How to convert SRT to VTT (and back)
- Drop your subtitle file onto the box, choose it with the file picker, or paste its contents into the text area.
- Pick the output format: WebVTT, SubRip (SRT) or plain text. The tool detects the input format for you.
- Optionally shift the timing or strip formatting tags. The output updates as you change the options.
- Read the status line and any warnings, then copy the result or download the file.
SRT vs WebVTT: what is the difference?
SRT (SubRip) is the oldest and most widely supported subtitle format. It is a plain text file with a number, a time range and one or two lines of text for each cue. WebVTT is a newer format designed for the web. It looks very similar, but it starts with a header, uses a period instead of a comma in timestamps and allows styling and positioning.
| Feature | SRT | WebVTT |
|---|---|---|
| File header | None | Must start with WEBVTT |
| Timestamp format | 00:00:01,000 (comma) | 00:00:01.000 (period) |
| Hours in timestamps | Always required | Optional (00:01.000 is valid) |
| Cue numbers | Required, in order | Optional identifiers |
| Styling and positioning | Basic tags only | CSS styling, positioning and notes |
| HTML5 video support | No | Yes, through the track element |
| Typical use | Editors, YouTube and social uploads | Websites and web video players |
When to use each format
Choose SRT when you are uploading to a video platform, sending a file to an editor or handing subtitles to a client. Almost every tool accepts it. Choose VTT when you are adding subtitles to a web page with an HTML5 video player, or when a platform specifically asks for WebVTT. Converting between the two is lossless for text and timing, so you can keep one master file and export whichever you need.
Turn subtitles into a plain-text transcript
The plain text output strips the numbers and timings and leaves just the words. That is useful for turning a video into a blog post, writing show notes, searching for a quote or preparing a script for translation. You can keep a timestamp at the start of each line if you want to find your place in the video, or join the lines into flowing paragraphs for easier reading. Italic tags, colour tags and positioning codes are removed from the text automatically.
Fix common subtitle problems
The checker under the output flags issues that make subtitles hard to read or that some players reject:
- Out-of-sync timing. If every cue is a little early or late, use the shift option. Enter a positive number of seconds to delay subtitles or a negative number to show them sooner.
- Overlapping cues. Two subtitles on screen at once confuse viewers and break some players. Fix the start or end time of the later cue.
- Reading speed. Cues that show more than about 20 characters per second are hard to read in time. Shorten the text or lengthen the cue.
- Long lines. Lines over roughly 42 characters tend to wrap badly or run off small screens. Split them over two lines.
- Empty or backwards cues. A cue with no text, or one that ends before it starts, usually comes from a bad export and is worth fixing at the source.
Private by design
Unreleased videos, client work and internal training often have sensitive scripts. This converter reads your file with your browser’s own file tools and does all the work on your device. Nothing is uploaded, stored or logged, so you can use it on confidential material.
From subtitles to dubbing
Subtitles ask viewers to read while they watch. Plenty of people would rather just listen: on a phone, while doing something else, or when reading fast subtitles is tiring. Dubbing gives them the video in their own language, and it keeps your delivery natural because the voice is generated from the original speaker.
Dubtitle translates and dubs your video into 84 languages while preserving the speaker’s voice, tone and emotion. Upload a file or paste a YouTube link, choose your languages and download the result in minutes. Review the translated transcript line by line in Studio, fix anything you want to change and regenerate only those segments. Start with the 7-day free trial (5 minutes of dubbing for videos up to 60 seconds, with a watermark), and every paid plan has a 30-day money-back guarantee. New to the format? Read what an SRT file is and how to open one. Learn how AI dubbing compares with subtitles, read the guide to dubbing a YouTube video into Hindi, see pricing, or start your free trial.