OBS doesn't have built-in subtitle or translation features, but the right plugin (or browser source) can add real-time captioning and multi-language translation to any stream. Here's every option worth considering in 2026.
OBS Subtitle & Translation Tools
#1 Best Overall (Browser Source)
StreamTranslate Editor's Pick
Not technically an OBS plugin — it's better. StreamTranslate works as a browser source URL. Add it to your OBS scene and instantly get real-time translated subtitles. No plugin to install, no updates to manage, no GPU required. 65 languages, sub-500ms latency.
- No plugin install — just paste a URL
- 65 language translation (not just captions)
- Works on any OBS version, any OS
- Sub-500ms latency
- Customizable subtitle appearance
💰 From $9.99/month · Setup guide
#2 Best Free Plugin
LocalVocal
Open-source OBS plugin using OpenAI Whisper AI running locally on your GPU. Best free option for English captions. Translation exists but accuracy doesn't match cloud services. Requires RTX 3060+ for smooth performance.
- Free and open source
- Runs locally — no data leaves your PC
- Requires decent GPU (RTX 3060+ recommended)
- English captions are solid; translation is inconsistent
💰 Free · OBS Plugin Marketplace
#3
Polyglot OBS Plugin
OBS plugin that uses Google Cloud or DeepL APIs for translation. Good accuracy via cloud APIs. Requires setting up your own API keys and managing per-minute costs. More technical than StreamTranslate.
- Good translation quality via neural machine translation
- API key setup required
- Pay-per-use costs (can get expensive on long streams)
💰 Free plugin + API costs
#4
OBS Closed Captions Plugin
Simple plugin for sending captions via Twitch, YouTube, X, and TikTok's built-in caption channel. Viewers must enable captions in Twitch's player settings. Not visible as an overlay — captions appear in the Twitch player's CC track. English only.
💰 Free
#5
obs-websocket + Custom Scripts
For developers: use obs-websocket with a custom speech-to-text pipeline to create your own subtitle overlay. Maximum customization but requires serious coding skills. Not recommended for non-developers.
💰 Free (development time not included)
Plugin vs Browser Source: Which Approach?
- Browser source (StreamTranslate): Zero install, auto-updates, works everywhere, includes translation
- OBS plugin (LocalVocal, Polyglot): Requires install + updates, may conflict with OBS versions, but runs locally
For most streamers, the browser source approach wins. StreamTranslate gives you translation + captions with zero technical setup. If you specifically need offline/local processing and have a powerful GPU, LocalVocal requires technical OBS configuration and has no translation support.