SRT: the simple, universal one
SubRip (.srt) is the most widely supported subtitle format. Each cue has a number, a start and end time, and one or more lines of text, separated by a blank line. Times use a comma before the milliseconds.
Example cue: a line with 1, then a line with 00:00:01,000 --> 00:00:03,500, then the text Hello and welcome. SRT supports basic italic and bold tags in many players, but no positioning or fonts. Its simplicity is why nearly every editor, player and platform accepts it.
VTT: the web version
WebVTT (.vtt) is the subtitle format of the web. It looks like SRT with three differences you will notice: the file starts with the line WEBVTT, times use a full stop instead of a comma (00:00:01.000), and the cue number is optional. It also supports cue settings for position and alignment, and styling through CSS when played in a browser.
Use VTT for HTML5 video players and many online platforms. Converting between SRT and VTT is lossless for the text and timing.
ASS: styled subtitles
Advanced SubStation Alpha (.ass, and the older .ssa) carries named styles with fonts, sizes, colours, outlines and shadows, exact on-screen positions, and effects such as karaoke highlighting. It is common for anime fansubs and stylised captions.
Few social apps or phone players read ASS directly. Its strength shows when you burn it into the video, because every style is reproduced exactly.
Subtitle ConverterConvert between SRT, VTT, ASS and plain text. Timing is kept to the millisecond.Burned-in versus soft subtitles
| Soft subtitles (a track or sidecar file) | Burned-in subtitles (open captions) | |
|---|---|---|
| Can the viewer turn them off | Yes | No |
| Several languages in one file | Yes | No, one per video |
| Shows on Instagram, TikTok, WhatsApp | Usually not | Always |
| Style looks the same everywhere | No, the player decides | Yes |
| Needs re-encoding | No | Yes |
| Searchable, editable later | Yes | No |
Burn subtitles in for short-form social video, where most people watch with the sound off and apps ignore subtitle tracks. Keep them soft for long videos, films, courses and anything with several languages, and upload the SRT or VTT to platforms such as YouTube that accept caption files.
Burn SubtitlesBurn an SRT, VTT or ASS file into the picture, with your choice of size, colour, outline, box and position.Getting a subtitle file in the first place
- Extract it from an MKV or MP4 that already carries text subtitle tracks.
- Generate it from the speech with automatic transcription, then correct any mistakes.
- Write it by hand in any text editor following the SRT layout.
Questions
What is the difference between SRT and VTT?
They hold the same information. VTT starts with WEBVTT, uses a full stop before milliseconds and supports positioning and CSS styling. SRT uses a comma and is supported by more desktop software.
Should I burn subtitles into a Reel?
Yes. Instagram, TikTok and WhatsApp do not read subtitle files you attach, and many people watch muted. Burned-in subtitles always show.
Can I remove burned-in subtitles later?
No. They become part of the picture. Keep the original video and the subtitle file so you can make a new version.
Why do my ASS styles look different in a player?
Players differ in how much of ASS they support, and they need the right fonts installed. Burning the subtitles in reproduces the styles exactly.
Can picture-based subtitles be converted to SRT?
Not directly. DVD and Blu-ray subtitles are images, and turning them into text needs optical character recognition, which the subtitle tools here do not do.