Best Apps for Adding Subtitles to Video on Android, iOS or Web

Why Subtitles Are Essential in 2025?

Let’s be honest—most people don’t watch videos with the sound on.

In 2025, 85% of mobile users watch videos silently, and videos with subtitles see up to 80% higher watch completion rates.

That’s a massive opportunity to improve retention, engagement, and accessibility.

Here’s why adding subtitles and using AI to create captions is important:

#1 SEO Loves Subtitles

Every word you subtitle becomes searchable.

Platforms like YouTube index your video captions, meaning your video can show up in more search results—even outside YouTube.

In fact, videos with captions get 34% more views because they rank higher in search.

If your content strategy includes reach (and it should), this is your shortcut.

#2 You Expand Your Audience Without Extra Effort

Subtitles make your content instantly more accessible:

→ To non-native speakers
→ To viewers who are deaf or hard of hearing
→ To people watching with the sound off in a crowded café

With today’s AI subtitle editors, you don’t need a translator or manual captioning.

You just upload your video, check the subtitles, and share it with the world.

#3 Catering to Silent Viewing Preferences

Imagine your audience is scrolling Instagram in line at a grocery store. No headphones. No sound.

If your video doesn’t have AI-generated subtitles, they’ll skip it.

But with clean, branded captions? They’ll watch till the end.

Understanding Subtitle Formats: SRT, VTT, and More

Not all subtitle files are created equal.

Whether you're uploading to YouTube, editing inside an AI subtitle editor, or making captions for social media, using the right format will save you time, avoid problems, and keep your subtitles in sync.

What is an SRT File and Why It's the Industry Standard? 

SRT (SubRip Subtitle) files are the most common subtitle format out there.

They’re simple text files that contain:

• The start and end timecodes
• Subtitle number
• The actual caption text

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SRT files work with almost every video platform, like YouTube, Vimeo, Facebook, LinkedIn, and many podcast video tools.

They are small in size, easy to edit, and great for creators who want to fix their subtitles without using big, heavy software.

What About VTT, ASS, and Other Formats?

Here’s a quick breakdown of the most popular subtitle formats:

When Should You Use Each?

• SRT: Go-to for creators posting on most platforms. Fast, flexible, and fully compatible with AI subtitle editors like BIGVU.
  
  
• VTT: Ideal if you’re embedding videos on your own site and want more control over how captions look.
  
  
• ASS: Use only if you’re doing highly stylized or animated subtitles (think karaoke, music videos, or motion overlays).
  
  
• SBV: Rare now! Stick to SRT unless uploading to a legacy YouTube project.

The 7 Best Apps for Adding Subtitles to Videos (2025 Guide)

#1 BIGVU — All-in-One AI Video Captions Generator

If you’re tired of switching between different apps just to add subtitles to a 2-minute video, BIGVU is made for you.

It helps you write your script, add perfect subtitles with your brand, and publish the video—all in one easy step.

What makes it different?

You get captions that actually look good and support your brand.

Here’s how it works:

• Instant AI subtitles: BIGVU writes captions for your video right away. No need to upload or match timing—just press record, and the captions appear automatically.

• AI Auto-Fix for cleaner, smarter captions- If a word is hard to understand or you have a strong accent, BIGVU gives you a quick auto-correct option to fix your subtitles. Just click once to make your subtitles clear.

• Style that matches your brand- Choose from designer subtitle themes or highlight keywords line by line. Your captions will look great and support your brand.

• Captions in 70+ languages- With one click, translate and download subtitles in many languages without using other tools. Reach more people easily with BIGVU.

Ease of Use:‍

Whether you’re a first-time creator or a team managing weekly content, BIGVU makes AI subtitle editing simple—even on mobile.

Pricing:

• Free plan available
• Paid plans from $12/month with access to advanced captions styling, exports, and more

Perfect For:

‍Coaches, marketers, personal brands, and social-first creators who want professional video captions—without hiring an editor or juggling 3 apps.

#2 MixCaptions — Quick Captioning for Social Media Creators

A mobile-first app made for quick turnarounds.

MixCaptions is especially popular among Instagram and TikTok creators who need fast, clean captions on the go.

• Automatic captions with simple styling options
• Manual editing available for timing tweaks
• Supports multiple languages

Ease of use:
Super beginner-friendly. Upload your video, let the AI generate the captions, and tweak as needed.

