11 Best Subtitle Apps for Seamless Video Captions

Key takeaways:

‍

Subtitles make content more accessible, and they come in handy in public places where it wouldn’t be appropriate to unmute your phone. 

If you want people to watch your content, it’s better to use subtitles, but writing them yourself can be a strenuous process. 

Fortunately, there are lots of great apps to help you do the job. In this article, we’ll show you the best subtitle apps to help you create better video and audio content with minimal work.

Key features to look for in subtitle apps and software

Many different software programs are available to create subtitles. However, there are a few factors you may want to consider when finding a tool that aligns with your needs and skill level.

Here’s a list of key features to look for to find the ideal subtitle app or software:

Automatic subtitle generation

Look for AI-driven transcriptions using the most advanced speech recognition technologies to minimize editing time.

Because not all software uses the same technology for automatic subtitle generation, some do a much better job than others. Factors like regional accents, speaking speed, and word enunciation can trip up AI technology and lead to inaccurate results.

Accuracy matters for your audience - but it also matters for you. The more accurate your transcription is in the first place, the less editing work you’ll have to do.

Customization

Choose a tool with the broadest customizability range if you want creative options. 

Some subtitling systems offer limited customization, using set templates that leave no room for creativity. Other systems may let you take control of many settings and details but aren’t so great when adding more colorful options.

If you only need basic subtitles, this might not matter. Consider your needs to decide what’s best for you.

Multi-language and translation support

Translating your content into different languages can help with outreach by increasing the number of people who can understand your video. However, not all subtitle apps have translation capabilities.

If you need to generate subtitles for a video in a language other than English, be aware that not all apps will work for you. Also, note that even apps that translate in multiple languages may be more accurate in some languages than others.

So, in addition to matching the languages you’d like to use, you’ll also need to make sure that the app you choose does a good job in those languages.

Accessibility and compatibility options

Online editors and subtitle generators should be accessible and easy to use, especially if you’re a beginner. They must also be compatible with as many devices and operating systems as possible. For example, if you’re a travel blogger who mostly records videos on the go, you may prefer an app that works on your smartphone.

The same goes for file formats. Some programs produce closed captions that permanently integrate into your existing video files. Others allow you to create open captions and subtitles that can be turned on and off, like Riverside. (You can learn more in our piece about closed captions vs. open captions.)

Also, look for software that allows you to download subtitle transcripts in popular formats such as SRT or TXT files. While SRT files are helpful because they are timestamped, TXT files can be handy if you need to repurpose your content into descriptions or blog posts.

Integration with recording and editing tools

Ideally, a subtitle tool should integrate smoothly with your existing video recording and editing workflow. Some tools are built to work with popular recording and editing software to incorporate subtitles directly into your editing process.‍

Others, like Riverside, allow you to create and subtitle videos on the same platform. You can record from your webcam or use the Riverside app to record from an iPhone or Android and capture videos in full HD.

6 Best subtitle apps and software for PC (Windows & Mac)

Now that you know what to look for when choosing an auto subtitle generator, it’s time to select the best software for your needs. Let’s start with our top picks for desktop computers (Windows & Mac) and why we recommend them:

1. Riverside: Best overall subtitle software

Price: Free transcription tool or built-in automatic transcriptions starting at $29.00/month.

Compatibility: Mac, Windows, iPhone, Android

Riverside is an easy-to-use recording and editing software that can capture smooth 4K video and lossless, uncompressed 48 kHz audio. It can also accurately and instantly generate subtitles and captions once you finish recording.

One advantage of using recording software with built-in transcription is that it’s easier to capture crystal-clear audio. That’s important because higher-quality recordings lead to more accurate subtitles. That’s part of the reason why Riverside’s transcriptions are 99% accurate.

Riverside also uses your computer rather than the internet to record your content (local recording). This means your recording will be smooth and lag-free even with a weak internet connection. Plus, all recordings are progressively uploaded to the cloud live, so as soon as you finish your session, you can find your files on your desktop. 

Thanks to advanced AI speech-to-text technology, you can generate transcriptions as TXT or SRT files in more than 100 languages. You can even use these transcriptions to edit your actual video or audio recordings with Riverside's text-based editor. 

