# ReelCaption

> ReelCaption adds animated, word-by-word captions to a video in the browser. It transcribes the speech with Whisper, lets you fix and style every word, and exports an MP4 with the captions burned in, or .srt and .vtt subtitle files, for TikTok, Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts and YouTube. You can also bring your own .srt or .vtt file and burn it in without transcription. The video stays on your device; only the audio is sent for transcription.

Every page listed here also comes as markdown: request it with the header `Accept: text/markdown`. The short version of this file is at https://reelcaption.cc/llms.txt.

## What it does

- Input: MP4, MOV or WebM up to 1 GB, vertical or wide. The export keeps the original size.
- Transcription: Whisper large-v3, run by Groq. The language is detected automatically. Every word gets its own start and end time.
- Subtitle import: add your own .srt or .vtt file, up to 2 MB, with the video. ReelCaption skips transcription, so it uses no minutes or free clips, needs no account and sets no limit on the video’s length. The video, its audio and the file stay on the device.
- Editing: fix words, retime captions on a timeline, split and merge them. Style with 16 fonts, presets, outline, glow, glass and metallic finishes, and motion presets. Any single word can have its own size and color.
- Export: MP4 with burned-in captions (needs Chrome, Edge or Safari), or .srt and .vtt files in any browser. No watermark on any plan.
- Privacy: the video is decoded, rendered and exported in the browser, on the device it came from. Only the audio track, about 1 MB a minute, goes to Groq, which runs Whisper, and it is not stored.
- Not included: no B-roll, avatars, templates, auto-clipping, translation or mobile app.

## Pricing

- No account: 2 clips of up to 60 seconds each.
- Free: 5 minutes of audio a month with Google sign-in, no card. A free clip can be up to 5 minutes long. Minutes reset on the 1st of each month.
- Pro: $5 a month or $50 a year, for 100 minutes a month.
- Creator: $15 a month or $150 a year, for 600 minutes a month.
- Paying yearly: 2 months free compared with paying monthly.
- Cancelling: Cancel any time from the billing page.

## Common questions

### Do I need an account?

No. Your first 2 clips of up to 60 seconds need no account. After that, sign in with Google for 5 free minutes every month. We never ask for a card on the free plan.

### Is my video uploaded to a server?

No. The video stays in your browser. We send only the audio track, about 1 MB a minute, to our transcription provider, and we do not store it once the captions come back.

### Is there a watermark?

No. Free and paid exports are the same file, with no logo on it.

### Which languages does it understand?

Most widely spoken languages. The Whisper model detects the language on its own, so there is nothing to set. Accuracy drops on rarer languages, heavy accents and music under speech, so read through the captions before you export.

### How do I fix a wrong word or bad timing?

Click the caption on the timeline and type the correction. Drag its edges to retime it, or split and merge captions at the playhead. Styling works the same way: 16 fonts, presets, outline, glow and motion.

### Which videos can I use?

MP4, MOV or WebM up to 1 GB, vertical or wide. The exported MP4 keeps the original size, so it posts to TikTok, Reels, Shorts or YouTube without cropping.

### What are burned-in captions?

Text drawn into every frame of the video, so it shows on any app or player and viewers cannot turn it off. ReelCaption exports burned-in captions in the MP4. For captions viewers can switch off, download an .srt or .vtt subtitle file instead.

### Does it work on my phone?

The studio runs in any modern browser. MP4 export needs Chrome, Edge or Safari. In other browsers you can still download .srt and .vtt subtitle files.

### What happens when my free minutes run out?

Your captions stay in the studio and you can still export them. New clips wait until your minutes reset on the 1st of the month, or you can upgrade: Pro is $5 a month for 100 minutes and Creator is $15 a month for 600.

### Can I cancel?

Yes, from the billing page in your account, in a couple of clicks. You keep your minutes until the end of the period you paid for.

## Compared with other caption tools

Each comparison also says when the other tool is the better pick.

