Hardcode SubtitlesWorks on Every Device. No Separate Files.
Stop worrying about SRT files. Get a video with subtitles permanently burned in - plays on Instagram, TikTok, DVD players, email, and any device. Just $8 per video.
Upload Your Video to Hardcode Subtitles
AI generates subtitles, then permanently burns them into your video
Translate Your Video
Professional subtitles in 90+ languages
Drop your video here
or click to browse files
What You Get for $8
Every translation includes everything you need. No hidden fees, no upsells.
SRT & VTT Subtitle Files
Industry-standard subtitle files compatible with YouTube, Vimeo, and all video platforms. Edit timing and text anytime.
Hardcoded Video Included
Your video with subtitles permanently burned in. Perfect for social media, presentations, and sharing. Most competitors charge extra for this.
AI-Powered Editor (Free)
Context-aware AI editor lets you refine translations, fix errors, and regenerate hardcoded videos unlimited times. Included free with every translation.
✓ No subscription required•✓ Videos up to 4 hours•✓ 90+ languages
Open Captions vs Closed Captions
Understanding SRT/VTT files (closed captions) and hardcoded subtitles (open captions)
SRT/VTT Files
Closed Captions (Separate File)
Can be toggled on/off
Viewers control subtitle visibility
Editable after creation
Fix typos or retranslate anytime
Small file size (5-10KB)
Text-only, no video re-encoding
Multi-language support
Provide 5-10 languages with one video
Requires player support
Not all devices/apps can display SRT
Two files to manage
Video + subtitle file must stay together
Best For:
- • YouTube, Vimeo, streaming platforms
- • Desktop video players (VLC, Windows Media Player)
- • Websites with HTML5 video players
- • Multi-language content distribution
- • Professional video editing workflows
Hardcoded Subtitles
Open Captions (Burned Into Video)
Works on 100% of devices
No player support required
One file simplicity
No separate subtitle file needed
Guaranteed visibility
Cannot be disabled by user
Social media ready
Auto-play muted videos need visible text
Cannot be turned off
Always visible (accessibility pro/con)
Cannot edit after burning
Must re-encode to fix typos
Larger file size
Video re-encoded with text rendered
Best For:
- • Instagram Stories, Reels, TikTok, Facebook
- • Email video attachments
- • DVD/Blu-ray authoring
- • Legacy devices (old TVs, DVD players)
- • Training videos for non-tech users
- • Kiosk displays and exhibitions
Decision Guide: Which Format Should You Choose?
Choose SRT/VTT If:
- ✓Uploading to YouTube, Vimeo, streaming platforms
- ✓Need multiple language subtitle tracks
- ✓May need to edit/fix subtitles later
- ✓Want viewers to control subtitle visibility
- ✓Working in professional editing software
Choose Hardcoded If:
- ✓Posting to Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Twitter
- ✓Sending video as email attachment
- ✓Burning DVD/Blu-ray discs
- ✓Target audience uses old/legacy devices
- ✓Want guaranteed subtitle visibility
- ✓Simplicity matters (one file)
Good News: For $8, you get BOTH formats! Use SRT files where supported, and hardcoded video for everything else.
When You Need Hardcoded Subtitles
Real-world use cases where burned-in captions make sense
Social Media Videos
Instagram Stories/Reels, TikTok, Facebook, Twitter/X, and LinkedIn videos auto-play muted. Hardcoded subtitles ensure your message is seen even when audio is off. 85% of social media videos are watched without sound - hardcoded captions are essential for engagement.
Examples: Product demos, testimonials, announcements, tutorials, behind-the-scenes
Email Marketing Videos
Attaching video files to marketing emails requires maximum compatibility. Recipients may use Outlook, Gmail webmail, or mobile mail apps that don't support external subtitle files. Hardcoded subtitles guarantee your video plays correctly for 100% of recipients.
Examples: Product launches, event invitations, customer testimonials, company updates
DVD & Blu-ray Authoring
Physical media distribution (DVD, Blu-ray) for film releases, training courses, or promotional content. While DVDs support separate subtitle tracks, hardcoded subtitles ensure compatibility with all players and simplify authoring workflows for single-language releases.
Examples: Indie films, documentaries, training courses, promotional DVDs, screeners
Legacy Media Players
Old DVD players, Smart TVs from 2010-2015, car entertainment systems, and budget Android media players often lack proper subtitle file support. Elderly relatives or non-technical users struggle with enabling subtitles. Hardcoded ensures they see captions automatically.
Examples: Family videos, instructional content, worship services, community videos
Corporate Training Videos
Internal training videos for employees who may lack technical skills to load subtitle files. Kiosk displays in retail stores, factory floors, or warehouses where video loops continuously. Hardcoded subtitles work without user interaction or IT support.
