How to add subtitles to a video (SRT or burned-in)

Two ways to show subtitles

Both give viewers the words on screen. They differ in where the words live.

1. 1

   A subtitle file (SRT)

   An SRT file is a small text file. Each entry has a number, a start time, an end time and the line of text. You upload it next to your video and the platform displays it. Viewers can usually turn it on or off, and some platforms let them pick a language.

2. 2

   Burned-in captions

   The words are drawn onto the video itself, like any other graphic. They look the same everywhere, you can choose the font, color and position, and words can pop up as they are spoken. They stay on screen for every viewer.

Which one should you choose

The right choice follows where the video will be seen.

• Use an SRT file for longer videos on platforms that accept one, such as YouTube, where viewers expect to switch captions on or off.
• Use burned-in captions for short vertical clips on apps that do not take subtitle files, where most people watch with the sound off.
• Ask for both when a video goes to several places. The seller delivers the SRT and a captioned version of the video.
• Check what your platform accepts before you order, because upload options change over time.

What to send the seller

Subtitles are only as good as the audio they come from. Before you order, gather:

• The video in the best quality you have, ideally the original export.
• A script or notes if you have them, so the text matches what was meant.
• A list of names, brands and technical terms, spelled the way you want them.
• The language of the audio and the language of the subtitles, if you want a translation.
• Any style notes for burned-in captions: font, colors, position and your logo.

Once the order is completed and paid in full, our Terms say the finished work is yours to use for any purpose. Music, stock clips and fonts inside it stay under their own licenses. Only send recordings you own or have the right to use.

What good subtitles look like

Software can write a first draft, but a person should check it. Mistakes cluster around names, accents, background noise and people talking over each other.

Look for lines that break at natural places in a sentence, text that stays on screen long enough to read and no more than two lines at a time. For burned-in captions, make sure the words stay clear of the buttons and text that apps place along the edges and bottom of the screen.

Ordering and reviewing

Delivery time counts from when work starts, and work starts once your payment is confirmed and the gig's questions are answered. Each package states what you receive, such as the SRT, a captioned video or both, and how many revisions are included.

When the delivery arrives, play the video from start to end with the sound on, then once with it off. Open the SRT in a plain text editor, or upload it to a private test video, to see it work. Send one list of changes. A delivery you do not answer is accepted automatically after 3 days, so set time aside to review it when it arrives.

Before you order

• I know whether my platform accepts an SRT file.
• I have chosen an SRT file, burned-in captions or both.
• I have sent the original video and any script or notes.
• I have listed the names and terms that need a set spelling.
• I know the language of the audio and of the subtitles.
• The package states what I receive and how many revisions I get.

Questions people ask