Pros:

• Produce accurate automatic transcriptions straight after recording.
• Automatically generate subtitles and timestamps for up to 10 participants with speaker differentiation.
• Combine your subtitles with excellent video and audio quality.
• SRT and TXT transcription formats for easy closed captions and content repurposing.
• Add your subtitles directly to your video and style them as you please.

Cons:

• Some languages are transcribed less accurately than others.

How to auto-generate subtitles accurately with Riverside

When you record with Riverside, creating subtitles is a simple part of creating a studio-quality video.  

To auto-generate subtitles quickly and accurately using Riverside, simply go to Riverside.fm, create an account, and follow these steps. 

Step 1: Open a project 

Using Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge, log in to your account and create a new studio to start a recording. Alternatively, you can select a previous recording by going to your Studio Recordings dashboard. 

High-quality WAV audio helps make your transcriptions more accurate if you're recording new content.

Step 2: Download your subtitles

Once your recording is complete, wait for your subtitles to generate. Then select your chosen recording and click on “Recording Files.”

Scroll down to “Recording Files” and then to Transcript. Click “Download.” From the drop-down menu that appears, select “Subtitles.”

Proofread your transcript, then upload it to your chosen platform.  

Step 3: Add the subtitles to your video

If you'd like to add captions directly to your video, go back to the Project page, hover on the video, and click on “Edit.”

Click on the “Captions” button from the right toolbar and select a style for your subtitles. Captions should appear on your video, and you can drag and position them.

And that’s it! Once you’re happy with your edits, click “Export” to save your changes.

2. YouTube: Best free subtitle software

Price: Free

Compatibility: Mac, Windows, iOS, Android

If you’re a new content creator or on a tight budget, you might choose the cheapest option that doesn’t require extra steps to create your subtitles. The go-to free method for generating subtitles is to upload your video to YouTube, turn on automatic subtitling, and then download the SRT file created by the platform.

It’s easy, quick, free, and you’re probably going to upload your video on YouTube anyway, right? 

What’s the other side of the coin, then? The problem is that YouTube’s subtitles aren’t the most accurate, so you’ll need to make a lot of manual corrections if you choose this method.

Pros:

• Very easy to use.
• Completely free.
• Subs are available in many different languages.

Cons:

• Absolute absence of any advanced functionality that could be found in other programs.
• Accuracy is very low, especially for non-English languages.

3. Adobe Premiere Pro: Best for advanced content creators

Price: From $29.99/month

Compatibility: Mac and Windows

Adobe Premiere Pro is an industry favorite for professional video editing and is one of the most efficient subtitle generators. You can toggle on closed captioning directly in your project timeline, finish any other edits, and then export both the video and SRT file for uploading to any platform.

Adobe Premiere Pro also offers a range of advanced editing tools and features for customizing videos with graphics, effects, and more. This way you can seamlessly integrate your captions with video and audio. You can also stylize your captions by changing their font, size, location, and alignment, or even animate them by converting them to source graphics.

Pros:

• Edit videos and create subtitles on one platform.
• Creates captions automatically, and you can quickly fix or edit them.
• Allows for great customization with templates, effects, and animations.
• You can save many subtitle styles for later use.

Cons:

• The interface can be complex for some users to navigate.
• Advanced features require experience to be used with confidence.
• Professional quality comes with a higher price tag.
• Only translates into 18 languages.

4. Kapwing: Best online subtitle software

Price: Free plan available. $16/month for the Pro version.

Compatibility: Mac and Windows

Kapwing is a popular recording and video editing software with great subtitling features included. This software application is browser-based, meaning you can use it directly online without installing any application on your computer. 

Kapwing’s interface is straightforward and accessible. It allows users to upload video files or create subtitles from scratch on new recordings. Its AI-powered subtitle generator can transcribe either type of content. 

You can customize your subs by changing their size, font, timing, position, etc. You can also animate subtitles. Plus, Kapwing packs some solid video editing options and a workspace feature to work remotely with other people on the same project.

Pros:

• Simple, accessible interface, and very user-friendly.
• Works in conjunction with Kapwing’s other video production tools.
• Can be used online without requiring application download.
• Has great customizable templates and video samples to test all features out.
• Can transcribe in 70 languages.

