Choose Foniks
For everyday calls where speaking naturally matters: sales, support, interviews, standups and supplier calls, with no booking.
Compare
Three ways to talk across languages.
Human interpreters, translated captions and Foniks each solve a different problem. Here is how they compare, including where Foniks is not the right choice.
14-day free trial for up to 3 people. No card required.
| Foniks | Human interpreter | Translated captions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What the other person gets | Your words, spoken in their language | The interpreter’s voice in their language | Text on screen to read |
| Both directions | Yes, at the same time | Yes | Each person turns on their own captions |
| Speed | About 1–2 seconds behind in Live mode | Turn-taking slows the call, unless you book simultaneous interpreting | Text appears a moment after speech |
| Booking and setup | None after a one-time audio setup | Booked in advance, often with a minimum fee | None, if your meeting plan includes it |
| Works in any call app | Yes, through a virtual audio cable | Yes, if they join the call | Depends on the app and plan |
| Pricing | Per seat per month, with hours included | Per hour or per day | Usually part of a higher meeting plan |
| Accuracy on critical content | Machine translation can make mistakes | Professional judgement, certified options | Machine translation can make mistakes |
| Privacy | Audio and transcripts not stored by default | Depends on the agency and its contract | Depends on the meeting provider |
When to choose which
Pick the tool for the call.
Choose an interpreter
For legal, medical and other high-stakes conversations, or anywhere a certified interpreter is required.
Choose captions
For large meetings and webinars where people can read along, and for accessibility.
Questions
- Can Foniks replace a professional interpreter?
- Not for every call. Foniks is built for everyday conversations. For legal, medical or other high-stakes situations, use a qualified interpreter. Foniks is not approved for patient care.
- Can I use Foniks and captions together?
- Yes. Foniks handles the audio, so your call app’s captions keep working alongside it.
- Why not just use captions?
- Captions ask people to read while they talk. With Foniks, both sides speak and listen naturally, which suits sales, interviews and other calls where tone matters.
Let the conversation come first.
Start a free 14-day trial for your team. No card required.