What type of content do you primarily create?
Closed captions versus subtitles—a difference we’ve all wondered about at some point. They words are often used interchangeably in the video creation space.
But as a creator, picking the right one can mean better audience engagement and in turn, revenue.
So what are the key differences between them?
What are captions?
Captions were originally designed for deaf and hard-of-hearing folks to understand the audio in a TV show or film.
Closed captioning kicked off in the 1970s thanks to relentless advocates and innovators like Malcolm Norwood who pushed for inclusivity. Landmark legislation in 1990 and 2010 ensured that captioning wasn't just a luxury by embedding decoders in TVs and extending captioning across devices.
Today, apps like YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram use advanced algorithms to generate captions in real-time to ensure that content is accessible even in noisy environments or for those with hearing impairments.
What are subtitles?
Subtitles were introduced in the 1930s to translate audio dialogue from one language to another. Depending on the country, you can find many foreign films with either translated dubbing or translated subtitles. Today, content creators in different languages use them to expand their audiences.
Closed captions vs. subtitles: Main differences
Here are the critical differences between closed captions and subtitles:
| Feature | Closed Caption | Subtitles |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Accessibility for deaf or hard-of-hearing viewers | Translation for viewers who speak different languages |
| Content | Includes spoken dialogue, sound effects, and music cues | Only includes spoken dialogue |
| Activation | Viewer can turn captions on or off (closed) | Typically always on (open) |
| Position | Usually displayed at the bottom of the screen | Also displayed at the bottom but can vary |
| Format | Text in sync with audio and visual cues, such as ‘soundtrack signaling impending doom’ | Text in sync with spoken dialogue |
| Legal requirement | Often required by law for accessibility | Not legally required but common practice |
| Common use | TV broadcasts, online videos, educational content | Foreign films, language learning |
| Target audience | Deaf or hard-of-hearing individuals, noisy environments | Viewers needing translation |
| Additional info | May include speaker identification | Focused solely on translating spoken words |
| Implementation | Typically created by professional captioners or software | Created by translators or automated tools |
Why use closed captions?
As a content creator, you'll use closed captions more often than subtitles. Here’s why.
First of all, captions allow deaf and hard-of-hearing audiences to fully engage with video content that would otherwise be inaccessible.
But the benefits of closed captions extend beyond just accessibility. Today, people watch videos on mute—whether they're on public transport, at work, or on the verge of dozing off during boring lectures. Captions help them follow along.
Captions also enhance comprehension and are a must-have for educational creators. The written text helps your audience retain more—especially non-native speakers. From an SEO perspective, closed captions can help wider audiences discover your content. Plus, search engines can crawl and index the text from captions, which improves searchability.
How to create closed captions and subtitles with Descript
With Descript, you don’t have to devote any mental energy to subtitles. One command and they’re ready.
Descript offers automatic transcription with up to 95% accuracy, easy one-click captions, and an option to export caption files (SRT and VTT) to video platforms.
Many platforms offer automatic captioning without editing tools. That means your video runs the risk of saying “defiantly showing up” instead of “definitely showing up.”
Descript lets you check and edit closed captions before they’re published. You ensure that your spelling and punctuation are correct, avoiding embarrassing or confusing errors
Here’s how to start:
First, import or record your video.
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Next, make any necessary edits to the video and transcript using three keyboard shortcuts—Z, X, and C. To change capitalization, click on a word and press Z; to change punctuation, click on a word and hit X until your desired punctuation pops up—Descript will toggle between a period, comma, and no punctuation.
To manually correct spelling and other mistakes, follow these steps:
- Double-click or highlight the word or section you want to correct.
- Click Correct in the script toolbar, or press C.
- Type in your correction.
- Finalize your edit:
- Hit Enter or select Correct to update this specific instance.
- Choose Correct All to apply the correction to all instances of the word or phrase in your project.
Correct text mode
To make a bunch of different corrections throughout your script, go into Correct text mode by pressing Opt+C (Mac) or Alt+C (Windows). As you edit, corrected words will become underlined in dotted grey as Descript syncs up the transcript and audio.
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Finally, click Publish, then Export, then Subtitles (Yes, these are technically captions, but go with it), and choose whether you want an .SRT or .VTT file
Upload your file when you upload your video to your video platform of choice.
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Want to try it out for yourself?
Closed captions vs. subtitles FAQ
What does CC mean in subtitles?
CC in subtitles stands for ‘closed captions.’ Closed captions provide a transcription of the spoken dialogue and also include descriptions of non-dialogue audio elements, such as sound effects, speaker identification, and music cues.
What is an example of a closed caption?
A closed caption example might look something like this for a scene from a TV show or movie:
[Sound of rain falling]
John: "I can't believe this is happening."
[Thunder rumbling]
Jane: "We need to find shelter."
[Soft music playing in the background]
Here, brackets indicate the scene's background sounds or music. Quotations are used to show dialogue, with the speaker's name set off to the left with a colon.
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