Video · 5 min read · October 2026
Subtitle files or burned-in captions?
Your editor asks: "Do you want the subtitles burned in, or as an SRT?" Most clients are not sure what the difference is. It matters, because the right choice depends on where the video will be played and who will watch it.
Here is what each option is, where each one works, and why many business videos benefit from having both. Platform features change, so check what your target platform supports at the time you publish.
01
Burned-in captions
Burned-in, or open, captions are part of the video picture itself. They always show, on every device and every platform, and cannot be switched off. Their style, size, colour and position are fully designed, so they can match your brand and be placed where they will not be covered by app buttons.
They are the standard for reels, shorts, LinkedIn and ads, because those are often watched without sound and because many feeds do not show optional captions by default.
02
SRT and other subtitle files
An SRT file is a small text file with timed lines of text. The video player displays it on top of the video, and viewers can usually turn it on or off. YouTube, many websites' video players and most streaming platforms accept subtitle files. You can upload several, one per language, and let viewers choose.
Because the text is separate from the picture, subtitle files can be corrected or translated without re-exporting the video, and search engines and platforms can read them.
03
Which to use where
Reels, Shorts and stories: burned-in, because viewers scroll with the sound off and the design matters. LinkedIn: burned-in, and also upload a caption file where supported. YouTube long-form: an SRT, so viewers can switch languages or turn captions off. Corporate and training videos: often an SRT, especially if they will be translated. Event screens and TVs in shops: burned-in, because there is no player to switch captions on.
When in doubt, ask for both. The editor creates the text once and delivers it both ways.
04
Accuracy matters more than style
Automatic captions are a good starting point, but they mishear names, brand names, technical terms and especially Tamil and mixed-language speech. Uncorrected captions with mistakes look careless and can change the meaning. Captions should be checked line by line by someone who understands the language and the subject.
05
Tamil, English and mixed speech
Many Chennai businesses speak in a mix of Tamil and English on camera. Decide before editing: will subtitles be in English only, Tamil only, or both? Tamil subtitles need a font that renders Tamil script correctly, and they take more horizontal space, so line length and size need adjusting. For two languages on screen at once, consider two lines in different sizes, or separate versions for different audiences.
06
Readability rules
Keep lines short, around 32 to 42 characters, and no more than two lines at a time. Show each caption long enough to read comfortably. Use a clean, bold typeface with an outline or shadow so it reads over both light and dark footage. Place captions away from faces and from app buttons at the bottom of vertical videos.
Highlighting key words in a brand colour can help on reels, but keep it restrained. Captions that bounce, change colour on every word or fill half the screen become the thing people watch instead of the video.
Captions are not optional any more
Most social video is watched without sound at least some of the time. Captions also help viewers who are deaf or hard of hearing, people watching in a noisy place, and anyone listening in their second language. A video without captions loses a large share of its audience before they hear a word.
If it has speech, it needs captions.
Budget for them from the start. Accurate captions take time to check, especially in Tamil or with technical terms, and they are worth it.
What to ask your editor for
- Social cuts. Burned-in captions, styled and placed clear of buttons.
- YouTube and website. An SRT file, plus burned-in for any shorts.
- Translations. A separate SRT per language.
- Spellings. Send names and technical terms in advance.
Ask for the final SRT even if you only plan to use burned-in captions now. It costs little, and it lets you add captions to the same video on another platform later without starting again.
Quick answers
What is the difference between SRT and burned-in subtitles?
Burned-in captions are part of the video image and always show. An SRT is a separate timed text file that the player displays, which viewers can switch on or off and which can be translated without re-exporting the video.
Which subtitles should I use for Instagram Reels?
Burned-in captions, styled and placed clear of the app's buttons. Most reels are watched without sound, and burned-in captions always display.
Can I have subtitles in Tamil and English?
Yes. For YouTube, upload separate SRT files for each language. For social videos, either show both languages in two lines or make separate versions.
Related reading
Captions checked by a person.
Every video I edit comes with hand-corrected captions, burned in for social and as an SRT on request, in English, Tamil or both. Send me your footage and tell me where it will play.