Interpreter vs Google Meet
Quick answer
Google Meet has built-in captions and transcription for video meetings. Everyone joins the same Meet call, and the system transcribes what's said. Works well for team meetings.
Interpreter transcribes phone calls in real-time. You're on a call (VoIP, landline, whatever), and it captures the system audio so you see every word while interpreting.
If you're an OPI interpreter working phone calls, Google Meet won't help. Your clients aren't joining video calls—they're calling a phone number. Interpreter captures that audio.
What Google Meet does
Video conferencing with built-in captions. Everyone joins the same meeting link, Meet transcribes what's said.
Free tier: live captions only, no saved transcripts, 60-minute group limit. Business Standard ($12/user/month) adds transcription and AI summaries.
Translated captions added in 2025—words get translated for other participants. But everyone has to be in the same Meet call.
What Interpreter does
Captures any audio from your computer—phone calls, VoIP, softphones—transcribes while you work.
Medical call through your agency's system: medication names, dosages, instructions on screen as they're spoken. Glance instead of asking people to repeat.
Two-way translation side by side. No meeting links, no video, no asking clients to install anything. Works with whatever phone system you have.
Feature comparison
| Feature | Interpreter | Google Meet |
|---|---|---|
| Primary purpose | Phone call transcription | Video meeting captions |
| Works with phone calls | ||
| Captures system audio | ||
| Two-way translation | One-way only | |
| Requires participants to join | ||
| Languages | 60+ | 65+ |
| Session time limits | None | 60min (free) |
| HIPAA compliant | With BAA | |
| Pay-as-you-go |
Pricing comparison
For an interpreter working 40 hours/month:
$10–$16/month
Polyglot Mini: $0.25/hr ($10). Polyglot: $0.40/hr ($16). No session limits.
$0–$12+/user/month
Free: captions only, 60min limit. Business Standard ($12/mo): full transcription. But requires video meetings.
Google Meet is free or cheap, but it only works when everyone joins the same video call. For phone-based interpreting, it's not an option.
Choose Google Meet if
- Everyone can join the same video meeting link
- You're doing VRI (video remote interpreting), not OPI
- Your organization already uses Google Workspace
- You need post-meeting summaries and notes
Choose Interpreter if
- You're working phone calls, not video meetings
- Your clients call a phone number, not a meeting link
- You need two-way translation between speakers
- You need HIPAA compliance for medical calls
- You want pay-as-you-go without per-user subscriptions
The real question
OPI is phone calls. Patient calls hospital, customer calls bank, someone calls immigration. They dial a number, interpreter joins.
Meet requires everyone on the same video call. Fine for team meetings, scheduled VRI. Doesn't work when someone's calling from an ER phone.
Phone-based interpreting? Meet can't reach that audio. Interpreter captures whatever's coming through your computer without clients changing anything.