Top 13 Apps for Adding Subtitles to Your Videos: A 2024 Complete Guide

Video content has certainly become an essential part of our lives, whether we're looking for entertainment, educational materials, or business content. That said, not everyone can listen to the audio in a video, so subtitles are a great option. 

Captions help make videos accessible for people with hearing impairments, while also catering to different viewing preferences and environments. So, it's no surprise that there's been a surge in the demand for apps that can turn videos into subtitled content. 

In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore the top 13 apps that add subtitles to videos.

What Makes Subtitles So Important?

Before diving into the list, let's figure out why adding captions to your videos is crucial:

1. Global Reach: Subtitles help you reach even the audiences that don't speak the same language as you. This is especially useful for businesses that want to sell their products and services all over the world.
2. Accessibility: According to the World Health Organization, over 5% of the world's population suffers from disabling hearing loss. Subtitles make sure your videos are accessible to everyone, including those with hearing impairments.
3. Multitasking: Nowadays, people often watch videos while multitasking or in environments where audio might be disruptive. An app for adding subtitles to video will help make it possible for viewers to follow the content even when audio is not an option.
4. Improved Comprehension: Subtitles are great for making sure everyone gets the gist, especially if the topic is complex or there are lots of speakers. Captions are a handy visual reminder of what's being said.
5. SEO Benefits: If you include subtitles in your videos, search engines will be able to index the text, which could improve your video’s visibility and search engine rankings.

Top 13 Apps That Add Subtitles to Videos

1. BIGVU VideoMaker

BIGVU VideoMaker is a full-service video creation and editing tool with some pretty impressive features. Its intuitive interface makes it simple to add subtitles in over 70 languages. Plus, it's got automatic transcription and translation capabilities, so you can easily reach a global audience.

And if you're looking to really make your content pop, BIGVU VideoMaker has you covered there too. It offers a range of customization options like stylish subtitle themes and the ability to highlight keywords using AI.

2. MixCaptions

MixCaptions is a straightforward app for adding subtitles to video. While it doesn't have all the advanced features, it's great for those who want a straightforward, efficient solution. You can customize fonts, colors, and text backgrounds manually, making it a good choice for those looking for a no-frills subtitling option. 

Just a heads-up: MixCaptions doesn't have built-in recording capabilities, and there's a limit on the length of videos you can add subtitles to.

3. Kaptioned

Kaptioned is a mobile app that makes it easy for you to add subtitles to your videos. One of its best features is that you can add subtitles in two languages at the same time, which is perfect if you're creating content for an international audience. 

The app doesn't have any pre-designed video templates, but you can easily customize the font, color, and background of the subtitles to make them your own. 

One drawback to using Kaptioned is its lack of a web presence and the fact that there’s a cap on the maximum video length it can support.

4. Autocap

Autocap has a unique timer feature that you can add to each video, which makes it simple to keep track of the timing. 

While it doesn't have pre-made templates or an AI scripting feature, Autocap does a great job with videos of varying lengths. The free version supports up to 5 minutes, and the pro version supports up to 15 minutes.

5. Veed

Veed is intuitive and user-friendly software to add subtitles to a video. You've got automatic captioning in multiple languages, as well as the option to download SRT files to make further customizations. What sets Veed apart is the variety of pre-designed themes, which can really make your videos look professional and well put together. 

It's true that Veed doesn't have automatic subtitle highlighting or AI scripting features, but it'd still be a solid choice for web and mobile users.

6. HappyScribe

HappyScribe is a top-notch app for serious video projects, like online courses. It's got both machine and human transcription options, with the latter boasting an impressive 99% accuracy rate. While HappyScribe doesn't have styling options or pre-made templates, it's great at delivering highly accurate transcriptions. 

Just so you know, HappyScribe works on a pay-as-you-go premium model, which may be out of reach for some budgets.  

7. Rev

Rev is a video captioning app that uses human transcription for accurate subtitles. What sets it apart is that you can upload videos directly from YouTube for a seamless experience. 

However, it's worth noting that Rev doesn't have a mobile app and doesn't offer built-in themes or designs, which might not be ideal for social media content. Also, the turnaround time for human transcription can take up to an hour, which might not be suitable for time-sensitive projects.

8. Adobe Premiere Pro and Final Cut Pro

Adobe Premiere Pro and Final Cut Pro aren't dedicated subtitling apps, but they're still pretty good at what they do. These professional-grade video editing software have some powerful tools that let you add subtitles to your videos in a way that suits you. 

You can customize and control the design, style, and appearance of your subtitles to your heart's content, but these apps do have a steeper learning curve and may take longer to get a hang of than dedicated subtitling apps.

9. Subly

Subly is a user-friendly platform for creating free, quick, and automatic subtitles for your videos. 

It's super easy to use: just upload your videos, transcribe them, and you're done.

10. Zubtitle

Zubtitle is a nifty little video editing and subtitling platform designed specifically for social media content. Its standout feature is the automatic subtitle engine, which makes it easy to add and edit the timing and text of your subtitles. 

Furthermore, the tool lets you resize, crop, and trim your videos to make them look their best on social media.

11. Screen Story

This is the best app to add subtitles to videos if you're specifically looking for a screen recording tool that can enhance your video content with professional-looking subtitles and captions. 

Screen Story is a one-stop video creation and editing tool designed for Apple users. It turns basic screen recordings into visually stunning masterpieces with minimal effort.

12. CapCut

CapCut is an all-in-one video editor that's incredibly versatile. It's got a bunch of cool features and tools to help you make engaging videos for all kinds of platforms. 

13. Descript

Descript is an all-in-one audio and video editing platform that lets you work fast and easy based on your transcribed text. 

By the way, its Overdub feature lets you add a personalized digital voice to your content.

Choosing the Right Software to Add Subtitles to a Video

1. Platform Compatibility: It's important to make sure the app works with your preferred platform, whether it's iOS, Android, or web-based.
2. Accuracy and Language Support: If you need captions or translations automatically generated, check how accurate the app is and whether it supports the languages you need.
3. Ease of Use: A simple-to-use interface can really help to make subtitling easier, especially for people who've not done it before.
4. Customization Options: Think about the customization features the app offers, like pre-designed themes, font styles, and color options.
5. Video Length Support: Just check the maximum video length supported by the app to make sure it's right for what you're trying to do.
6. Cost and Subscription Models: Take some time to think about your budget and usage needs, and then find an option that fits the bill.

When selecting the best app to add subtitles to videos, make sure to consider the factors mentioned above if you want to avoid downloading something that you won’t be able to take advantage of.

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Elevate Your Video Content with Screen Story

Screen Story lets you record your screen, voice, and camera at once. The app will apply design enhancements like smooth cursor animations, automatic zoom-ins on-screen actions, motion blur, and background replacements automatically. You can also add subtitles, motion titles, and teleprompters for a more dynamic viewing experience.

One of the best things about Screen Story is that it can be used for all kinds of things, like product demos, tutorials, social media content, prototyping videos, and educational courses. Whether you're an entrepreneur, designer, marketer, developer, or tutor, Screen Story makes it easy to get things done, even if you don't know much about video editing.

With Screen Story, you have all the tools you need to create engaging content at your fingertips. 

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