How to Make Subtitles for Any Video

To make subtitles, transcribe your video's speech into timed text, break it into short readable lines, and export an SRT or VTT file you attach to the video. With PlainScribe you upload a file up to 200MB, get an auto-timestamped transcript at up to 99% accuracy for $0.067/min ($4/hour), and download a finished SRT in minutes — the first 30 minutes are free, no credit card.

TL;DR

• Three steps: transcribe → split into short timed lines → export SRT/VTT. PlainScribe automates the first and third.
• Cost: $0.067/min ($4/hour), pure pay-as-you-go, no subscription. Try 30 minutes free with no card.
• Subtitles ≠ closed captions: subtitles assume you can hear and focus on the words/translation; captions add sound cues for deaf/HoH viewers.
• Export formats: SRT and VTT (plus TXT and CSV). Files auto-delete after 7 days.
• For other languages, PlainScribe transcribes and translates across 47 languages, auto-detected — so you can subtitle foreign-language footage in one pass.

Subtitles vs. captions (so you make the right thing)

Subtitles are a timed transcript of the dialogue, written for viewers who can hear the audio — often translated into another language. Closed captions add non-speech information (music, sound effects, speaker labels) for deaf and hard-of-hearing viewers. If your goal is accessibility, you want captions; if it's language access or readability, you want subtitles. For the full breakdown, see closed vs open captions. This guide covers the subtitle path; the broader how to add captions to a video hub covers both.

Step-by-step: make subtitles

1. Upload your video to PlainScribe. Drag in any MP4, MOV, WebM, MKV, M4A, MP3, WAV, FLAC or OGG file up to 200MB at the dashboard. The spoken language is auto-detected.
2. Get the timed transcript. The AI returns text with timestamps at up to 99% accuracy. A 30-minute video costs about $2.01 ($0.067/min).
3. Edit for accuracy. Correct names, brand terms, and numbers — the words automation most often misses. This is the step that separates good subtitles from rough ones.
4. Split into readable lines. Keep each subtitle to 1–2 lines, roughly 32–42 characters per line, on screen long enough to read (aim for under ~20 characters per second). Short lines beat cramming a sentence onto one card.
5. Export SRT or VTT. Download the file. SRT is the universal choice; VTT is for HTML5/web players. See SRT vs VTT if you're unsure.
6. Attach or burn in. Upload the SRT as a sidecar file (YouTube, Vimeo, web <track>), or import it into a video editor to burn open subtitles into the frame.

Want subtitles in another language?

PlainScribe transcribes and translates across 47 languages, so you can take foreign-language footage and produce English subtitles in a single workflow — no second tool. Two common paths:

• Japanese anime/film → English: see the dedicated guide on Japanese to English subtitles.
• Spanish content → subtitles: see Spanish subtitles for movies.

Translate an existing subtitle file instead of starting over? Read SRT translation.

Ways to make subtitles, compared

| Method | Speed | Cost | Accuracy | Best for | |--------|-------|------|----------|----------| | Type by hand | Very slow | Your time | High (with effort) | 30-second clips | | Auto-captions on a platform | Fast | Free | Mixed | A draft you'll heavily edit | | PlainScribe (AI + your edit) | Fast | $0.067/min ($4/hr) | Up to 99% | Most videos, any language | | Human transcription | Slow | ~$1.50/min (Rev) | Highest | Verbatim legal/medical |

Verdict: AI transcription you lightly edit is the practical winner — you reach near-human accuracy for a fraction of the time and cost (Rev's human tier is roughly 22x the per-minute price). See the full field on the pricing page.

Subtitle formatting tips that actually matter

• 2 lines max per card; never wrap a third line.
• Break at natural pauses (clause and sentence boundaries), not mid-phrase.
• Don't subtitle filler ("um," "uh") unless verbatim is required.
• Match reading speed to the viewer, not the talker — split fast dialogue across more cards.
• Label speakers only when it's unclear who's talking.

FAQs

What is the difference between subtitles and captions? Subtitles transcribe (and often translate) dialogue for viewers who can hear the audio. Closed captions add non-speech cues — sound effects, music, speaker IDs — for deaf and hard-of-hearing viewers.

What format should subtitles be in? SRT (.srt) is the most widely supported format across players and platforms. VTT (.vtt) is the standard for HTML5 web video. PlainScribe exports both.

Can I make subtitles in another language? Yes. PlainScribe transcribes and translates across 47 auto-detected languages, so you can produce subtitles in a different language than the original audio in one workflow.

How much does it cost to make subtitles? With PlainScribe it's $0.067 per minute ($4 per audio hour), pay-as-you-go with no subscription. Your first 30 minutes are free, no credit card needed.

How do I add subtitles to YouTube? Export an SRT from PlainScribe, then in YouTube Studio go to Subtitles → Add language → Upload file, and upload your SRT. The full walkthrough is in how to add captions to a video.

Make your first subtitles free

Upload a video, get a timestamped transcript at up to 99% accuracy, and export a finished SRT — pay-as-you-go, no subscription. Start free with 30 minutes, no credit card, or browse our tools.