Captions vs Subtitles: What's the Difference and When to Use Each

The terms "captions" and "subtitles" are often used interchangeably, but they actually refer to different things. Understanding the distinction helps you choose the right approach for your content and audience.

Subtitles: Translation for Hearing Viewers

Subtitles were originally created for foreign language content. They assume the viewer can hear the audio but needs the dialogue translated into another language.

Key characteristics of subtitles:

• Translate spoken dialogue into another language
• Assume the viewer can hear sound effects and music
• Don't typically include non-speech audio descriptions
• Used for foreign films, international content
• Focus on dialogue translation, not accessibility

Captions: Accessibility for All Audio

Captions were designed for deaf and hard-of-hearing viewers. They assume the viewer cannot hear any of the audio, so they include all relevant sound information.

Key characteristics of captions:

• Display dialogue in the same language as the audio
• Include relevant sound effects: [phone ringing], [door slams]
• Describe music: [upbeat jazz music], [ominous tone]
• Identify speakers when not obvious
• Designed for accessibility, not translation

Types of Captions

Closed Captions (CC)

Closed captions can be turned on or off by the viewer. They're stored as a separate text track and are typically used on TV broadcasts, YouTube videos, and streaming platforms.

Advantages: Viewer choice, can be styled by the platform, searchable by search engines. Disadvantages: Viewer must enable them, not all platforms support them well.

Open Captions

Open captions are "burned" or "baked" into the video itself. They cannot be turned off and appear for all viewers.

Advantages: Always visible, work on any platform, creator controls styling. Disadvantages: Cannot be disabled, permanent once rendered, may obscure video content.

SDH (Subtitles for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing)

SDH combines elements of both subtitles and captions. Like subtitles, they can be turned on/off. Like captions, they include sound descriptions and speaker identification.

SDH is commonly used on DVDs, Blu-rays, and streaming services where accessible subtitles are needed.

Regional Terminology Differences

The caption/subtitle distinction is primarily American. In other regions:

• UK: "Subtitles" typically refers to both types, with "subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing" being specific
• Europe: "Subtitles" is the common term for all text overlays
• Australia: Generally follows UK conventions
• International standards: Often use "subtitles" as the umbrella term

Which Should You Use?

Use Closed Captions When:

• Publishing to platforms with good caption support (YouTube, Vimeo)
• Creating longer-form content where viewers may want to toggle
• Accessibility compliance is important
• You want searchable, indexable text

Use Open Captions When:

• Creating social media content (TikTok, Instagram, Facebook)
• Most viewers watch without sound
• You want consistent branding/styling
• The platform has poor closed caption support
• Ensuring captions are always visible is critical

Use Subtitles When:

• Translating content into other languages
• Creating content for multilingual audiences
• Your audience primarily speaks a different language

Social Media: The Open Caption Era

On social media platforms, open captions have become the standard. Here's why:

• Videos autoplay without sound in most feeds
• Viewers don't want to tap to enable captions
• Stylized captions are part of the content aesthetic
• Creator-controlled styling matches brand identity
• Caption visibility is guaranteed regardless of platform settings

This is why tools like MakeCaption focus on creating open (burned-in) captions—they're what modern social media demands.

Best Practice: Both

For maximum accessibility and reach, consider providing both when possible. For example, a YouTube video might have stylized open captions for visual appeal while also having closed captions available for viewers who prefer their own settings or need screen reader compatibility.

Conclusion

While "captions" and "subtitles" are often used interchangeably, understanding their differences helps you make better choices for your content. For social media, open captions are the way to go. For longer content on platforms like YouTube, closed captions add accessibility. And for multilingual content, subtitles help you reach global audiences.

Regardless of what you call them, adding text to your videos is one of the best things you can do for engagement, accessibility, and reach.