SRT vs VTT: Which Subtitle Format Should You Use?
· 4 min read
If you have ever exported subtitles you will have seen two formats: SRT and VTT. They look nearly the same and carry the same information (the caption text and when to show it), but they are not interchangeable everywhere.
What an SRT file looks like
SRT (SubRip Text) is the oldest and most widely supported subtitle format. Each caption has a number, a time range with a comma before the milliseconds, and one or two lines of text, separated by a blank line. For example: "1", then "00:00:01,000 --> 00:00:04,000", then "Welcome to the channel."
What a VTT file looks like
WebVTT (Web Video Text Tracks) was created for HTML5 video on the web. The file starts with the word WEBVTT, uses a full stop instead of a comma in timestamps (00:00:01.000), and numbering is optional. VTT also supports styling, positioning and chapter markers, which SRT does not.
Which one to use
- YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn and Vimeo: either works; SRT is the safe default.
- Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, Final Cut Pro, CapCut: SRT.
- Your own website with the HTML <video> tag: VTT, because browsers only read WebVTT natively.
- Video players like VLC and MPV: either works.
- Online course platforms (Teachable, Thinkific, Moodle): check the docs, but most accept both.
Converting between them
Converting SRT to VTT by hand is simple: add WEBVTT and a blank line at the top, and change the commas in timestamps to full stops. With our transcripts you do not need to convert at all, because both formats are available for every file.