Open a streaming menu and you'll often see English, English [CC], English SDH, English [Forced], and Spanish — sometimes all on the same title. They look interchangeable. They're not.

This guide breaks down what each option actually means, when each one is the right pick, and how to add the right type of caption to your own video.

If you're a creator looking to add captions to your video right now, the fastest path is VEED's auto subtitle generator — uploads any video, generates captions in 125+ languages, exports as SRT or burned-in MP4. We'll cover when to choose which format below.

Key takeaways

• Subtitles assume you can hear the audio. They're translations of the dialogue for viewers who don't understand the language.
• Closed captions (CC) assume you can't hear the audio. They include speaker labels, sound effects, and music cues — and can be toggled on or off.
• SDH (Subtitles for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing) is closed captions in subtitle format — used on streaming platforms that don't support traditional CC tracks.
• Forced subtitles only show during foreign-language scenes or unreadable on-screen text. They appear automatically and aren't optional.
• Open captions are burned into the video — always visible, can't be turned off. This is what TikTok, Reels, and Shorts creators use.
• For your own videos, pick CC/SDH for accessibility, subtitles for translation, and open captions for short-form social.

What are Subtitles?

Subtitles are text transcriptions or translations of the dialogue between characters, usually displayed at the bottom of the screen as the lines are spoken. They're built for viewers who can hear the audio but can't follow the language — either because it's foreign or because the accent or audio quality is hard to parse.

Subtitles only cover what's said. They don't include speaker identification, background sounds, or non-dialogue cues, because the assumption is that the viewer can hear all of that and just needs help with the words.

As more cinema and television moves to digital streaming, subtitles have become more widespread and more essential than ever. Subtitles mean more languages, broader audiences, and recognition across the world. Almost every major streaming platform offers subtitle tracks in a variety of languages — leaving them out of your content is leaving viewers on the table.

By breaking the barriers between languages, subtitles have driven the global rise of internationally produced content. Even in countries that produce huge volumes of their own media, foreign movies and TV shows have captured audience attention and pushed their way into popular culture.

A growing audience uses foreign films as a tool for language learning. Research shows that watching with subtitles can enhance vocabulary and improve comprehension — which is why dual subtitles (showing two languages at once) have become a popular feature among learners.

What is Closed Captioning?

Captions can be divided into two categories: open and closed. Open captions cannot be turned off as they are embedded in the video. On the other hand, closed captions allow the viewer to switch it on and off, much like subtitles can. This is probably why most people are unaware of the difference between the two. 

Difference between Closed Captioning and Subtitles

The difference between closed captioning and subtitles is that while subtitles are intended for those who cannot understand the dialogue, closed captions are intended for times when the entire audio component can’t be heard by the viewer.

Unlike subtitles, however, captions translate all the words and sound into text such as background sounds, speaker distinction and any other information that the audio would have communicated. Subtitles, on the other hand, assume that the audience can hear the audio, but cannot understand the dialogue. Therefore, they don’t need to include any background noises or point out which character is speaking, because this will be evident in the audio itself. 

The other difference between subtitles and closed captions is that subtitles are usually developed before the release of the video in question. They are transcribed in time with the audio and saved accordingly. Captions, however, can be broadcasted live on television and are often being typed out and encoded as a show is being aired. In some cases, captions might even be placed in a different position on the screen, to prevent any obstruction. Subtitles, having been produced beforehand, cannot be moved in this way. 

Closed captions, while useful, can also be divisive. Some viewers reportedly find them distracting and obstructive to their entertainment. Even though studies suggest that a continued use of closed captioning will not only make your brain accustomed to them but will also improve your literacy rate, there are those who just can’t get used to them. 

Despite what some opinions might suggest, research indicates that Gen Z is more inclined to use closed captioning than any generation before them. For individuals with disabilities including Autism and ADHD, closed captions can improve both their focus and their retention of information. People with no disability also found them beneficial to their learning, with a majority opting to use them regularly. 

By offering the option to be switched on or off at will, closed captioning can keep all your viewers happy. By including them in your videos, you provide an inclusive experience that will be appreciated by many members of your audience, especially people struggling with hearing, ADHD, Autism etc. 

