Polyglot CutVideo ad localization: what it involves and what it costs
Three levels of localization
- Subtitles only. Fast and cheap, works for ads where the visuals carry the message.
- Subtitles plus on-screen text. Prices, offers and headlines change too, which matters for performance ads.
- Full localization. New voiceover, re-timed edit, copy rewritten for the market and every placement size exported.
What changes besides the words
Line length is the first problem. A headline that fits in English often wraps in Dutch or Spanish, so text boxes and captions need resizing. Voiceover is the second. If the new voice runs longer, cuts that matched the old voice now land between words.
Then there are local details: currency, date format, sizes, the name of the payment method people actually use. Get one wrong and the ad reads as foreign.
Options and what they cost
Amazon Ads announced a free video translation service for Sponsored Brands creatives, with turnaround of up to 72 hours. ElevenLabs launched an Ads Engine that connects to ad accounts and localizes creatives into more than 50 languages. These help when the ad is simple and the platform is the one you use.
Agencies quote per project. One vendor article estimates $15,000 to $45,000 for a 30-second ad in five languages through a traditional agency. That is a vendor's own estimate, so treat it as an upper bound.
| Approach | Strength | Weak spot |
|---|---|---|
| Platform tools | Free or cheap, built into the ad account | Limited to that platform, little control over copy |
| AI dubbing tools | Many languages, fast | Needs a human check, layout not rebuilt |
| Agency | Full control and review | Slow and expensive for performance volume |
| Editor plus native reviewers | Rebuilt layout and checked copy | Fewer languages per delivery |
A practical checklist
Plan localization before the master is edited, not after. If the designer keeps text on separate layers and leaves a little room around each line, every language version takes hours instead of days.
- Keep a version of the master without burned-in text.
- Write a short glossary: product name, offer wording, words you never translate.
- Ask for every size you will run, not just 9:16.
- Have a native speaker watch the final file, not only read the script.
Localize one ad and compare
Send a master ad and your markets. You'll get a price and a delivery date the same day.
Localize one adFrequently asked questions
Are subtitles enough for paid social?
For visual ads, often yes. If the offer or price is spoken or written on screen, rebuild those parts too.
Can AI voice replace a voice actor?
For many performance ads it is good enough. Check pronunciation of brand and product names in every language.