Cons:

• Only supports the SRT format.
• Operates entirely in the cloud, so you cannot work offline.
• Upfront payment is required to access many helpful features.

5. Jubler: Best subtitle software for beginners

Price: Free

Compatibility: Mac, Windows, Linux

Jubler is a free, open-source subtitle editor system with many user-friendly features. This application is all about simplicity and usability, but it has no automatic transcription features. This means you have to write your subtitles manually, which can be time-consuming. 

However, if you already have an SRT file available and want to re-submit a file after editing it, Jubler can be quite handy. In fact, it is powered by an algorithm that is able to handle timing issues automatically and optimize frame rate conversions. 

Jubler runs on the Java Runtime Environment, so users can work quickly and efficiently across various operating systems where this software layer is installed. It also handles multiple subtitle formats, including SRT, SUB, SSA, ASS, and STL, allowing for easy conversion between them.

Pros:

• Perfect for beginners and novice users since it’s very simple and easy to use.
• Supports most popular subtitle file types.
• Works well with various devices and operating systems.

Cons:

• No automatic subtitles generation capabilities.
• Pretty basic in terms of its functionality.
• Users must also install a video player to assess subtitle results.

6. Subtitle Workshop: Best for customizable subtitles

Price: Free

Compatibility: Windows

Subtitle Workshop is an open-source, browser-based application. It has a slightly outdated interface but supports many subtitling tasks. It doesn’t provide automatic caption features, so it is only suitable for manually creating and editing subtitles. It works with many different languages and offers a lot of customizability, including the option to customize your workflow with shortcuts, different interface modes, and custom scripts.

You can create and convert subtitles and edit the text, timing, and synchronization with video or audio content. Subtitle Workshop can automate frames-per-second changes as well as detect text or timing errors with a solid array of automatic tools.

Pros:

• Offers a lot of customization options for a free tool.
• Includes a video player so that users can synchronize subtitles with video content.
• Supports a variety of video and subtitle file formats.
• Can be extended with Pascal script files for extra functions.

Cons:

• Interface is outdated, making it somewhat difficult to navigate.
• Access to advanced caption tools is limited.
• Only available on Windows, doesn’t support macOS computers.

5 Best subtitle apps for iOS & Android

If you prefer a mobile workflow to a desktop-oriented one, there are a lot of apps you can use to add subtitles to videos on your phone.

Whether you’re on an iPhone or an Android, we've got you covered. Here are the best subtitle apps for mobile devices and why we recommend them.

1. CapCut: Best subtitles for social media

Price: Free plan available. $7.99/month for the Pro version.

Compatibility: Android, iOS, Mac, Windows

CapCut is a simple and versatile app widely used for recording and editing videos. It is loved by many social media users, especially on TikTok, since it provides a clean and user-friendly interface with lots of filters, transitions, and templates.

CapCut also doubles as a very efficient subtitle app perfectly suited for social media use. In fact, most of its features are tailored toward this niche, giving you options to add dynamic text, colorful effects, funny animations, and AI characters. Overall, CapCut is simple, fun to use, and provides users with lots of room for personalization

Pros:

• Automatically generates subs that are in sync with your video.
• Many effects, animations, and customization options.
• Very simple to use, with one of the most user-friendly interfaces available.

Cons:

• Automatic captions may sometimes go out of sync.
• Adjusting the timing of animated subtitles can be hard.

2. Kaptioned: Best subtitling app for accuracy

Price: Free plan available. Paid plan is $9.99/month.

Compatibility: iOS, Android

Kaptioned is an auto subtitle generator app for mobile that uses AI to create subtitles quickly in 12 languages. You can add text or captions to any part of your video. You can even display subtitles in two different languages simultaneously.

Subtitle customization options are available but are fairly basic: you can change color, font, and background. However, what makes Kaptioned stand out is the high accuracy of the captions it generates, which is its most appreciated feature.

Pros:

• Very accurate AI-generated subtitles and captions.
• Edit, change, and save a video as many times as you want.
• Supports subtitles in multiple languages.
• Can show subs in 2 different languages at once.

Cons:

• The free version leaves a watermark on videos.
• Editing subtitles on the app can be fiddly and take a while.

