Guide
Burned-in vs soft subtitles
The same caption text can be delivered two ways. The right one depends on where the video plays and whether the viewer needs control.
Last updated: 1 November 2026
TL;DR: Burn captions in for social feeds, ads and embeds. Deliver SRT/VTT when the platform can toggle captions. For accessibility, a reviewed soft track is usually the better default; burn-in is a guarantee, not a replacement for control.
Side by side
| Dimension | Burned-in | Soft (SRT/VTT) |
|---|---|---|
| Always visible | Yes | No, viewer toggles |
| Editable after export | No | Yes |
| Searchable transcript | Not reliably | Platform-dependent |
| Viewer can resize/change language | No | Yes, if the player supports it |
| Works on mute in a feed | Yes | Not reliably |
When to burn in
- TikTok, Reels, Shorts and other feeds where most viewers watch on mute.
- Paid ads, where you cannot rely on a toggle.
- Embeds or players that ignore subtitle tracks.
When to use soft subtitles
- YouTube, course platforms and players with a caption menu.
- Anywhere viewers may need larger text, a different language or captions off.
- When the transcript should be searchable or editable later.
Deliver both when it matters
A reviewed SRT/VTT is the source of truth. From it, export a burned-in MP4 for social. That keeps the wording consistent and avoids captioning the same clip twice.
FAQ
What is the difference between burned-in and soft subtitles?
Burned-in captions are rendered into the video pixels and always visible. Soft subtitles are a separate SRT/VTT track that the player can toggle.
Which is better for accessibility?
Soft subtitles give viewers control over size, language and visibility, which is valuable for accessibility. Burned-in captions guarantee the text is visible but cannot be adjusted.
Can I deliver both?
Yes. Export the SRT/VTT for the platform and a burned-in MP4 for social or embeds. The same reviewed transcript can produce both.