Add subtitles to a video
Most social apps ignore subtitle files, and a separate .srt gets lost as soon as the video is shared. Burning the text into the picture means it is there, everywhere, with no setting to change.
How to burn in subtitles
- Add the video.
- Add the subtitle file below the settings.
- Pick a text size, press Burn in the subtitles, and check the timing in the preview.
What the subtitle file should look like
An .srt file is plain text: a number, a time range, then the line. That is all it takes.
1
00:00:01,000 --> 00:00:04,500
This is the first line.
2
00:00:04,500 --> 00:00:07,000
And the second one.A .vtt file (WebVTT) works the same way, with dots instead of commas in the times. Most video editors and transcription services export one of the two. Save the file in UTF-8: it is what keeps accents, quotes and non-Latin scripts readable.
Burned in, not attached
Two ways exist to add subtitles to a video. A subtitle track is attached next to the video: the player can show it, hide it, or ignore it, and many apps simply do not see it. Burn-in draws the text into the pixels: it cannot be turned off, cannot be lost, and shows up in every app, on every device, including screenshots and GIFs made from the clip.
The trade-off is that burned-in text cannot be edited afterwards and is not searchable by accessibility tools. If you need closed captions a viewer can switch off, keep a separate track — which is what YouTube, Vimeo and most platforms generate for you on upload.
Choosing a size
Text is drawn in a clean sans-serif with a thin dark outline, which keeps it readable on a light or busy background without a background box.
| Size | Use it for |
|---|---|
| Small | Desktop players, long films, already-large screens |
| Normal | The safe default for landscape video |
| Large | Phone screens and short-form video |
| Extra large | Vertical clips, viewed without sound, from a distance |
On a vertical clip, a wide line of text gets cut at the edges. Rewrap the file so each line stays short — around 40 characters — rather than shrinking the text until it is unreadable.
Check the timing first
If the subtitles were written for a different cut, they will drift. Burn in a copy of the exact clip you plan to publish: a subtitle file made for the 3-minute version will run late on the 30-second montage. Trim or edit the video first, adjust the file, then burn in.
What happens to your files
The video and the subtitle file are deleted when the job ends, the result within the hour. No account, no watermark, no e-mail needed.
Questions about Add subtitles
Can viewers turn the subtitles off?
No. Burned-in text is part of the picture. For a switchable track, publish the video on a platform that supports subtitle tracks instead.
Which formats are accepted?
.srt and .vtt, up to 512 KB. Conversion from .ass or .ssa is not offered.
Do accents and non-Latin alphabets work?
Yes, as long as the file is saved in UTF-8, which is the standard for both formats.
Can I change the colour, font or position of the text?
Only the size is adjustable. The style is fixed: white text, thin outline, close to the bottom of the frame.
What if the subtitles are out of sync?
The timings are used exactly as written. Adjust them in your subtitle file, or trim the video so the lines match, then run the tool again.