3. Voicella: Best subtitling app for Android

‍

Price: Free with in-app purchases.

Compatibility: Android

Voicella is a popular app for adding subtitles to videos. It can translate speech from over 90 languages, transcribe text, and add subtitles to your video. Its voice-to-text is quite accurate, and the interface is very simple, with many options for customization. You can also produce voice-overs for your scripts, although some voices sound better and more natural than others.

Voicella is very quick, and it’s a useful app for adding subtitles on the go and creating videos ready for sharing on most social media. 

Pros:

• User interface is very user-friendly and quick to master.
• Can create voice-overs from written text.
• Online translation is available for more than 90+ languages, but 10 of them (including English and Russian) can be used offline for free.

Cons:

• Not all voices sound so natural.
• Quite basic overall.
• Doesn’t support iOS devices.

4. VidCap: Best subtitling app for iPhone

Price: Free with in-app purchases.

Compatibility: iOS

VidCap automatically adds subtitles to your videos with a high accuracy rating compared to similar apps and plenty of tools to customize your text. You can preview your video before exporting and even add a brand logo. 

While you can’t record on the app, you can save captioned videos in up to 4K on your device. VidCap supports SRT, TXT, and VTT files.

Pros:

• Subtitles with a competitive accuracy level.
• Unlimited video length supported.
• Customizing options: font, style, animations, colors.
• Supports translations in 100 languages.

Cons:

• Need to scroll through the entire video to proofread the captions.
• An Apple Silicon processor is recommended for videos longer than 90 minutes. (Found in devices made after 2020-2021.)
• Only available on iOS.

5. Veme.ly: Best subtitling app for customizing fonts

Price: Free plan available. Paid plans start at $9.99/month.

Compatibility: iOS, Android

Veme.ly comes in handy for adding eye-catching subtitles to your videos. The app has a lot to offer in terms of text tools, so you can make words stand out. If the 110 different fonts available aren’t enough, you can also import your own into the app and use them. 

Plus, Veeme.ly comes with other handy features to edit your videos. For example, you can add multiple scenes or merge multiple clips to customize your videos before adding subtitles and sharing them on social media.

Most users will need the paid plan with Veme.ly, as the free option only allows you to manually create subtitles or import an SRT file. With the paid plan, you can generate up to 15 minutes of captions.

Pros:

• Video tutorials available to help you generate subtitles.
• Import videos from your library or the cloud, or record videos directly on the app.
• Extra features include adding logos, gifs, and progress bars.

Cons:

• Fewer features available with the Android version compared to iOS.
• Subtitle accuracy varies.
• The free version is very limited.
• Translations are available only in Portuguese, French, German, English and Spanish.

Final thoughts

There are many great subtitle apps to choose from. The best option for you will depend on your unique needs and skills and what you’re trying to achieve for your project. 

We recommend all the applications listed above, but if you want the best results, go on and try Riverside! It offers accurate transcription, easy-to-edit captions, and many other features to help you make your videos look amazing.

FAQs about subtitle software and apps

Need more information? Here are the answers to the most frequently asked questions on subtitle software and apps.

How do I get subtitles on my phone?

To get subtitles on your phone, download a subtitle app, such as CapCut, Kaptioned, or VidCap. Many of these apps automatically generate and sync subtitles with your videos.

How do I automatically add subtitles?

You can automatically add subtitles using apps or software with AI-powered transcription features, like Riverside or Adobe Premiere Pro. These tools generate subtitles by analyzing your audio using speech recognition algorithms, which you can download or edit as needed.

Where can I edit subtitles?

You can edit subtitles directly in some subtitle apps and software, such as Subtitle Workshop or Kapwing. In others, like Riverside, you can also download the automatic transcription or captions as a TXT or SRT file, and then edit them with a text editor like the Windows Notepad. Many subtitle generators also provide extra editing tools to fine-tune text, timing, and style.

What should I do if my subtitles are not syncing properly?

You can use software with auto-sync features. Riverside uses sophisticated AI algorithms to transcribe audio accurately, ensuring that the generated text aligns closely with the spoken words If your subtitles are still out of sync, you can adjust the timing manually in your subtitle editor by shifting the captions forward or backward.