Add subtitles to video your SRT burned into the picture, as MP4.
To add subtitles to a video, load the video and your SRT, VTT, ASS or SBV file, pick the font, size, color and position, and export the MP4. The subtitles are burned into the picture, so they show on Instagram, TikTok and WhatsApp, which do not read separate subtitle files.
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How to add subtitles to a video
- 01
Load the video and the subtitles
The video as MP4, MOV or WebM and the subtitles as SRT, VTT, ASS or SBV. Accented characters come out right, even in old files.
- 02
Set the look
Pick the font, size, color, outline, shadow or box, and the position. The preview draws the subtitles on the video while you watch.
- 03
Export and download the MP4
Follow the percentage and the time left. The video keeps its resolution, with the subtitles burned into the picture.
What is the difference between burned-in subtitles and an SRT file?
Burned-in subtitles (also called hardcoded or open captions) become part of the picture: they show in any player and on any platform, but viewers cannot turn them off or switch languages. An SRT file is a separate subtitle track that the player draws on top of the video, and viewers turn it on or off.
Where the video goes decides it. Instagram, TikTok, WhatsApp and WhatsApp Status do not read a subtitle file with the post, so the subtitles must be burned in. On YouTube, uploading the SRT in YouTube Studio is usually better: you can add several languages and viewers choose.
| Where the video goes | Burned-in | SRT file |
|---|---|---|
| Instagram, Reels and Stories | Yes | Not accepted |
| TikTok | Yes | Not accepted |
| WhatsApp and Status | Yes | Not accepted |
| YouTube | Works | Best option |
| Big screen, church, events | Yes | Depends on the player |
How do I make subtitles easy to read on video?
Each subtitle takes at most two lines, balanced so both are about the same width. When a sentence is too long for two lines, the font of that subtitle gets a little smaller, down to 70% of the chosen size, instead of cutting the text.
The finish matters most. Outline works on almost any video. Shadow is subtler on dark footage. Box puts a dark background behind each line and is the most readable on bright, busy shots. Yellow helps when the video has a lot of white.
- Medium size fits most videos; large is better for phone viewers.
- On vertical video, the subtitles sit above the buttons and description of Reels, TikTok and Shorts.
- If lines run past 42 characters, consider tidying the SRT first.
Will the subtitles stay in sync with the speech?
They stay exactly as timed in the file. Each subtitle appears on the frame of its start time and leaves on the frame of its end time, frame by frame, at any frame rate, including 29.97 fps. If the SRT is early or late, the video will be too: fix it first with the subtitle sync tool.
Use the Go to the first subtitle button to check the start in the preview. If the subtitle shows before the speech, it is early; if after, it is late. Subtitles that start after the video ends are left out, and we tell you how many.
Does adding subtitles reduce video quality?
To burn subtitles, the picture has to be encoded again, so it takes longer than a simple trim and the file size may change. The resolution and the timing of every frame stay the same as the original, and we encode at high quality so the difference is not visible to the eye.
The audio is copied unchanged when it is already AAC, the most common format in MP4. Otherwise we convert it to AAC, which plays on every phone and is accepted by every platform. The result is an MP4 with H.264, the format most platforms take without converting.
More than burned-in subtitles. Animated captions, word by word.
Frequently asked questions
How do I add an SRT file to a video?
Load the video and the SRT file, choose how the subtitles look and click Burn subtitles into video. You get an MP4 with the subtitles burned into the picture, ready for Instagram, TikTok or WhatsApp.
How do I add subtitles to a video for Instagram?
Instagram does not accept a subtitle file with the post, so the subtitles must be burned into the picture. Load your vertical video and the SRT: the subtitles stay above the area Reels covers with the description and buttons.
Which subtitle formats work?
SRT, VTT, ASS and SSA (text only, without the file's styling) and SBV, the format YouTube exports. Accents in UTF-8, UTF-16 or Windows-1252 are detected and come out right.
My subtitles are out of sync. What should I do?
We burn the subtitles exactly at the times in the file. If they show before or after the speech, fix the SRT with the subtitle sync tool, shifting everything at once, and load it again.
Can I remove burned-in subtitles later?
No. Burned-in subtitles are part of the picture. Keep the original video and the SRT, so you can create another version whenever you want, with a different look or corrected text.
How long does it take?
It depends on the video's length. A few minutes of video is ready quickly; long videos take longer, because every frame is encoded again. The bar shows the percentage and the time left, and you can cancel at any moment.
Is there a watermark?
No. The MP4 has no watermark, keeps the original resolution and needs no sign-up.
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