Auto-Generate Video Subtitles: Best Tools & Tips (2026)

Subtitles aren't optional anymore. 85% of Facebook videos are watched on mute, and every major platform rewards captioned content. Here's how to add them automatically.

Why Subtitles Matter

• Accessibility — Required for deaf/hard-of-hearing viewers
• Engagement — Captioned videos get 40% more views on average
• SEO — Platforms index caption text for search
• Sound-off viewing — Most social media is consumed on mute
• Comprehension — Helps non-native speakers follow along

Best Auto-Subtitle Tools

Ekly

• Subtitles auto-generated during video creation
• No separate step — captions are part of the output
• Best for: videos created from scratch with AI
• Accuracy: High (generated from the script, not transcribed)

CapCut

• One-click auto-captions with style templates
• Great animated subtitle styles for social content
• Best for: TikTok and Reels creators
• Accuracy: 90-95%

Descript

• Transcription-based editing with subtitle export
• Edit captions by editing the text transcript
• Best for: podcast and interview content
• Accuracy: 95%+

Rev

• AI + human review option for maximum accuracy
• SRT/VTT export for any platform
• Best for: professional content requiring perfect accuracy
• Accuracy: 99% (with human review)

YouTube Auto-Captions

• Free, built into YouTube Studio
• Quality has improved significantly in 2025-2026
• Best for: YouTube-only content
• Accuracy: 85-92% (varies by audio quality)

Platform-Specific Tips

YouTube

• Upload SRT files for best results (don't rely solely on auto-captions)
• Use YouTube Studio to review and correct auto-generated captions
• Captions improve search ranking

Instagram Reels / TikTok

• Burn subtitles into the video (hardcoded) — these platforms don't support SRT
• Use large, readable fonts with high contrast
• Keep text in the center-safe zone (avoid edges)

LinkedIn

• SRT upload supported
• Professional audience expects clean, accurate captions
• Avoid overly stylized fonts — keep it readable

Facebook

• Supports SRT upload
• Auto-captions available but less accurate than dedicated tools
• Captioned videos autoplay with text visible, increasing engagement

Subtitle Style Tips

• Font: Sans-serif, bold, high contrast (white text on dark background or with outline)
• Size: Large enough to read on mobile
• Position: Bottom-center or top-center (avoid covering important visuals)
• Length: Max 2 lines, 42 characters per line
• Timing: Sync to speech rhythm, not just timestamps

Common Mistakes

• Not reviewing auto-generated captions — Always proofread, especially proper nouns
• Too-small text — Test on a phone screen
• Bad timing — Captions that lag or lead speech are distracting
• Covering important visuals — Position captions carefully

Getting Started

If you're creating videos with Ekly, subtitles are generated automatically as part of the creation process. For existing videos, CapCut or Descript are the fastest options to add accurate captions.