SRT versus VTT

What are SRT and VTT?

Both SRT (SubRip Text) and VTT (Web Video Text Tracks) are plain-text formats for storing timed subtitles. Each format stores a sequence of caption segments with start times, end times, and the text to display. Capinsta can export captions in both formats.

SRT — SubRip Text

SRT is the most widely supported subtitle format. Key characteristics:

• Supported by virtually every video player and editor.
• Simple plain-text format with numbered entries.
• Uses comma-separated timing (HH:MM:SS,mmm).
• No native styling support — styling is applied by the player.
• Best for: offline editing, legacy systems, maximum compatibility.

VTT — Web Video Text Tracks

VTT is the W3C standard for web video captions. Key characteristics:

• Native to HTML5 <track> element.
• Supports optional styling (CSS classes, positioning, voice tags).
• Uses dot-separated timing (HH:MM:SS.mmm).
• Built-in support in browsers, YouTube, and modern platforms.
• Best for: web publishing, platforms that accept VTT uploads.

Which should you use?

If you are importing captions into a traditional video editor (Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, etc.), SRT is the safest choice because of near-universal support. If you are publishing to a web platform that accepts VTT, use VTT for the best results with web-native styling.

Capinsta lets you export both, so you can try each and see which works best for your workflow.

Exporting from Capinsta

In the export dialog, choose "Captions only" and select either SRT or VTT. The file downloads immediately and can be imported into any compatible editor or uploaded directly to supported platforms.