Add Subtitles to Video

Why add subtitles to videos?

Increased Accessibility

Approximately 15 percent of American adults are living with some kind of hearing impairment, according to the National Institutes of Health. If any of these 37 million viewers stumble upon your website and see that your videos lack subtitles, they'll likely head over to a different site that properly addresses their needs.

If you make the simple decision to incorporate subtitles into your videos, you'll allow all of your viewers to have a more accessible experience on your site. This also gives you the chance to attract a larger customer base.

Larger Demographic

To expand your target audience, be sure to take other cultures into account. Viewers who speak a different language or have trouble understanding English will benefit immensely from subtitles. Take some time to research the most commonly spoken languages worldwide to make your captions as effective as possible.

Enhanced SEO Strategy

Believe it or not, adding subtitles to videos can boost your SEO strategy. Viewers are likely to spend more time watching your video if they can follow along with captions. Subtitles also give search engines the chance to index the keywords in your text, which may help you rank higher on Google or another search giant.

Greater Convenience

The benefits of subtitles don't just apply to non-English speakers or those who are hard of hearing. Videos with subtitles also offer a greater sense of convenience to all types of viewers—whether they can't turn on the volume or simply prefer reading along.

Stronger Message

When done correctly, subtitles can reinforce the message of your video by giving viewers a compelling visual component. Your audience is more likely to retain the information when it's presented both audibly and in text. It’s also easier for others to understand the main concept of your video when the dialogue and narration are spelled out.

More Memorable Brand

The main goal of your videos is to give your customers a reason to think of you in the future. Subtitles can help them connect more deeply with your content, making your brand more memorable.

Increased Versatility

Without subtitles, your viewers can only watch your videos in settings where they can use sound. By adding subtitles, they can watch anytime, even in quiet environments.

Fewer Incomplete Views

If you've noticed that a chunk of your audience starts your videos but doesn't finish, a lack of captioning could be the culprit. Subtitles keep them engaged and less likely to abandon your content early.

Heightened Interest

Subtitles aren’t just about accessibility—they also boost engagement by offering a second way for viewers to absorb information.

Improved Brand Reputation

Well-designed, high-quality videos with subtitles show your audience you care about inclusivity and professionalism. Subtitles are a straightforward way to demonstrate commitment to your customers’ needs.

How to Add Subtitles with FFMPEG

Advanced users can use FFMPEG directly to add subtitles to a video. Create a .srt (subtitle file) that contains the text:

ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -i subtitles.srt -c copy -c:s mov_text output.mp4

Add Subtitles to Video Online—No Software Required

Adding subtitles to your video is one of the easiest ways to make your content more accessible, improve engagement, and ensure viewers can watch anytime, anywhere—even with the volume off. Whether you want to manually type your captions, use our quick auto-subtitle feature, or upload an SRT file, EchoWave’s online editor keeps it simple.

No Installation or Sign-up Required

You can get started right away—just upload your clip, add or edit your subtitles, then export your finished video. There’s no software to download, no complicated setup, and no account required. It all happens in your browser.

Manually Add Subtitles or Upload Files

Already have an SRT or VTT file? Simply upload and sync the text. Need to fine-tune timings or adjust the style? It’s easy to do so in a few clicks.

Keep or Burn-In Subtitles

Decide whether you want your subtitles permanently visible (burned-in) or as a separate toggleable file—perfect for sharing on multiple social media platforms.

Small Watermark on Free Plan

Our free plan includes a small Echowave.io watermark. Upgrade anytime to remove it completely and unlock more features.

Make Your Videos SEO-Friendly

Subtitles help search engines understand your content, making it more discoverable. A well-captioned video is more likely to rank higher in search results.

Works on All Devices

Whether you’re on Windows, Mac, or a mobile device, our editor is optimized for modern browsers—just load our site and start captioning.

Start adding subtitles to your video now and watch your engagement, accessibility, and reach grow!