Compare live translation options
| Tool | Useful when | Translation format and conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Hanashi | You want to meet a Japanese host for a one-to-one conversation about something you both care about. | Choose by interests and personality. Live captions and translation are designed to help you follow the conversation. Learner signup is open in early access. Check current host and booking availability before making plans. |
| Google Meet | A group already uses Google Workspace or needs a separate audio translation option. | Translated captions require eligible Workspace editions. Speech Translation is a separate feature with its own plan and usage limits. An eligible host is needed for scheduled meetings. In a direct Meet call, either participant can have the qualifying plan. Google’s October 2026 update describes this distinction. |
| Zoom | A Zoom host needs guests to choose their own translated caption language. | The host needs an eligible plan or add-on and must enable automated and translated captions. The host sets the options in advance. Zoom documents translated captions for its desktop and web apps. Zoom’s separate Voice translator offers spoken translation on supported desktop versions with the Live Translation add-on or ZoomMate. |
| Microsoft Teams | Your organization already meets in Teams and can enable translated captions for guests. | An eligible organizer’s Teams Premium or Microsoft Copilot license can make translated captions available to all participants. A participant’s own qualifying license can enable it for that person. A separate Copilot Interpreter offers translated audio in supported Teams meetings and one-to-one Teams calls. Check licensing and availability with your organization. |
| FaceTime | Two people already use FaceTime and want to keep hearing the original voices. | Live Translation displays translated captions in a one-to-one call. Check supported Apple Intelligence hardware, region and languages on the device that needs captions. |
Why choose Hanashi?
A video call link does one job: it connects the people you invite. If you want someone from Japan to talk with about jazz records, food or weekend hikes, you still have to find that person. Hanashi is designed to solve both parts. Interest-based profiles give you a reason to choose someone and a natural first question.
Once the conversation starts, captions and translation can help you recover a word or follow an answer. For an existing contact, start with the app that person can already join. For a call where you need spoken translation, check the relevant Google Meet, Zoom or Teams feature and license.
Three tests that settle the choice
Still deciding between a meeting app and finding a person to talk with? Use the conversation options comparison.
- Language direction: Check A to B and B to A separately. A feature that reads a language can have a different list of languages it translates into.
- Guest experience: Join as the other person will join. Have them find the feature, read or hear your greeting, then reply so you can check the return direction.
- Plan and fallback: Check who needs the license and any time limit. Agree you’ll switch to typing if the captions stall or misrender a key detail.
Sources
- Google Meet translated captions and eligible editions
- Google Meet speech translation, languages and plans
- Zoom translated captions on desktop and web
- Microsoft Teams live translated captions and licenses
- Apple’s FaceTime Live Translation setup on iPhone
- Apple Intelligence device and language availability
- Hanashi.chat public homepage
- Hanashi terms of service and early access status
- Zoom Voice translator and desktop requirements
- Google’s October 22, 2026 speech translation rollout
- Hanashi host FAQ and pilot plans
- Microsoft Teams Interpreter and supported speech translation languages