Pricing:
Free plan with watermarks | In-app upgrades start at $4.99

Where it falls short:

• No teleprompter or video editing
• No animated captions
• 30-minute video cap
• No timeline editor or word-by-word control, unlike BIGVU

Best for:
Creators who need a no-fuss mobile subtitle application with fast turnaround.

#3 VEED.IO — Web-Based Editor with Built-In Captions

If you prefer working in-browser, VEED is a solid choice.

It’s a cloud-based video editor with an AI subtitle generator built in—perfect for creators doing post-production from their laptops.

• Auto-caption videos in multiple languages
• Add branding, overlays, and transitions
• Export to SRT, VTT, or hardcode subtitles directly

Ease of use:
Slick web interface. No downloads needed. Timeline editing is clean and intuitive.

Pricing:
Free version available | Pro plans start at $29/month

Where it falls short:

• Heavier learning curve
• No mobile app 
• Hefty price for solo creators

Best for:
Creators who want to do complex video editing + captioning in one place, no app install required.

#4 Kaptioned — Lightweight and Social-Ready

Simple. Fast. Focused on subtitle correction without too many extras.

Kaptioned is great for Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, or any short-form video that needs captions, fast.

• Dual-language subtitles- You can add captions in two languages at the same time
• Works on Android and iOS- Gives you control to edit on the mobile app, like BIGVU
• Custom styling controls- You can manually change fonts, colors, and backgrounds for your subtitles.

Ease of use:
Very easy for quick mobile edits. Best for short-form creators.

Pricing:
Free with watermark | Premium options available via in-app purchases

Where it falls short:

• Capped at 10-minute videos
• Limited to mobile uploads
• No pre-designed themes or templates

Best for:
Creators who just want quick AI video captions.

#5 AutoCap — Animated Captions That Pop

Want subtitles that move? AutoCap adds animated, stylized text to your videos, giving them a bold, social-media-friendly feel.

• Voice recognition + subtitle generator
• Add motion text effects, transitions, and emojis
• Perfect for TikTok, Reels, and YouTube Shorts

Ease of use:
Easy to use for beginners with user-friendly interface.

Pricing:
Free plan available | Premium features from $6.99/month

Where it falls short:

• No AI script generator
• No teleprompter
• No pre-made caption templates
• Not available for desktop version

Best for:
Influencers and social-first brands who want subtitles with extra flair.

#6 Happy Scribe — Professional-Level Transcription + Subtitles

If you're creating professional content like courses, interviews, or webinars, Happy Scribe delivers on accuracy and scale.

• Human or AI-powered transcription (up to 99% accurate)
• Export subtitles in multiple formats: SRT, VTT, TXT
• Add speaker names and timestamps for clarity
• Optional human review for error-free results

Ease of use:
Clean web interface, but no mobile access. Feels built more for studios than solo creators on the go.

Pricing:
The Lite Plan starts from $6/month but it’s very limited and you cannot download subtitles in different formats. Human transcription comes at an extra cost

Where it falls short:

• No mobile app (web only)
• Minimal styling or brand control
• No pre-designed caption templates
• Built for accuracy, not creative flexibility

Best for:

Teams, educators, and professionals who need high-accuracy captions, but don’t need animation, styling, or mobile editing features.

#7 Rev — Human-Curated Captions with High Accuracy

If accuracy is your top priority, Rev delivers polished, human-generated captions—ideal for videos where every word counts.

• Human transcription with ~99% accuracy
• Upload videos from your device or import directly from YouTube
• Slow turnaround: ~1 hour for most files
• Supports multiple export formats (SRT, VTT)

Ease of use:

Upload and wait. There's no built-in recorder or teleprompter—Rev is focused purely on transcription.

Pricing:

The Basic plan starts from $9.99/month, but you’ll not get the AI transcription feature here. For that you’ve to upgrade to its Pro plan, costing $20.99/month.

Best for:
Creators or teams needing high-accuracy, no-frills captions—especially for formal content like interviews, talks, or training videos.

How to Create and Edit SRT Files with BIGVU?

Zero tech skills? No problem.

Here’s how to create and edit SRT files with BIGVU’s AI subtitle editor in just 3 simple steps:

Step 1: Import Your Video to BIGVU

Upload your clip or record directly in BIGVU.

Then, choose the language you want your video captions to appear in. That’s all you need to start.

Example:

Filming a quick “How-to” Reel in English? Choose English, and BIGVU will auto-transcribe every word.

Step 2: Style + Edit Your Captions

BIGVU’s AI video caption tool works by automatically writing down what you say in your video.

