Auto subtitle
generator.
One transcript, every subtitle file you need. Upload a video, fix the words that matter, and download SRT, VTT or a burned-in MP4.
5 minutes free · No credit card · Word-level timing
Upload
Drop in an MP4, MOV, or supported video file.
Edit
Correct names, numbers, and timing in the transcript.
Export
Download a styled MP4 or a timed SRT/VTT file.
One transcript, two caption deliveries
The best workflow is to generate captions once, then choose the delivery that matches the destination. Use a burned-in MP4 when every viewer needs to see the words immediately. Use SRT or VTT when the player should let viewers toggle captions, change language, or adjust the text.
| Export | Best for | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Burned-in MP4 | TikTok, Reels, Shorts, X, LinkedIn | Always visible, but not toggleable |
| SRT / VTT | YouTube, Vimeo, courses, web players | Accessible and flexible, but player support varies |
What automatic subtitles get wrong
Speech recognition gets ordinary sentences right almost every time. The errors cluster in a few places, and those are the words viewers notice. Check these before you download the file:
- Names of people, brands and products, especially ones spelled unusually.
- Numbers, prices and dates, which can come out as words or as the wrong digits.
- Jargon and acronyms from your field, which get swapped for common words that sound alike.
- Overlapping speakers and music beds, where words can be dropped or merged.
- Cue length: subtitle files for players read best at two lines of about 42 characters, while burned-in social captions work better with a few words at a time.
Each word keeps its own timestamp, so editing a word doesn't shift the rest of the file. Check reading speed with the CPS calculator or fix an offset with shift subtitle timing.
Captions that survive the feed.
- Word-level timing instead of slow sentence blocks
- Readable presets for bright, busy, and vertical video
- Burned-in MP4 export that works after cross-posting
- Transcript editing before you publish
Start with your destination.
Frequently asked
What does an auto subtitle generator do?+
It transcribes the speech in a video, syncs each word to the audio, and turns the transcript into subtitle cues you can edit. SoCaptions keeps that one transcript and lets you download it as an SRT or VTT sidecar file, render it into an MP4, or both.
Can I add captions to an MP4 online?+
Yes. Upload the MP4, review the generated transcript, choose a caption style, and export a new MP4 with the captions permanently rendered into the video. Keep the original file so you can make another language or style later.
Does SoCaptions export SRT files too?+
Yes. Use the editor to review the word-level transcript and export a timed caption file when you need YouTube, Vimeo, course, or accessibility captions. Use the burned-in MP4 for feeds where captions need to be visible immediately.
Is the video caption generator free?+
You can try SoCaptions with five free minutes of transcription and no credit card. The free tier lets you test the workflow; paid plans add more transcription time and exports.
Can I use it for TikTok, Reels, and YouTube Shorts?+
Yes. Export a vertical MP4 with readable burned-in captions, then preview the result against each platform's safe zone. SoCaptions is designed for TikTok, Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, LinkedIn, and other short-form feeds.
Are burned-in captions the same as closed captions?+
No. Burned-in or open captions are pixels in the video and cannot be toggled off. Closed captions are a separate SRT, VTT, or platform-native track. For accessibility workflows, deliver the separate caption track as well as a burned-in social version when appropriate.
Turn your next video into a captioned MP4.
Try the full workflow with five free minutes. No card and no complicated editor.
Open the editor