- [ReelCaption vs CapCut](https://reelcaption.cc/alternatives/capcut-alternative): CapCut Pro is $19.99/mo. ReelCaption adds animated captions in your browser for $5/mo, with 5 free minutes a month and no card.
- [ReelCaption vs Submagic](https://reelcaption.cc/alternatives/submagic-alternative): ReelCaption adds word-by-word animated captions in your browser for $5/mo. You style every word yourself, and your video is never uploaded.
- [ReelCaption vs Captions](https://reelcaption.cc/alternatives/captions-ai-alternative): ReelCaption adds animated captions to a clip you already have, in your browser. Nothing to install, 5 free minutes a month, then $5/mo.
- [ReelCaption vs VEED](https://reelcaption.cc/alternatives/veed-alternative): ReelCaption adds animated captions in your browser for $5/mo. No watermark on any export, and your video is never uploaded.
- [ReelCaption vs Zubtitle](https://reelcaption.cc/alternatives/zubtitle-alternative): ReelCaption adds word-by-word animated captions in your browser for $5/mo. You pay for minutes of audio, not a set number of videos.
- [ReelCaption vs Kapwing](https://reelcaption.cc/alternatives/kapwing-alternative): ReelCaption styles word-by-word captions in your browser for $5/mo. No watermark, no upload and 5 free minutes a month.
- [ReelCaption vs Opus Clip](https://reelcaption.cc/alternatives/opus-clip-alternative): Already have the clip? ReelCaption adds word-by-word animated captions to it in your browser for $5/mo. It does not cut long videos.
- [ReelCaption vs Descript](https://reelcaption.cc/alternatives/descript-alternative): ReelCaption adds word-by-word animated captions to short clips in your browser for $5/mo. No desktop app, no upload.
- [ReelCaption vs VideoToCaptions](https://reelcaption.cc/alternatives/videotocaptions-alternative): ReelCaption also keeps your video in the browser, and adds word-by-word animation, 16 fonts and motion presets. Free to start.
- [ReelCaption vs ZapCap](https://reelcaption.cc/alternatives/zapcap-alternative): ReelCaption adds word-by-word animated captions in your browser for $5/mo. You style every word, and your video is never uploaded.
- [ReelCaption vs Vizard](https://reelcaption.cc/alternatives/vizard-alternative): Already have the clip? ReelCaption adds word-by-word animated captions to it in your browser for $5/mo. It does not cut long videos.
- [ReelCaption vs Maestra](https://reelcaption.cc/alternatives/maestra-alternative): ReelCaption adds word-by-word animated captions to short clips in your browser for $5/mo, with 5 free minutes a month.
- [ReelCaption vs ReelWords](https://reelcaption.cc/alternatives/reelwords-alternative): ReelWords renders captions in the cloud. ReelCaption burns them into your clip in the browser for $5/mo, with 5 free minutes a month and no card.

## Platform guides

- [Add captions to a TikTok in your browser](https://reelcaption.cc/captions-for/tiktok)
- [Add captions to Instagram Reels](https://reelcaption.cc/captions-for/instagram-reels)
- [Add captions to YouTube Shorts](https://reelcaption.cc/captions-for/youtube-shorts)
- [Add captions and subtitles to YouTube videos](https://reelcaption.cc/captions-for/youtube)
- [Add captions to LinkedIn videos](https://reelcaption.cc/captions-for/linkedin)
- [Add captions to Facebook videos and Reels](https://reelcaption.cc/captions-for/facebook)
- [Add captions to X (Twitter) videos](https://reelcaption.cc/captions-for/twitter)
- [Add captions to Instagram Stories](https://reelcaption.cc/captions-for/instagram-stories)
- [Add captions to Snapchat and Spotlight videos](https://reelcaption.cc/captions-for/snapchat)
- [Add captions to podcast clips and audiograms](https://reelcaption.cc/captions-for/podcast)
- [Add captions to online course and training videos](https://reelcaption.cc/captions-for/online-course)
- [Add captions to webinar recordings](https://reelcaption.cc/captions-for/webinar)

