SRT vs VTT: Subtitle Formats Explained (and How to Make Them)

SRT and VTT are the two subtitle formats you will run into most. They look almost identical inside, but they are not interchangeable everywhere. This guide explains the difference, when to use each, and how to generate accurate subtitles from any audio or video without typing a single caption.

What is an SRT file?

SRT (SubRip) is the most widely supported subtitle format. Each entry has a number, a start and end timestamp, and a line or two of text. Almost every video player, editor and social platform accepts SRT, which makes it the safe default when you are not sure what a platform wants.

What is a VTT file?

VTT (WebVTT) was designed for the web and HTML5 video. It is very similar to SRT but adds a WEBVTTheader, uses a dot rather than a comma in timestamps, and supports extra features like positioning, styling and metadata. It is the format the browser’s native <track> element expects.

SRT vs VTT: the key differences

• Support: SRT is accepted nearly everywhere; VTT is the standard for HTML5 and web players.
• Timestamps: SRT uses a comma (00:00:01,000); VTT uses a dot (00:00:01.000).
• Header: VTT files start with the line WEBVTT; SRT files have no header.
• Styling: VTT supports positioning and basic styling; SRT is plain text only.

Which one should you use?

Use SRT for YouTube, most social platforms, and traditional video editors, it just works. Use VTT when you are embedding video on your own website with the HTML5 <track> element, or when you need caption positioning or styling. When in doubt, export both, they take seconds to generate.

How to generate SRT and VTT subtitles from audio or video

You do not write subtitles by hand anymore. Upload your video or audio to Verbatext, and it transcribes the speech with accurate timestamps and exports timestamped SRT and VTT files ready to attach. It reads the audio track straight out of a video, so there is nothing to extract first.

Frequently asked questions

Can I convert SRT to VTT?

Yes, the formats are close enough that conversion is simple, but it is easier to export both directly from the transcript so the timing is identical.

Are the timestamps accurate?

Yes. Segments are timed by Whisper large-v3, so captions line up with the speech rather than drifting.

What video formats can I subtitle?

MP4, MOV, WEBM, MKV and more, up to 500MB. The first 5 minutes are free to try.