What are subtitles?
Subtitles are on-screen text that reflects only the spoken dialogue of a video. Their primary role is translation. Subtitles are meant for viewers who can hear but may not understand the spoken language, helping them overcome language barriers while enjoying the full visual and audio experience.
Commonly used in:
- Foreign films and TV shows
- Online video content with an international audience
- Multilingual social media content across platforms like YouTube and TikTok
Subtitles make it possible to watch videos in a language other than your native language, ensuring a smoother viewing experience without losing the emotional or narrative context.
What are captions?
Captions go a step further. They include both the spoken dialogue and non-verbal audio elements such as:
- [background music]
- [laughter]
- [phone ringing]
- Speaker names
Captions are designed for users who are deaf or hard of hearing, ensuring full access to the video’s audio content and enhancing video accessibility.
They can appear in real-time during live broadcasts or be pre-written for recorded videos. Captions are essential for ensuring inclusivity, especially on educational or government content.
Shared benefits:
- Both improve user comprehension and engagement.
- Both contribute to stronger SEO and visibility on search engines.
- Both are used across streaming services like Netflix and YouTube, allowing flexible viewer control.
Key differences:
| Feature |
Subtitles |
Captions |
| Primary function |
Translate spoken language |
Provide access to full audio experience |
| Audience |
Viewers who can hear but don’t understand the language |
Viewers who are deaf or hard of hearing |
| Includes audio cues? |
N/A |
[music], [applause], [speaker names] |
| Purpose |
Break language barriers, expand global reach |
Ensure accessibility and clarity |
| Format type |
Often export as .srt or .vtt |
Also .srt, .vtt, sometimes .sdh |
| Visual format |
Typically bottom-of-screen on-screen text |
Same, but may be stylized for clarity |
When to use each:
- Use subtitles: When you want to reach a global audience, translate content into different languages, or make foreign-language content accessible to viewers who don't speak the original language.
- Use captions: When creating content for viewers with hearing impairments, such as educational videos, legal webinars, or public service announcements.
- Use open captions: When sharing content on social media platforms like Instagram Reels, TikTok, or YouTube Shorts, where background noise is common and videos often autoplay on mute.
Different styles and use cases for subtitles and captions
When we talk about subtitles and captions, we’re really referring to different delivery methods for on-screen text. Here’s a breakdown of the most common styles used in subtitling services and online video:
- Open subtitles: Also called burned-in subtitles. These are permanently visible on the video file and cannot be toggled off. They’re best for TikTok, Instagram Reels, and Shorts, where mobile viewing and muted playback are common.
- Closed captions: These can be turned on/off by the viewer. Ideal for YouTube, TV, or any platform that supports caption toggling.
- SDH (Subtitles for the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing): Combines subtitles and captions. Includes speaker identification, audio cues, and sound effects for maximum clarity.
- Live captioning: Real-time speech-to-text display used in live streams, webinars, or broadcasts.
Each format supports different file formats like .srt, .vtt, and .txt, which vary in time codes and compatibility with platforms.
By selecting the right style and format, creators can optimize video subtitles for their target audience, whether it's a multilingual community or viewers with hearing impairments.
How to use subtitles to improve your video content
Why content creators should add subtitles
Adding subtitles isn't just about accessibility. For creators, it's a proven growth tool:
- Expand your reach to a global audience that speaks different languages
- Retain viewers in noisy environments or when audio is off
- Keep attention longer and reduce drop-off rates
How to add subtitles to a video (the fast way)
The simplest, most creator-friendly method? Use Submagic.
Here’s a quick tutorial:
- Go to Submagic.co
- Sign in or create a free account
- Upload your video file (MP4, MOV, etc.)
- Choose your language (supports 50+)
- Let Submagic auto-transcribe the video
- Edit any errors manually in the transcript
- Customize style (font, size, color, animation)
- Export with subtitles burned in or download the
.srt, .vtt, or .txt subtitle file
Best practices for subtitle formatting and styling
To make your subtitles more effective and visually appealing:
- Font: Choose clean, easy-to-read fonts like Arial or Montserrat
- Size & placement: Make sure subtitles are legible on mobile. Bottom-center is standard.
- Color contrast: Use light text on dark backgrounds or vice versa for visibility
- Consistency: Keep font and style consistent across all video content
- Break long lines: Avoid clutter by breaking subtitles into readable chunks
These tips improve readability and enhance the user experience, especially on social media.
Where to get subtitles for your videos
You can create subtitles manually or use a transcription tool. Here's what we recommend:
- Submagic: AI-powered and optimized for short-form content creators
- Rev.com: Known for high-accuracy human-generated transcripts
- YouTube Studio: Basic auto-captioning for uploaded videos
- Google Docs Voice Typing: A free option for rough transcripts
These tools help streamline your workflow without sacrificing accuracy.
Subtitle formats you should know
Most common subtitle file types
- .SRT (SubRip Subtitle): The most universal format. Works with most platforms.
- .VTT (WebVTT): Supports styling and is often used in HTML5 video players.
- .TXT: Plain text with no time codes, good for transcripts but not synced captions.
Each format has its use. For most social media uploads, .SRT or burned-in subtitles are best.
Subtitles vs. dubbing: which works better and when
Subtitles are more affordable and maintain the original voice, tone, and emotion. Dubbing requires voice actors and editing, but is more immersive.
When to use:
- Subtitles: Short-form videos, interviews, tutorials, international social content
- Dubbing: Narrative-driven video content like ads, shows, or high-production films
Subtitles for SEO and content discovery
Adding subtitles is a smart way to boost your search visibility:
- Transcription adds searchable metadata to your video
- Search engines can crawl subtitle files like
.srt to understand your content - Platforms like YouTube use closed captions to surface content in more queries
If you want your content to show up in more search results, always add subtitles.
Summary: Why every content creator should use subtitles
Subtitles boost accessibility, engagement, and discovery. For content creators on TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, and LinkedIn, knowing how to add subtitles isn’t optional—it’s essential.
Ready to subtitle smarter?
Try Submagic to automatically generate, edit, and customize subtitles that match your brand—without the headaches of manual video editing.
Whether you're building a global audience or just making your content more inclusive, subtitles are your edge.
