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Burned-in vs separate subtitles: which should you use?

Updated 9 November 2026 · by Szymon at szy.monster

Once you have subtitles for a video, there are two ways to deliver them: burn them into the picture, or send them as a separate file. Which is right depends on where the video is going.

Burned-in subtitles (open captions)

The text is drawn into the video frames, like a title. Everyone sees it, and nobody can switch it off.

Use them for:

• Social media. Instagram, TikTok and Facebook autoplay videos without sound, and burned-in text is the only style you fully control.
• Videos shared as a file, in chat apps or presentations, where you can't count on the player loading a subtitle file.
• A styled look, such as big bold words in the middle of the screen.

The catch: you can't fix a typo without exporting the video again, viewers can't turn them off or change their size, and you need a separate video for each language.

Separate subtitles (closed captions)

The subtitles stay in their own file, usually an .srt, next to the video. The player shows them when the viewer turns them on.

Use them for:

• YouTube and Vimeo. Viewers can switch captions on or off, pick a language, and change the size. Search engines can read the text too.
• Several languages for one video.
• Accessibility. Viewers who rely on captions can set them to the size and contrast they need.

Can I have both?

Yes. Make the .srt once, then use it both ways: upload it to YouTube as captions, and burn it into a shorter cut for social media.

How to do each, for free

1. Make the .srt with AutoSubtitler. It runs in your browser, and the video never leaves your computer.
2. For separate subtitles, upload the .srt to YouTube or export it as a sidecar file from your editor.
3. For burned-in subtitles, import the .srt into your editor and export with burn-in turned on, for example in DaVinci Resolve, or use HandBrake if you don't need to edit the video.