Comparison
| Open captions | Closed captions | |
|---|---|---|
| Stored | In the video pixels | In a separate file |
| Viewer control | None | On, off, sometimes style |
| Styling | Anything your editor allows | Limited by the player |
| Fixing a typo | Edit and re-export the video | Edit the text file |
| Search and translation | Not machine readable | Text is readable by platforms |
| Typical use | Reels, TikTok, short clips | YouTube, websites, courses |
| Failure mode | Typo means a new export | Player may ignore your style |
Which to choose
| Situation | Choose |
|---|---|
| Short vertical video for social feeds | Open captions |
| Long video on YouTube | Closed captions, with the SRT uploaded |
| Video embedded on your site | Closed captions in VTT |
| Same video on several platforms | Both: closed for platforms that take files, open for those that do not |
| Accessibility requirement | Closed captions, with open as a bonus where needed |
One transcript, both outputs
- Generate the SRT with TooLongToListen. The video stays on your device; only the extracted audio is sent.
- Review and fix names. See CapCut captions with wrong characters if accents look wrong.
- Upload the SRT for platforms that accept it: upload an SRT file to YouTube.
- Import the SRT into your editor and burn captions in for the others: import an SRT file into CapCut.
Design tips for burned-in captions
- Pick a font that covers every letter of your language.
- Use high contrast: outline, shadow or a box.
- Keep captions away from screen edges.
- Two lines at most, short phrases.
- Apply one style to every caption.
For reading speed rules see subtitle reading speed, and for short video specifics see auto captions for Reels, TikTok and Shorts.
Make the file
Create your SRT at the SRT generator. 10 free minutes at sign-up.
Sources
- 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
- W3C, WebVTT: https://www.w3.org/TR/webvtt1/
Frequently asked questions
What are open captions?
Open captions are burned into the picture, so every viewer sees them and cannot turn them off. They are common on social feeds where videos play muted.
What are closed captions?
Closed captions are stored in a separate file, such as SRT or VTT, and the player can show, hide or restyle them. They are common on YouTube and on websites.
Which is better for accessibility?
Closed captions give viewers control and work with assistive technology. Open captions guarantee that text is visible. Many publishers provide closed captions for the main version and burned-in captions for social cuts.
Can I make both from the same transcript?
Yes. Generate an SRT, upload it where files are accepted, and import it into an editor to burn the same captions into another export.
Do social apps accept caption files?
Third-party guides say TikTok and Instagram generally do not accept a standalone caption file, though YouTube Studio does. App features change, so confirm in the app.
Read next
Captions
How to Create an SRT File (Step by Step)
Create an SRT subtitle file from audio or video: format rules, a sample, manual and automatic methods, and the checks that stop import errors.
Updated October 21, 2026
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Auto Captions for Reels, TikTok and YouTube Shorts
How to caption short vertical videos: SRT vs burned-in captions, line length for 9:16, what each platform allows, and a workflow that avoids typos.
Updated October 21, 2026
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Video to Text Without Uploading the Video
Convert MP4, MOV or MKV to text and subtitles. Your browser extracts the audio, so only the audio is uploaded. Steps, formats, limits and tips.
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