Step 1
Upload your footage
Add your video with spoken content. The AI will transcribe and caption it as part of the edit.
Editly AI
Closed Captions
Does Editly produce closed caption files (SRT/VTT)?
No — Editly burns open captions into the video image. It doesn't produce separate SRT or VTT caption track files. For broadcast or formal accessibility compliance requiring SRT files, use a dedicated captioning service.
Captioning Approaches: What Each Gives You
Comparing different ways to add captions to video content.
| Decision | Other Apps | Editly |
|---|---|---|
| Platform auto-captions (TikTok, YouTube) | Platform post-upload auto-captions: viewer opt-in required, styling limited, not always shown | Editly burned-in: always visible, styled from prompt, no viewer action required |
| Separate captioning tools | Separate tools (Rev, Kapwing subtitles): after-edit step, separate workflow, review required | Editly: part of the edit prompt — generated and applied in the same pass as all other edits |
| Manual captioning | Manual: transcribe, time, style, apply — 30-90 minutes per video | Editly AI: 0 additional minutes — included in the 15-20 minute total AI edit time |
| Closed caption files | SRT/VTT files: separate output required for platform accessibility compliance — not produced by Editly | Editly: burned-in open captions only — for SRT files, use dedicated captioning services |
Adding Captions to Your Video With Editly
Step 2
Include caption instructions in your edit prompt
Example: 'Create a 5-minute YouTube video. Remove silences. Add bold white captions at the bottom. Export 16:9.' Captions are one instruction in the same prompt as everything else.
Step 3
Receive the captioned video
Editly returns a finished video with AI-generated captions burned in, styled according to your prompt.
Step 4
Review and publish
Check caption accuracy in key sections. For social media content, spot-checking is typically sufficient. Download and post.
Add Captions to Your Videos — 3 Free AI-Captioned Exports
Upload footage, write a prompt with caption instructions, receive a captioned video. 3 free exports to test AI caption generation on your content.
- 3 free AI-captioned exports — burned in, styled, no watermark
- Captions as part of the edit — no separate step
- Pro $28/month for consistent captioned AI-edited content
Related editing pages