kitio.aiLine 21 vs Stage Captions
A side-by-side look at pricing plans, free tiers, features, pros and cons, updated for 2026. Line 21 starts at $3 / hour and Stage Captions starts at See pricing page. Check both pricing pages for current plans.
At a glance
Best for
Category
Pricing model
Starting price
Free plan
Made by
Based in
Rating
Key features
- Human and ASR live captioning
- AI translation
- AI proofreader
- RTMP and HLS streaming
- Meeting bot
- API
- Real-time speech to text
- QR code attendee viewer
- OBS and Resolume output
- Custom dictionaries
- Presenter dashboard
| Feature | Line 21 | Stage Captions |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Live captions that mix human captioners with AI tools | Browser-based live captions for conferences and livestreams |
| Category | Audio & voice | Audio & voice |
| Pricing model | Paid | Free trial |
| Starting price | $3 / hour | See pricing page |
| Free plan | No | No, trial available |
| Made by | Line 21 | Stage Captions |
| Based in | – | – |
| Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Key features |
|
|
Pricing compared
Line 21 starts at $3 / hour and Stage Captions starts at See pricing page. Check both pricing pages for current plans.
Free plan
Cheapest paid plan
Top plan
Free trial
6 plans
Caption minutes
$3 / hour
- Only when you bring your own captioners
- Caption view page
Meetings
$6 / hour
- Speech-to-text and translation
- Diarization
- Dedicated meeting page
AI translations
$9 / hour
- 120+ languages
- Custom dictionaries
ASR
$15 / hour
- Speech-to-text models
- Custom dictionaries
- Audio or RTMP ingest
AI proofreader
$21 / hour
- Context-aware LLM checks
- Custom event context
Human captioners
From $120 / hour
- Certified professional writers
- On-site or remote
Prices in USD, checked Oct 29, 2026 or later. Plans change often, so confirm on each tool's site before you buy.
Pros and cons
Line 21
- Combines human and AI captioning
- Works with Zoom, Teams and streaming platforms
- Pay-as-you-go billing
- Human captioning starts at $120 an hour
- Prices are per service per hour
- Built mainly for events and broadcasts
Stage Captions
- No software to install
- Works with common production tools
- Attendees read on their own phones
- Pricing is not published
- Free use is limited to 15 minutes
- Live translation is still in beta
Which one should you choose?
Choose Line 21 if you want:
- Combines human and AI captioning
- Works with Zoom, Teams and streaming platforms
- Pay-as-you-go billing
Watch out: human captioning starts at $120 an hour.
Choose Stage Captions if you want:
- No software to install
- Works with common production tools
- Attendees read on their own phones
Watch out: pricing is not published.
Line 21 vs Stage Captions FAQ
What is the difference between Line 21 and Stage Captions?
Line 21: Live captions that mix human captioners with AI tools. Stage Captions: Browser-based live captions for conferences and livestreams. Both are audio & voice tools.
Is Line 21 or Stage Captions cheaper?
Line 21 starts at $3 / hour and Stage Captions starts at See pricing page. Check both pricing pages for current plans.
Do Line 21 and Stage Captions have free plans?
Line 21: No. Stage Captions: No, trial available.
Who makes Line 21?
Line 21 is made by Line 21.
Who makes Stage Captions?
Stage Captions is made by Stage Captions.
Which should I choose, Line 21 or Stage Captions?
Choose Line 21 if you value combines human and ai captioning and works with zoom, teams and streaming platforms. Choose Stage Captions if you value no software to install and works with common production tools.