SRT or burned-in captions?
| Burned-in (open) captions | SRT file (closed captions) | |
|---|---|---|
| Part of the video | Yes, drawn on the picture | No, separate file |
| Viewer can turn off | No | Usually yes |
| Style control | Full: font, color, animation | Depends on the player |
| Where it fits | Reels, TikTok, any social feed | YouTube, websites, long videos |
| Edit later | Re-export the video | Edit the text file |
A deeper comparison is in open vs closed captions.
What each platform allows
Platform menus change often, so confirm in the app.
| Platform | Typical route | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Instagram Reels | Burn captions in your editor, or use the in-app caption tool | Third-party guides say a standalone SRT upload is not available |
| TikTok | Burn captions in your editor, or use the in-app captions | Guides disagree slightly; an older source describes a file upload |
| YouTube Shorts | Upload an SRT in YouTube Studio under Subtitles, or burn captions in | See upload an SRT file to YouTube |
Workflow that works
- Export the audio or video from your phone or editor.
- Generate the SRT with TooLongToListen: drop in the file, tick the subtitles option, sign in with Google and start. The video stays on your device; the app extracts the audio in your browser. The free plan includes 10 minutes at sign-up.
- Download the .srt and open it in a text editor to read it through.
- Import into your editor. In CapCut, see how to import an SRT file into CapCut.
- Style once, apply to all. Choose a font that covers your language's letters, then apply the style to every caption.
- Review with sound on. Check names, numbers and slang.
- Export the video with captions burned in and post.
Caption length for 9:16
The current profile of the app is a single one: at most 2 lines of 42 characters, with captions lasting 1 to 7 seconds. That matches public style guides for long form content. On a phone screen in portrait, many creators prefer shorter blocks of a few words so the text changes with the rhythm of speech. Until a short video profile is available, split long captions in your editor. Guides we reviewed give font sizes between about 45 and 75 pixels on a 1080 by 1920 canvas, but they come from marketing blogs, so treat these as rules of thumb and test on a real phone.
| Tip | Why |
|---|---|
| Keep captions away from the bottom edge | App buttons and descriptions cover it |
| High contrast text with an outline or box | Readable on busy video |
| Two lines at most | Faster to read |
| Same style across the whole video | Looks consistent |
Accents and special characters
Spanish, French, German and Portuguese captions need the right encoding and a font that covers every letter. If you see "é" or boxes, read CapCut captions with wrong characters and fix accents in Spanish, French and German captions.
Limits to remember
- Up to 3 hours of audio per file, which is far more than a short video needs.
- Language is detected automatically; Portuguese is our main focus, so check other languages.
- No live captions: the product works on files.
Caption your next clip
Start with the captions for CapCut page or the SRT generator. The first 10 minutes are free.
Sources
- Third party guide on Reels and TikTok caption best practices: https://www.opus.pro/blog/youtube-vs-instagram-vs-tiktok-caption-best-practices
- Rev, adding captions to social media: https://support.rev.com/hc/en-us/articles/360034957151-Adding-Your-Captions-to-Social-Media
- YouTube Help, upload subtitles: https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/2734796
- CapCut help center, import subtitles: https://www.capcut.com/help/how-to-import-subtitles
Frequently asked questions
Can I upload an SRT file to TikTok or Instagram Reels?
Most third-party guides say neither app accepts a standalone SRT upload, and I found no official documentation saying otherwise. The usual route is to burn captions into the video in an editor, or use the platform's own caption tool.
Does YouTube Shorts accept SRT files?
YouTube Studio accepts subtitle files for uploaded videos, which includes Shorts, through the Subtitles section. Burned-in captions remain common for the look of the video.
How long should a caption be for vertical video?
Short. Many creators keep one or two short lines on screen. TooLongToListen currently uses one profile: up to 2 lines of 42 characters, 1 to 7 seconds per caption. Edit the SRT in your editor for faster, punchier cuts.
What is the difference between burned-in and SRT captions?
Burned-in captions are part of the picture and cannot be turned off. An SRT is a separate file that players can show, hide or restyle. Short-form apps mainly use burned-in captions.
Do I need captions at all?
Many people watch with the sound off, and captions help viewers who are deaf or hard of hearing. The platform guides we reviewed treat them as a best practice, but we found no numbers we could verify, so we do not quote any.
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