01
Drop a video
MP4, MOV, WebM or MKV. The video is processed in your browser.
Burn-in captions
Burn subtitles into video
Hardcode captions into an MP4 so they show up everywhere — even when the platform ignores sidecar files or the viewer watches on mute.
No signup to startFree SRT / VTTVideo stays in your browser
Drop a video to caption
MP4, MOV, WebM, or MKV. Drop a clip — get captions you can style and export.
Answer first
Hardcoded vs soft subtitles
Soft subtitles are a separate SRT/VTT file. They are editable, searchable and toggleable, which is why YouTube and course platforms prefer them. Hardcoded subtitles are rendered into the video during export. They cannot be turned off, which is exactly what you want on a muted feed.
| Use case | Best format |
|---|---|
| YouTube upload | SRT / VTT |
| TikTok / Reels / Shorts | Burned-in MP4 |
| Paid ads | Burned-in MP4 |
| Course / LMS | SRT/VTT + reviewed text |
What to check before export
- Captions sit above the platform UI and below the subject’s face.
- Line length is readable at the export size, not just in the editor preview.
- Names and jargon are corrected; auto captions rarely know your brand.
- The caption style matches the clip, not the other way around.
- You have the rights to the footage and audio you are processing.
Three steps to hardcoded captions
02
Review and style
Fix the text, adjust timing, then apply a preset or style it yourself.
03
Export the MP4
Download a captioned video that plays the same everywhere.
Burn-in questions
What does burning subtitles into a video mean?
Burning in (hardcoding) means the caption text becomes part of the video pixels. The captions appear on every device and platform, but viewers cannot turn them off.
Should I burn in or upload SRT?
Use SRT/VTT when the platform lets viewers toggle captions, such as YouTube. Burn in for TikTok, Reels, Shorts, ads and any feed where most viewers watch on mute.
Does burning in reduce quality?
The video is re-encoded during export, so some quality loss is possible. AutoCaptions exports at the highest resolution your plan allows; the free plan is capped at 720p.
Can I burn in captions for free?
Yes, with a watermark and a 720p cap on the free plan. Pro removes the watermark and exports at HD.