Interpreter vs Google Meet for interpreters
Choose Google Meet if everyone can join the same Meet call and you want meeting notes afterward.
Choose Interpreter if you interpret calls from an agency platform or softphone and want every word on your screen.
The main difference: Meet's captions and translation work inside Meet calls. Interpreter captions call audio from Chrome, Edge, your Mac or Windows computer, or Android.
What Google Meet does
Google Meet is the video meeting tool in Google Workspace. Its captions, translated captions and AI notes work inside Meet calls, so everyone joins the same link. At Google I/O 2025, Google announced speech translation in Meet that keeps the speaker's voice and tone.
That helps when the call is a Meet call. Phone interpreting runs through your agency's platform, where Meet can't hear the call.
What Interpreter does
Interpreter puts every word of your call on screen as people speak, with the tools to act on it. It's built for phone (OPI) and video (VRI) interpreters. It works with call audio you share from Chrome or Edge, any call app on a Mac or Windows computer, and supported Android apps. Nobody else on the call joins or installs anything.
Live translate shows both languages as people speak. Captions only shows what people say, and you click a caption to translate just that line. Each speaker's turns get their own color, side by side or stacked.
Before the call, set the Call topic, like medical, legal or insurance, and add the names and terms you expect to hear. Your glossary sets how a term is translated, up to 50 terms. During the call, press Ctrl K (⌘K on a Mac) for Quick lookup, keep a callback number in Notes, and press Space to pause. Paused time isn't charged. Interpreter is HIPAA compliant, SOC 2 Type II audited and GDPR compliant.
Feature comparison
| Feature | Interpreter | Google Meet |
|---|---|---|
| Built for | Interpreters on live calls | Video meetings |
| Audio | Desktop call audio and supported Android apps | Google Meet calls |
| Everyone joins a meeting link | No | Yes |
| Two-way translation | Yes | Translated captions |
| Click translation | Yes | No |
| Quick lookup | Yes | No |
| Glossary | Up to 50 terms | No |
| Notes | Yes | No |
| Call topic | 9 topics | No |
| Session length | No limit | Depends on plan |
| Pricing model | Pay as you go or monthly plan | Per user, per month |
Pricing
Pay as you go
$10 for 22 hours
Captions only and Live translate cost the same. Packs start at $0.45 an hour, and larger packs include bonus hours. Monthly plans are also available.
See pricingGoogle Workspace charges per user each month. With Interpreter, you pay for the hours you use.
Choose Google Meet if
- Everyone can join the same video call link
- You do video remote interpreting (VRI) inside Google Meet
- Your organization already uses Google Workspace
- You want AI meeting notes after the call
Choose Interpreter if
- You interpret phone calls (OPI) where the caller dials a number, not a meeting link
- You want both languages on screen as people speak
- You need a tool that's HIPAA compliant, SOC 2 Type II audited and GDPR compliant
- You want a Call topic for medical, legal or insurance calls, and a lookup you can open mid-call
- You want to pay for the hours you use, not a seat each month
The real question
OPI is phone calls. A patient calls a hospital, a customer calls a bank, someone calls immigration services. They dial a number, and an interpreter joins.
Meet works when everyone is on the same video call. It doesn't reach a call that comes in on your agency's softphone.
Interpreter captions the call audio you share, with nothing for the caller to install. It's built to support you on that call, not to replace you. Check the FAQ for setup details.
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