THE LISTENING GUIDE

Best podcast apps for bilingual subtitles and translation

The best choice depends on whether you need to read the original words, see a translation, or hear the podcast in another language.

Published by the Huh team. This is a comparison of published product documentation and App Store listings, not a hands-on test or independent ranking. Sources checked November 8, 2026.

First, choose the kind of help

Original transcript: the words spoken in the episode. Bilingual text: those words beside or above a written translation. Translated audio: a voiced version in another language. These solve different problems; a translated transcript does not mean an app dubs the audio.

Which app fits your listening need?

• Just follow the original words: Apple Podcasts. For supported episodes, its transcript follows playback with word highlighting; you can search it and tap text to play from there. Availability depends on the episode and supported language. Start here when translation is unnecessary. Apple's transcript documentation ↗
• Read translated text across languages: Moyu Podcast. Its App Store listing describes on-device subtitles, original and translation on one screen in 13 languages, RSS import and line-by-line translated voice for shadowing. Consider it if that combination matters more than Huh's sentence-specific background help. Moyu's App Store listing ↗
• Hear translated audio: AcrossCast. Its listing describes AI-translated audio, synced subtitles and transcripts, and original, translated and dual listening modes. Pick it when you want to hear a translation as well as read one. AcrossCast's App Store listing ↗
• Study with sentence controls and saved words: PlayLingo. Its developer describes line-by-line translated transcripts, replay and looping by line, vocabulary practice, and iPhone, iPad, Mac and Android availability. Its page says listening is free and transcripts are part of Pro. PlayLingo's podcast guide ↗
• Keep English audio playing, then unpack a confusing sentence: Huh. Bilingual mode offers translations in Chinese, Japanese and Korean beneath each English sentence without pausing playback. HUH? adds a full-sentence translation, key expressions and background when needed. Huh supports English audio only for subtitles and explanations, requires an iPhone with iOS 26 or later, and has free allowances with expanded access through Pro. It does not offer dubbed audio. Huh's App Store listing ↗

How we compared them

We included the five relevant apps whose official listings or developer documentation we checked. We compared the type of help offered, supported listening workflow and published access limits. This is a practical shortlist, not a complete market survey. We did not install and compare the apps on the same episodes, measure transcript or translation accuracy, verify every language pair, or score a “best overall” winner. A feature omitted from a listing may still exist; check the current app before deciding. Prices and allowances may change by plan or region.

For a listening workflow rather than an app shortlist, read how to follow English podcasts with bilingual subtitles.