Subtitles are more than just a convenience. They make content available for those who have problems with hearing. Captions allow people to watch videos in environments where it is obligatory to keep silence, such as an office or a crowded train. What’s more, subtitles can help boost video’s SEO, attracting diverse audiences and increasing watch times, and help international viewers better understand the content.
With a growing demand on YouTube, e-learning platforms, and social media, knowing how to add subtitles to a video is now a must-have skill for content creators. In this guide, we’ll explore the best free tools, online services, and AI-powered options to add subtitles on Windows and Mac. Additionally, you will get essential tips how to get the job done smoothly.
There are plenty of free tools for working with subtitles on Windows and Mac. The main advantages of the listed apps below are greater control over data, faster performance with large files, and access to more advanced editing features regardless of the internet connection.
Here are a few popular options to consider:
AVS Video Converter, designed exclusively for Windows, stands out for its high-speed processing. It allows to convert MKV, MP4, AVI and other video formats with embedded subtitles, ensuring that the existing captions remain synced after conversion.
Since there is no option for adding new external subtitle files (like .srt or .ass) within the program, we recommend using AVS Video Editor for this purpose. It supports adding captions with various fonts, styles, animation, shadows, and more. Read our full post dedicated to text overlays in AVS Video Editor
Best for: Converting videos without losing embedded subtitles and adding customized captions.
HandBrake, a popular open-source video converter, lets you import external subtitles (.srt) or burn them into the video. It’s great for embedding subtitles during file conversion but it doesn’t allow to edit subtitles.
Best for: Embedding subtitles while converting videos.
VLC allows to open and playback files with embedded subtitles without altering the original video file. This is useful for viewing subtitles in different languages or testing timing and formatting on the fly. Being a free media player, it lacks the ability to edit, embed or permanently save subtitles into videos.
Best for: Quick playback and subtitle previewing.
Aegisub is a powerful subtitle editor available for both Windows and macOS. It offers precise frame-by-frame timing, advanced style customization (fonts, colors, positioning), and multilanguage support. However, the program lacks built-in video encoding or burning tools; therefore, external software is required to embed subtitles into video files.
Best for: Advanced subtitle editing and styling.
Online tools are convenient for quick edits or creating content for platforms like Instagram, TikTok, or YouTube Shorts. We recommend using Kapwing, VEED.io, Canva.com all of which offer drag-and-drop interfaces. You can upload a video, auto-generate subtitles, make edits, and burn the subtitles directly into your clip.
Pros:
Cons:
Kapwing is an easy-to-use online video editor with a built-in subtitle tool. It lets users auto-generate subtitles, style them visually, and burn them into your video.
Best for: Content creators who want stylish, branded captions fast.
VEED.io is a browser-based video editor designed for social media and team collaboration. It offers powerful subtitle tools with translation options and branded styling.
Best for: Marketers, agencies, businesses crafting polished videos, educators, translators, and anyone who just needs captions quickly.
Canva is an online design and video editing platform with a user-friendly interface. It can automatically generate captions for video files with spoken audio, however, subtitle translation is a paid feature. Users can add, style, and time text with precision, customize fonts, colors, and animations to match their branding. If you insert captions manually, you can voice them with AI.
Best for: Content creators, educators, and teams creating polished, captioned videos for social media and presentations.
All three solutions make adding subtitles a breeze, so pick the one that fits your workflow!
Want to automate the process? AI tools can help you generate and translate subtitles quickly.
AI subtitle generator tools such as Whisper (by OpenAI), Otter.ai, Happy Scribe use speech recognition to create subtitle files from your audio/video. Some tools also offer subtitle translation into multiple languages allowing you to reach international viewers.
Pros:
Cons:
Whisper is an open-source speech recognition system that automatically transcribes audio and video with high accuracy. It supports multiple languages and works well even with background noise.
Best for: tech savvy users looking for a free, powerful solution.
Otter.ai is a popular transcription tool that creates real-time subtitles and summaries from meetings, lectures, and videos. It’s user-friendly and integrates with Zoom and Google Meet.
Best for: professionals and educators needing fast, shareable transcripts.
Happy Scribe offers AI-powered transcription and subtitle generation in over 120 languages. It includes editing tools and the ability to export in various subtitle formats.
Best for: content creators and translators working with multilingual video content.
For those who value speed and don’t mind doing a quick review, AI subtitle tools can dramatically speed up the workflow.
Before you start adding subtitles, keep these technical points in mind:
Common subtitle formats include .srt, .vtt, .ass, each with different features and levels of styling.
Burned-in subtitles are part of the video and can’t be turned off, whereas soft subtitles are separate and can be toggled.
Make sure the subtitles appear at the right time and are broken into lines that are easy to read.
For simple editing, a basic subtitle converter or text editor may be enough. For more complex projects, you may need a full-featured subtitle suite.
Adding subtitles is an essential step to make your videos more accessible, reach global audiences, or just boost viewer retention. Use free tools like HandBrake or Aegisub for hands-on control, try online editors for quick fixes, or go with AI subtitle generators for speed and automation.
And if you’re converting videos and want to preserve embedded subtitles, AVS Video Converter is a reliable option to include in your workflow.
Adding subtitles has never been easier. Choose the method that fits your needs and start creating more engaging video content today.
In the fast-paced digital world, content creation has become an essential skill for everyone, from small business owners and social…
Every project starts with an idea that, with the right tools, can turn into a professional multimedia project. However, the journey from…
Freelancing gives you independence, but also the responsibility to handle every part of your business. You’re the marketer, designer, editor,…
If you’re a vlogger, a podcaster, or a small business owner, you already know how important engaging content is. AVS4YOU Multimedia Suite simplifies…
Introduction Birthday videos have become a digital tradition. Instead of giving only physical gifts, people now create short, heartfelt videos that celebrate…
Introduction Birthdays are no longer just about cakes and candles.They’re about memories that can be shared instantly and cherished forever.…