Can't find your question? The guide on how to translate a church service covers the whole process, and the first service checklist helps you prepare. You can also try it yourself: every new church account gets a free 10-minute trial service.
Frequently asked questions about live church translation
Everything churches and listeners usually ask before their first translated service: how it works, what you need, which languages are available, what it costs and what happens to the data.
Frequently asked questions
How do listeners join a translated service?
They scan the church's QR code with their phone camera, or open the church's link, choose a language and start listening. It works in the browser on any smartphone. The listener guide explains it step by step.
Do listeners need an account or an app?
No. There is no account and nothing to install. For iPhone there is also an app in the App Store for those who prefer it; on Android the browser works fine.
What do listeners hear and see?
A translated voice that follows the speaker a few seconds behind, plus live captions in their language. They can switch the audio off and only read the captions, show the original text alongside the translation, or use a large-text reading mode.
Do listeners need earbuds?
For the translated audio, yes: one earbud or headphones, so the people around them are not disturbed. Without earbuds they can still follow the live captions.
Can listeners get the text after the service?
Yes. Listeners can ask to receive the transcript by e-mail in their language after the service. The e-mail address is deleted after 30 days.
What does our church need to get started?
A laptop or phone with a browser, a stable internet connection and the sound of the speaker. The best audio comes from a feed from the mixing desk, for example through a USB audio interface. See audio setup.
Do we need receivers, headsets or an interpreting booth?
No. Listeners use their own phones and earbuds. The church only runs the broadcast from a laptop or phone.
Who runs the broadcast during the service?
Usually the sound or media volunteer. In the broadcast studio they pick the microphone input, check the level meter, show the QR code and press start. There is a pause button and a stop button. You can invite several team members so the rota does not depend on one person.
Which languages can listeners choose?
Eleven: English, Norwegian, Ukrainian, Polish, Romanian, Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, Arabic and Dutch. The church chooses which of these visitors may pick. Languages such as Russian, Chinese, Farsi or Tigrinya are not available; more languages may follow.
Which languages can the preacher speak?
The AI understands many spoken languages. The technician sets the speaker language (Dutch by default, so set it to English in an English-speaking church) and can switch it with one tap during the service, for example for a guest speaker.
Can several languages run at the same time?
Yes. Each listener picks their own language, so one sermon can be heard in several languages at once. This is how international churches use it every week.
Is there a limit to the number of listeners?
No. Listeners per language are unlimited and cost nothing extra.
How does pricing work?
You pay in credits. 1 credit is 1 minute of translation into 1 language, and a language only uses credits while someone is listening to it. A 120-minute service into English, Spanish and Ukrainian uses 3 × 120 = 360 credits. See the cost guide.
What plans are there?
Lite €65 a month (480 credits), Duo €100 a month (960 credits), Standaard €250 a month (2,400 credits, with transcripts by e-mail after each service and a team of technicians) and Compleet €400 a month (4,320 credits, the lowest price per credit). Full details are on the pricing page.
What happens to unused credits?
Monthly plan credits expire at the start of the next month. Extra credit packs never expire: 300 credits for €50, 600 for €90 and 1,800 for €255. Packs suit churches that only translate now and then.
Can we try it before paying?
Yes. After you register your church, you get a free 10-minute trial service. You can also look at the demo.
Is the service recorded?
No audio recordings are stored. Text transcripts of each broadcast are kept in the church's own archive, managed by the church, and you can correct them afterwards.
Which technology processes the speech?
Audio runs over ChurchTranslate's own LiveKit server. Google's Gemini API (paid tier) recognises, translates and voices the speech. Requests on the paid API are not used to train Google's models; Google may keep them briefly for abuse monitoring. Processing is global and not guaranteed to stay within the EU. More in privacy and GDPR.
How good is the translation?
Good enough to follow a sermon, prayers and notices, with a few seconds of delay. It is not perfect: Bible names, theological terms and quotations are the hardest part. Clear speech and a clean microphone feed make the biggest difference.
How does it handle Bible names and church terms?
ChurchTranslate keeps Bible names and church terms in mind and corrects known terms in the captions using a terminology list per language. Mistakes still happen, especially with rare names. See Bible names and terms.
Does it replace a human interpreter?
For a normal Sunday sermon it is a practical alternative. For pastoral conversations, moments with legal or medical weight, or very emotional occasions such as a funeral eulogy, a human interpreter is often the better choice. Read the honest comparison in interpreter or AI translation and our page on weddings, baptisms and funerals.
Does it translate songs and hymns?
It is built for speech. Sung words may partly come through, but for hymns and choral music a printed or projected translation works better.
How much mobile data does listening use?
Some mobile data, but not a lot. Where possible, offer listeners the church Wi-Fi and put the network name next to the QR code.
Does it work at events outside the church building?
Yes, as long as there is a microphone, a stable internet connection and a laptop or phone for the broadcast. Many churches use it at conferences and events.
Can I use it to translate a conversation for myself?
Yes, with Direct translate: it translates speech through your own phone or laptop microphone, in the browser. It is separate from church broadcasts.