## Free tools

- [Safe zone checker](https://reelcaption.cc/tools/safe-zone-checker): See which parts of a vertical video TikTok, Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts cover with buttons and text.
- [Convert video to vertical](https://reelcaption.cc/tools/convert-video-to-vertical): Crop a wide video to 9:16, 1:1 or 4:5 and choose which part of the frame to keep.
- [Trim video](https://reelcaption.cc/tools/trim-video): Cut a video down to the part you want to post.
- [MOV to MP4](https://reelcaption.cc/tools/mov-to-mp4): Turn an iPhone or Mac MOV file into an MP4 that plays everywhere.
- [Subtitle time shift](https://reelcaption.cc/tools/subtitle-time-shift): Move every subtitle in an SRT or VTT file earlier or later, or resync a file that drifts.
- [SRT and VTT converter](https://reelcaption.cc/tools/srt-to-vtt): Convert subtitle files from SRT to VTT, VTT to SRT, or YouTube SBV to either.
- [Subtitles to text](https://reelcaption.cc/tools/subtitles-to-text): Turn an SRT, VTT or SBV file into a plain-text transcript, with or without times.
- [Script timer](https://reelcaption.cc/tools/script-timer): Paste a script and see how long it takes to say, and whether it fits a Short, a Reel or a TikTok.

## Articles

- [CapCut auto captions are not free anymore: what changed and what to do](https://reelcaption.cc/blog/capcut-auto-captions-not-free-anymore): Free CapCut accounts now hit an upgrade prompt on auto captions. What changed, why the cap is hard to pin down, and the cheapest ways to keep captioning.
- [Are your videos private? How browser-based captioning works](https://reelcaption.cc/blog/are-your-videos-private-browser-captioning): Many caption tools upload your whole video to a server. Browser-based captioning keeps the footage on your device. How it works, and how to check a tool.
- [Best free caption apps in 2026 (and their catches)](https://reelcaption.cc/blog/best-free-caption-generators-2026): Free caption apps for YouTube, Shorts, TikTok and Reels, compared on watermark, video upload and free limit. YouTube Studio is the free pick for long videos.
- [Submagic vs Captions vs ReelCaption: which should you use?](https://reelcaption.cc/blog/submagic-vs-captions-vs-reelcaption): Submagic, Captions and ReelCaption all add captions but do different jobs. How they compare on price, privacy and what each is for.
- [Animated captions: why word-by-word beats static subtitles](https://reelcaption.cc/blog/animated-captions-word-by-word): Word-by-word captions move with the voice, so the eye has something to follow. What they need, which style fits which video, and how to keep them readable.
- [How to add captions to a video in your browser](https://reelcaption.cc/blog/how-to-add-captions-to-a-video): Caption a video in your browser in a few minutes, with nothing to install. The video stays on your device and only the audio is sent for transcription.
- [Why UGC video beats polished ads, and where captions fit in](https://reelcaption.cc/blog/ugc-video-captions): UGC wins ad budgets because it feels like a recommendation, not an ad. It is also watched in a sound-off feed, so captions decide whether it lands.
- [Why subtitles boost video engagement](https://reelcaption.cc/blog/why-subtitles-boost-engagement): Feed video autoplays on mute. What captions do for watch time, comprehension and reach, and how to add them without slowing down.
- [How to style captions people actually read](https://reelcaption.cc/blog/how-to-style-captions-people-read): Captions only work if they are readable at a glance. The styling rules that keep on-screen text legible on a small, muted, fast-scrolling screen.
- [Subtitles and accessibility: the audience you are missing](https://reelcaption.cc/blog/subtitle-accessibility-audience): Captions are how deaf viewers, second-language viewers and anyone scrolling with the sound off follow your video. The accessible cut reaches the most.
- [Burned-in captions vs SRT: what they are, when to use each](https://reelcaption.cc/blog/srt-vs-burned-in-captions): Burned-in captions are drawn into the picture and always show. An .srt or .vtt file sits beside the video and viewers can turn it off. When to use each.

## Links

- [Caption a video](https://reelcaption.cc/studio)
- [Free caption generator](https://reelcaption.cc/free-caption-generator)
- [Burn an .srt or .vtt file into a video](https://reelcaption.cc/burn-subtitles-into-video)
- [Free video and subtitle tools](https://reelcaption.cc/tools)
- [Pricing](https://reelcaption.cc/pricing)
- [Blog](https://reelcaption.cc/blog)
- [Comparisons with other caption tools](https://reelcaption.cc/alternatives)
- [Caption guides for each platform](https://reelcaption.cc/captions-for)
- [About](https://reelcaption.cc/about)
- [Privacy policy](https://reelcaption.cc/privacy)
- [Terms](https://reelcaption.cc/terms)