The app works as a floating window that you can position anywhere on your screen. Ideal for changing the position and size of subtitles to fit your setup perfectly. You can also change spoken language, translation language, and access all controls. Perfect for when you're watching content in a window or need subtitles alongside other apps.
Fullscreen Mode
When another app goes fullscreen, LiveSubtitle automatically switches to show only the subtitle text on top of your fullscreen content. Optimized for viewing with no distracting window borders or controls. Nothing can be changed in this mode, and mouse clicks will pass through to your fullscreen app.
Automatic Transition
The mode switching is completely automatic and seamless. When any app on the same display enters fullscreen mode, LiveSubtitle automatically transitions to fullscreen mode. When the fullscreen app exits, LiveSubtitle returns to window mode. You don't need to do anything — just enjoy your content with perfect subtitles.
Troubleshooting
Common issues and solutions
No Subtitles Appearing
If subtitles aren't showing up, try these steps in order:
- 1Click the RESET button to restart the processing pipeline
- 2Check that audio is actually playing on your Mac
- 3Verify the correct spoken language is selected
- 4Try switching to a different spoken language and back
Poor Transcription Quality
If the transcription is inaccurate or missing words:
- •Set Translation language to None to see if speech is being transcribed correctly
- •Select the most specific language/locale (e.g., "English (India)" for Indian accents)
- •Recorded audio volume may be too low, like when talking while facing away from microphone.
- •Background music or noise can significantly impact accuracy
- •Technical jargon, proper names, and slang may not transcribe well
App Not Responding
If LiveSubtitle becomes unresponsive or crashes:
- •Try restarting the app
- •Check that your Mac meets the system requirements (macOS 26+ on Apple Silicon)
- •Restart your Mac if the issue persists
- •Update to the latest version from the App Store
Translation Issues
If translations aren't working or are poor quality:
- •If your desired language isn't in the translation menu, add it to your Mac's preferred languages in System Preferences → Language & Region
- •When the translation language icon goes red, it usually means translation language modules are not fully loaded — try reselecting the translation language
- •Allow language downloads when prompted by macOS. Current status can be found in Translation Languages… settings, located at the bottom of theSystem Language Settings….
- •Remember: translation quality varies and may not be suitable for critical use
- •Try turning translation off and on again if it stops working
Pro Tips
- •The RESET button is your best friend — use it whenever something seems off
- •LiveSubtitle works best with clear speech and minimal background noise
- •Different content types may require different language settings for best results
- •The app learns and adapts — give it a few seconds to warm up when starting