Examples: Safety training, onboarding videos, product knowledge, compliance training
Public Exhibitions & Museums
Digital signage, museum exhibits, trade show displays, and conference presentations where videos play on loop without user control. Hardcoded subtitles ensure accessibility without requiring attendants to manage subtitle settings.
Examples: Art exhibitions, historical documentaries, product showcases, event highlights
Accessibility Compliance
Legal requirements (ADA, WCAG) mandate captions for public video content. Hardcoded open captions guarantee accessibility for deaf/hard-of-hearing audiences, even on platforms or devices where closed caption support is unreliable or missing.
Examples: Government content, educational videos, public service announcements, legal evidence
Video Conferencing & Screen Shares
Sharing videos during Zoom, Microsoft Teams, or Google Meet meetings. Screen-shared videos often don't display separate subtitle files correctly. Hardcoded subtitles ensure remote participants can follow along during presentations or training sessions.
Examples: Sales presentations, webinars, team meetings, client demos, remote training
Simplified Distribution
Situations where managing two files (video + SRT) is impractical. USB drives for event attendees, cloud storage links for clients, or content libraries where non-technical staff need to grab-and-go video files without worrying about missing subtitle files.
Examples: Conference recordings, church sermons, community events, workshop recordings
Customize Your Hardcoded Subtitle Style
Fine-tune fonts, colors, positioning, and effects
Available Customization Options
Font Family
Arial, Impact, Roboto, Times New Roman, Montserrat - optimized for video
Text Color & Background
White, Yellow, Black, or custom hex colors. Transparent, semi-transparent black, or colored boxes
Position & Size
Bottom/top/center positioning. Small (28px), Medium (36px), Large (48px), or custom sizes
Stroke & Outline
None to thick (6px) stroke width. Black, white, or custom colors. Optional drop shadow
Style Preview Examples
Classic White Text
Arial, 36px, Black stroke
Yellow on Black
Impact, 40px, Semi-transparent box
Pro Tips for Readability
- Bright videos: White text with black stroke
- Dark videos: Yellow or cyan text
- Complex backgrounds: Semi-transparent black box
- Social media: Large, bold fonts (Impact)
How Subtitle Hardcoding Works
4-step process from upload to final video
Upload Video
Upload your video file (MP4, MOV, AVI, MKV) up to 2GB. Select source and target languages. Our AI will detect if your video already has audio, or you can upload a silent video with a pre-existing SRT file to hardcode.
AI Generates Subtitles
Advanced speech recognition AI transcribes your video audio with high quality. Then neural translation models convert to your target language (or same language for transcription-only). You can edit subtitles with AI assistance before hardcoding.
Customize Subtitle Style
Choose font family, size, color, position, background box, and stroke/outline. Preview your style choices before burning. Or use professional defaults (white text, black stroke, bottom position) for instant processing.
Hardcode & Download
Our system re-encodes your video using FFmpeg, rendering subtitles directly into each video frame at your chosen style settings. Download MP4 file with permanently embedded subtitles. Also receive SRT/VTT files for flexibility.
What You Receive (3 File Types)
Hardcoded MP4 Video
Subtitles permanently burned in. Works everywhere. ~500MB-2GB depending on length.
SRT Subtitle File
Editable text file for video editors, YouTube, streaming. ~5-10KB.
VTT Subtitle File
WebVTT format for HTML5 players, web hosting, streaming. ~5-10KB.
Hardcoded Subtitles: Honest Pros and Cons
Understand the trade-offs before committing
Advantages of Hardcoded Subtitles
Universal Device Compatibility
Works on 100% of devices that can play video - no subtitle file support required. From iPhone to 2005 DVD players, your subtitles will display correctly.
Guaranteed Accessibility
Subtitles cannot be disabled by users, ensuring deaf/hard-of-hearing audiences always have access. Meets ADA and WCAG accessibility compliance for open captions.
Social Media Optimization
Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter auto-play videos muted. Hardcoded subtitles ensure your message is seen. Studies show 85% of Facebook videos are watched without sound.
One-File Simplicity
No separate subtitle file to manage, lose, or forget when sharing videos. Email attachments, USB drives, cloud links - just grab the video and go.
No Technical Knowledge Required
Recipients don't need to know how to enable subtitles or load SRT files. Perfect for elderly relatives, non-technical audiences, or public kiosk displays.
Professional Presentation
Custom styled subtitles (font, color, position) are consistent across all playback environments. No risk of ugly default player subtitle rendering ruining your aesthetic.