For anyone who prefers their videos caption-free, they have the freedom to get rid of them with the simple push of a button.

What are SDH subtitles (subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing)?

Subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing, or SDH are subtitles in the language being spoken that include sound effects, speaker identification and other information conveyed via audio. They essentially play the same role as closed captioning, on mediums where closed captions are unavailable.

The additional information included in both SDH and closed captions is extremely essential for anyone who suffers from a hearing inability. It offers a complete understanding of all the sound elements, giving them as complete an experience as possible. In the U.S. all public television is obligated to include closed captioning, in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA.) For all platforms on which closed captioning is not an available option, SDH goes a long way in ensuring inclusivity and accessibility for all.

How to Add Subtitles to Video

As a video creator or filmmaker, adding subtitles to your work can have a whole range of benefits. They can help you as much as they help your audience, especially when your videos are being shared digitally. 

The most obvious reason to subtitle your work is to enable broader accessibility. It opens up your work to audiences facing language barriers and hearing difficulties, considerably widening your platform. This in turn can boost your engagement. 

Subtitles have been proven to increase viewer retention and ensure that there are no lapses in understanding. More than 80% of the videos consumed on mobile are watched without audio. With subtitles, your videos can be consumed on the go, and the message will always be communicated. 

Not only can you improve the SEO of your website but you can also improve the SEO of your videos! Adding an SRT subtitle file to your video can also have SEO benefits, particularly on Youtube. Your videos will become easier to find in a related search, gaining more attention and more views. Subtitles have become an essential to modern content consumption. The audience depends on them more than ever before.

VEED aims to make adding subtitles to your videos so easy that it would be stupid not to use them. As a leading digital video-editing platform, we offer a range of features that help our users enhance and upgrade their content, even if they have minimal editing experience. 

With our AI-based automatic subtitle generation, all it takes is the click of a button and your entire video can be subtitled to perfection. Much like the rest of our platform, all our subtitle features are designed for convenience and practicality.

To add subtitles to any video, here is what you do:

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1. Upload video to VEED.IO

We offer the option to upload videos from anywhere, be it your phone, computer, dropbox or even a Youtube URL. Don’t waste your time transferring files between devices. Get uploading and get started!

2. Click on Subtitles Tab and then Auto Transcribe

The auto-transcribe feature generates subtitles for your entire video, with near perfect results. We do also offer you the option to type them out manually or upload them from a subtitle file (eg. SRT, VTT, ASS, SSA, TXT) 

3. Check your Subtitles

Whichever option you choose, you can then check your subtitles for any possible errors. We enable easy editing, be it for the timing, the color, the subtitle font, the size or the text itself. 

4. Customize your video (Optional)

Our features go well beyond simple transcription. We offer subtitle translation, to help you broaden your audience even further. You can also make further edits to your video by adding music and audio visualizers, adding filters, video effects, and more.  

5. Export and download your video

Once you’re satisfied with your subtitles and all your other effects, you can export your video and get ready to share your work with the world. If your goal is to upload your content to social media, we can help you further optimise it to the settings of major social platforms. Our video compression settings keep you from running into trouble while uploading, by making sure that the format lines up precisely with your needs. We even give you the option to download your video as a GIF, for some quick and shareable content.

Recap of When To Use Subtitles and Closed Captions

To quickly sum up the differences and uses of subtitles and closed captions, 

Subtitles are used if:

1. The audio needs to be translated into another language.
2. Non-speech elements (sound effects, speaker differentiation etc.) are not required.
3. The text needs to be synchronized with the media before-hand.

Closed-Captions are used if:

1. Speakers need to be identified.
2. Sound effects and other non-speech audio must be included.
3. The text can be transcribed live, as the video is being aired.
4. You are being inclusive of hearing impairments that audience members may face. 

If you want to create videos for the broadest possible audience, captions in some form are non-negotiable. VEED makes it possible to add CC, SDH, forced, or open captions in your browser — free to start, 125+ languages, browser-based.

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