How Much Does Live Church Translation Cost?

What are the three ways to translate a church service?

• Human interpreters: a bilingual person translates the sermon, either out loud from the front or quietly into a microphone.
• A headset system: an interpreter speaks into a transmitter and listeners hear the translation on receivers with earpieces. The system still needs a human interpreter.
• An AI translation app: software listens to the preacher and shows translated captions on a screen or on phones.

Each option has a different kind of cost. Interpreters cost people time, whether paid or volunteer. Headset systems add equipment on top of the interpreter. AI apps are usually a monthly subscription based on hours, weeks or languages.

How much do human interpreters cost?

You can still work out your own number in a few minutes. Ask one or two local interpreters or agencies for an hourly rate, then use this simple calculation:

1. Hours per week: count every service you want translated, plus time to arrive early and prepare.
2. Multiply by the hourly rate you were quoted.
3. Multiply by the number of interpreters. If you need several languages, you need at least one interpreter for each language.
4. Multiply by the number of weeks you hold services in a year, then divide by 12 for a monthly figure.

Even when interpreters are volunteers, count the hidden cost: finding a replacement when someone is sick, training new people, and the strain on a few faithful bilingual members every single week. Our page on AI translation versus interpreters compares the two.

How much does a church headset translation system cost?

To estimate a headset system, add the one-time equipment cost from a reseller quote (a transmitter, one receiver and earpiece per listener, an interpreter microphone or headset, and charging equipment) to the ongoing interpreter cost you worked out above. Then leave a little room each year for replacing lost or broken receivers and earpieces.

A headset system does not replace the interpreter. It only carries the interpreter's voice to listeners more quietly. See AI captions versus headsets for a closer look.

How much do AI church translation apps cost?

AI apps are the only option where we could check real published prices. The figures below are listed on each company's website, checked September 2026, with cost per hour worked out from the price and hours listed.

Why does per-language billing matter for churches?

Some services charge for each language separately. SyncWords and Maestra bill per language, and Glossa's pay as you go plan is $5 an hour per language. A 90-minute service translated into three languages at $5 an hour per language uses 4.5 language hours, which is $22.50 for that one service.

Sermon Translate charges for the audio transcribed, not per language. One stream covers every language you show, including up to 5 at once in Multiple mode. If your church serves several language groups, check this before you compare headline prices.

What does Sermon Translate cost in detail?

• Free trial: 15 minutes of live translation, one time, no credit card. There is no free unlimited plan.
• Basic: $19.99 a month or $149 a year, 12 hours a month, 1 active device.
• Standard: $34 a month or $290 a year, 30 hours a month, up to 2 active devices, full transcripts, AI sermon notes and custom vocabulary.
• Extra hour packs, one time, with unused hours carrying over: 1 hour $3.00, 5 hours $13.99, 10 hours $24.99, 20 hours $44.99.
• QR Code Join add-on: $10 a month, so listeners can read on their own phones with no account.

Hours reset every calendar month, including on annual plans. Two honest limits to budget around: without QR Code Join, each listener's own phone needs its own account, and the app gives text captions only, with no spoken audio. For a small congregation, our small church page has more detail.

Next step

Count your service hours per month, then try the free 15-minute trial with your real sound feed to see whether captions meet your congregation's needs. The pricing page lists every plan, and the comparison page helps you weigh the alternatives.

Frequently asked questions

How much does church translation cost per hour?

For AI apps, published prices checked in September 2026 include about $1.13 an hour on Sermon Translate Standard, about $4.80 on Kaleo Starter, and about $150 an hour on Wordly's 10-hour package. We could not verify published hourly rates for human interpreters.

How much does a church translation headset system cost?

Manufacturers such as Listen Technologies, Williams AV and Enersound do not publish retail prices; systems are quoted through resellers. Remember that a headset system still needs an interpreter.

Is there free church translation software?

Sermon Translate has a one-time 15-minute free trial and no free unlimited plan. Hope Translator lists a free plan with 30 minutes a month for 5 listeners.

Do AI translation apps charge per language?

Some do. SyncWords, Maestra and Glossa's pay as you go plan bill per language. Sermon Translate charges for the audio transcribed, so one stream covers all languages.

Sources

• Selah Translate pricing
• Hope Translator pricing
• Kaleo
• Glossa
• Breeze Translate pricing

Try Sermon Translate at your next service

Start with a free 15-minute trial, no credit card needed. Plans start at $19.99 a month.