Disadvantages and Trade-offs
Cannot Turn Off Subtitles
Users cannot disable hardcoded subtitles. This may annoy viewers who understand the language and find subtitles distracting.
Not Editable After Creation
If you find a typo, you cannot edit hardcoded subtitles - you must re-encode the entire video with corrected text. Always review SRT files carefully before hardcoding.
Larger File Size
Hardcoded videos are 10-30% larger than originals due to re-encoding. This matters for email attachments or mobile data usage.
One Language Per Video
You can only burn one language at a time. Multi-language content requires separate hardcoded videos for each language.
Potential Quality Loss
Re-encoding video can introduce minor compression artifacts. We use high-quality settings to minimize this.
Longer Processing Time
Hardcoding adds 5-15 minutes depending on video length. If you're in a rush, SRT files may be better.
The Bottom Line
Hardcoded subtitles trade flexibility for universal compatibility and guaranteed visibility. Choose hardcoding when simplicity and maximum device support matter more than editability. For $8, you get both SRT and hardcoded versions - use the right format for each distribution channel.
Hardcoded Subtitle FAQs
What's the difference between SRT and hardcoded subtitles?
SRT subtitles are separate text files that video players overlay on top of the video. They can be turned on/off and edited after creation. Hardcoded (burned-in) subtitles are permanently embedded into the video pixels themselves - they're part of the image, cannot be disabled, and play on any device without requiring player support. SRT files are 5-10KB text files; hardcoded subtitles increase video file size since the video must be re-encoded with text rendered into each frame.
Can I customize font color and style for hardcoded subtitles?
Yes! Our subtitle hardcoding system supports extensive customization: font family (Arial, Impact, Roboto, Times New Roman, etc.), font size (small/medium/large or custom pixel values), text color (white, yellow, black, or custom hex codes), background box color (transparent, black semi-transparent, white, colored), stroke/outline thickness and color, position (bottom, top, custom vertical placement), and text alignment (left, center, right). All styling is applied before burning into the video.
Will hardcoding reduce my video quality?
Video quality depends on encoding settings. When we hardcode subtitles, the video is re-encoded using modern H.264 codec at your original resolution (1080p, 4K, etc.) with high bitrate settings to minimize quality loss. Most users report no visible quality difference. However, any video re-encoding technically involves some compression. For absolute maximum quality, you can download the SRT file and burn subtitles using professional software like Adobe Premiere or DaVinci Resolve.
Can I get both SRT and hardcoded versions?
Absolutely! For $8, you receive: (1) SRT subtitle file (editable, separate file, 5-10KB), (2) VTT subtitle file (web format for HTML5 players), and (3) Hardcoded video file (MP4 with subtitles permanently burned in). You can use the SRT file for platforms supporting external subtitles (YouTube, Vimeo, desktop players) and the hardcoded version for social media (Instagram, TikTok, Facebook), email attachments, or devices without subtitle support.
How long does hardcoding take?
Hardcoding adds processing time since we must re-encode your entire video with subtitles rendered into each frame. For a 10-minute video: AI subtitle generation takes 2-3 minutes, hardcoding takes an additional 5-8 minutes. Total: ~10-15 minutes. Longer videos (30-60 minutes) take 20-30 minutes total. You'll receive email notifications when (1) subtitle files are ready, and (2) hardcoded video is complete. You can download SRT files immediately while hardcoding continues in the background.
What if I want to change the subtitles later?
Hardcoded subtitles cannot be edited or removed once burned into the video - they're permanent. If you need changes, you must: (1) Edit the SRT file using our AI-powered subtitle editor, (2) Request a new hardcoded video with updated subtitles (additional $8 fee), or (3) Use video editing software to re-encode with new SRT file. We recommend reviewing SRT subtitles carefully in our editor before requesting hardcoding, to avoid costly re-work.
Which devices and platforms support hardcoded subtitles?
Hardcoded subtitles work EVERYWHERE because they're part of the video image: Social media (Instagram Stories/Reels, TikTok, Facebook, Twitter/X, LinkedIn), Email attachments (Outlook, Gmail - no player required), Old media players (DVD players, Smart TVs, car entertainment systems, legacy devices), Offline playback (no internet or subtitle file needed), Kiosk displays and digital signage, Video conferencing (Zoom, Teams screen shares), and Any device that can play MP4 video. Unlike SRT files requiring player support, hardcoded videos have 100% compatibility.
Ready to Hardcode Subtitles Into Your Video?
Get subtitles that work everywhere - social media, email, DVD, old devices. No technical knowledge required. Custom styling options. SRT files included for flexibility. Just $8 per video.
Used by 312+ content creators. Both SRT and hardcoded versions included. 30-day money-back guarantee.