From there, you can:

• Fix any typos or subtitle timing
• Highlight keywords word-by-word
• Change fonts, colors, and styles to match your brand
• Translate captions into more than 70 languages
• Add your logo to make it look professional

This is your chance to make your captions look great and personal.

Step 3: Download Your SRT File

Once everything looks good, click "Download SRT", and you're done..

You’ll get a clean .srt file you can upload to YouTube, Vimeo, Facebook, LinkedIn… wherever your content goes.

Want it in multiple languages? You can export translated SRT files with just a few clicks.

What Are The Best Practices for Working with SRT Files?

• Always check your subtitles before exporting. Small mistakes can be very distracting.
• Keep each line short and easy to read. Avoid long blocks of text.
• Match the timecodes to how people speak naturally.
• Use simple fonts and place subtitles in the same spot to help viewers follow along.
• Be careful with translations—machine tools are helpful but don’t always catch the meaning correctly.

BIGVU: The All-In-One Solution for Creating, Editing, and Optimizing Subtitles

Tired of switching between different apps just to finish one video?

BIGVU is made for creators, brands, and teams who want to record, style, add subtitles, and share videos—all in one place. You don’t need any editing skills or lots of software.

With features like automatic AI subtitle generation, AI voiceovers, and custom templates, BIGVU helps you make professional-looking videos that grab attention and get results.

Here’s how it works:

Auto-Generated Captions—Done in Seconds

Whether you record a video inside BIGVU or upload your own clip, the captions are made automatically.

• No need to type anything by hand.
• No problems matching captions with speech.
• No waiting around.

BIGVU’s AI subtitle editor transcribes your speech in seconds—and gives you full control to tweak and style every word.

Want to emphasize keywords?

Just click on them to bold, animate, or highlight each word.

Built-In Subtitle Correction + Timeline Editing

Once your subtitles are generated, you can:

• Correct any grammar or timing problems  
• Change the speed using a visual timeline  
• Break long lines into shorter parts to make them easier to read  
• Translate captions into more than 70 languages  
• Add your logo and brand colors

No need for extra software or outside tools.

Just tap, edit, and you’re done.

AI Editing Tools That Go Way Beyond Captions

BIGVU is more than just a subtitle application, it’s a full video editor powered by AI.

AI Script Generator

Don’t know what to say? Just tell the AI about your video, and it will create a script for you. You can then read this script using the built-in teleprompter.

AI Voice Generator

If you don’t want to use your own voice, you can pick from many AI voices that will narrate your video automatically.

AI Avatar 

Don’t want to appear on camera? Upload your script and let your custom avatar speak for you.

Smart Video Editing

You can easily crop, trim, add logos, change backgrounds, or choose a thumbnail—all in one place.

One-Click Publishing with Optimized Subtitles

Once your video and captions are ready, BIGVU makes it easy to share them quickly.

• Share directly to Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, LinkedIn, and Facebook.
  
  
• You can also save captions as SRT files or add captions directly into the videos.
  
  
• Pick a thumbnail image, add titles, and post in the right format for each social media site.

And with BIGVU’s built-in social media scheduler, you can:

• Plan your posts in advance  
• Choose the exact time to publish  
• See how your subtitled video will look on each platform

There’s no need to download and upload files or switch between different apps. Just write your script, record, add subtitles, and schedule your posts all in one place.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the difference between hard-coded and soft subtitles?

Hardcoded means embedded or burned into the video. Soft means a separate file (like an SRT) that you can toggle on/off or edit later.

How can I ensure my subtitles are accurate?

You can use BIGVU’s auto-fix feature, which automatically checks if your subtitles are correct.

Which subtitle format is best for social media platforms?

SRT is the most widely accepted and perfect for uploading to platforms like YouTube, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Can AI really generate accurate subtitles?

Yep—BIGVU’s AI subtitle editor gets the job done fast, and you can easily tweak for perfect polish.

What’s an SRT file and why should I use it?

It’s a simple caption file you can upload to almost any platform—great for SEO, accessibility, and global reach.

How can BIGVU help me create professional subtitles faster?

From AI transcription to styling and exports, BIGVU handles it all—so you can go from script to share-ready in minutes.

Wrapping It Up

Subtitles aren’t just for accessibility—they’re for engagement, clarity, and growth.

And with the right tools, adding them doesn’t have to slow you down.

From AI-powered subtitle generation to one-click publishing, BIGVU gives you everything you need to create scroll-stopping, on-brand videos, without any complicated steps.

Want to simplify your entire video workflow?

Try BIGVU for Free now and see how easy pro-quality captions can be.

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