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Exemplary AI
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Burn Subtitles into Video

Upload a video, correct the subtitles Exemplary AI writes from its speech, pick a caption style, and export an MP4 with the subtitles burned into the picture.

Burn in subtitles
orUpload file

Free to start — no credit card required.

To burn subtitles into a video with Exemplary AI, upload the video, let it transcribe the speech, correct any wrong words, pick a caption style and position, and export an MP4 (H.264) file with the subtitles drawn into the picture.

Burned-in (open) subtitles can't be turned off and look the same in every app, which suits TikTok, Reels and Shorts clips that people often watch with the sound off. Free plan: 500 one-time credits; files up to 500 MB and 30 min long; 720p video exports with a watermark.

Burned-in subtitles at a glance

Facts checked .

Input
MP4, MOV or WEBM video, or a YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Vimeo or X link
Subtitles from
The speech, transcribed in 99 languages; edit any word before you export
Caption styles
26 caption styles
Position
Top, center or bottom of the frame
Output
MP4 (H.264) with the subtitles burned in; the transcript they come from downloads as SRT, VTT or TXT files
Free plan
500 one-time credits; files up to 500 MB and 30 min long; 720p video exports with a watermark
How it works

How to burn subtitles into a video

A cooking video being transcribed in Exemplary AI

Burned-in (open) vs SRT/VTT (closed) captions

Burned-in subtitles, also called open captions or hardcoded subtitles, are drawn into the video's pixels. Nobody can turn them off, they look the same in every app, and styled or animated captions keep their look. The trade-off: one language per video file, and changing a word means exporting again.

A subtitle file (SRT or VTT) is a closed caption track. The platform shows it over the video, viewers can switch it on or off or pick another language, and you can fix a typo by uploading a new file without touching the video.

Burn them in for TikTok, Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, ads and anything people watch without sound. For YouTube long-form videos, courses and videos in several languages, upload an SRT file as well. Exemplary AI gives you both from one transcript: the burned-in MP4, and an SRT, VTT or TXT download. Our guide to burning subtitles into a video also covers free desktop tools, and open vs closed captions goes deeper on the choice.

Want the subtitle file without burning it in? See add subtitles to video. To compare looks before you export, browse the caption styles.

What it does

Why Burn In Subtitles with Exemplary AI?

From the spoken words to an MP4 with the subtitles in the picture, in one browser tab.

Subtitles written for you

The speech is transcribed in any of 99 languages and timed to the words, so you start from a draft instead of typing every line.

Fix the words before they are permanent

Burned-in text can't be edited once the video is exported, so correct names, jargon and anything misheard first.

Styled, not just white text

Choose from 26 caption styles, from clean boxed text to bold word-by-word looks, and set them at the top, center or bottom so they stay clear of faces and on-screen text.

Burned in, and as a file

Export the MP4 (H.264) with the subtitles burned in, and download the transcript as SRT, VTT or TXT for YouTube or a video editor.

Keep going

From spoken words to finished captions

Create a subtitle track, choose how it looks, or make the captions part of the video.

Browse all 155 tools
Questions

Common questions

How do I burn subtitles into a video?
Upload the video to Exemplary AI, let it transcribe the speech, correct the subtitles, pick a caption style and position, and export an MP4 (H.264) file. The subtitles are drawn into every frame, so they show wherever the video plays.
Can I burn an SRT file into an MP4?
Exemplary AI writes the subtitles from the video's speech instead of importing an SRT file, so you don't need one: upload the MP4 and correct the subtitles it makes. If you already have an SRT you want to use word for word, free desktop tools such as HandBrake or FFmpeg can burn it in; our guide to burning subtitles into a video walks through both.
What is the difference between open and closed captions?
Open captions are burned into the picture and are always on. Closed captions are a separate track, usually an SRT or VTT file, that viewers can turn on or off. Exemplary AI makes both from the same transcript.
Should I hardcode subtitles on YouTube videos?
On Shorts, burned-in captions are common. On long-form videos, uploading an SRT file is usually the better choice: viewers can turn the captions off or pick another language, and you can fix a typo without uploading the video again. Many creators do both, burning captions into their clips and uploading an SRT with the full video.
Can I remove burned-in subtitles later?
No. Once burned in, the subtitles are part of every frame, so there is nothing to switch off. Keep your original video, correct the subtitles before you export, and if something still needs changing, edit the project and export a new MP4.
Can I permanently add subtitles to a video for free?
Yes, on the Free plan: 500 one-time credits; files up to 500 MB and 30 min long; 720p video exports with a watermark. A paid plan removes the watermark.

Discover more Subtitles & Captions

Give your words a place on screen

Upload a video to review its transcript, adjust the captions, and export the finished result.

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