In today’s fast-paced digital landscape, TikTok has emerged as a powerhouse for content creation, offering endless opportunities for creativity and engagement. However, to truly maximize the reach and impact of your TikTok videos, subtitles and closed captions are crucial.
They not only make your content accessible to a wider audience, including those with hearing impairments, but also cater to viewers who prefer watching videos without sound. This is where AI-powered subtitle apps come into play, offering a seamless and efficient way to add that extra layer of engagement to your videos.
In this post, we delve into some of the best AI apps that can help you add subtitles and closed captions to your TikTok videos. These tools range from in-built features of popular platforms to innovative third-party apps, each offering unique functionalities and advantages.
Related: Best YouTube Shorts Captions Generators
AI Apps for Adding Subtitles and Closed Captions to TikTok Videos
As I mentioned earlier there are two ways to add subtitles and closed captions to TikTok videos. The first method we cover is using TikTok’s built-in captioning feature.
I. Tiktok in-built Caption Feature
TikTok has an in-built caption feature that simplifies the process of adding subtitles and closed captions to videos. Here’s how you can use it:
First, record or upload your video on TikTok as you normally would. Once you have your video ready, look for the “Captions” button on the editing screen. It’s usually located on the right side. Tap on it, and TikTok will automatically start transcribing the audio in your video. This feature is pretty handy, especially for ensuring that your message reaches viewers who might have hearing difficulties or those who prefer watching videos without sound.
Now, it’s important to review the captions that TikTok generates. While the app does a decent job at transcription, it’s not perfect. You might find some errors or misinterpretations of what you said. You can easily edit the captions by tapping on the text boxes. Adjust the wording to make sure it accurately reflects your spoken words. This step is crucial for maintaining the integrity and clarity of your message. Once you’re happy with the subtitles, simply proceed to post your video as usual. The captions will appear on your video, making it more inclusive and likely to reach a wider audience.
II. AI Auto Subtitle and Closed Captions Generators
The second method to add subtitles and closed captions to TikTok videos is through the use of AI caption generators. Here are some of the best options out there:
1. Submagic
Submagic is an excellent choice for those creating short-form videos for platforms like Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok. It’s also one of our favourite option in this list. Its ability to automatically generate trendy captions, complete with animated subtitles and emojis, is a major draw. This feature not only adds a visually appealing touch to your videos but also plays a crucial role in boosting engagement, especially for the popular 1080×1920 shorts format.
Furthermore, Submagic’s support for over 48 languages is a significant advantage. It allows for the creation of subtitles in a wide range of languages, from Japanese and Italian to German, making your content accessible to a global audience.
Apart from its multilingual capabilities, Submagic impresses with its speed and customization options. You can create professional-looking videos with captions in less than five minutes, which is incredibly efficient. The platform’s personalization feature lets you infuse your unique style and brand essence into the captions, giving your videos a distinct identity.
2. Veed.IO Subtitles Generator
Veed.IO offers a seamless and efficient solution for adding subtitles to your videos. Its automatic subtitle feature is a game-changer, utilizing advanced speech recognition software to transcribe your videos instantly.
For those who prefer a more hands-on approach or need specific formatting, Veed.IO allows the manual upload of subtitle files in formats like SRT, VTT, or TXT. The platform is also equipped with professional video editing software, enabling you to refine your videos to perfection.
One of the key features of Veed.IO is its capability to translate captions into various languages, significantly widening the reach of your content. This feature, along with the option to download subtitle files for documentation or repurposing, is particularly beneficial for content creators looking to cater to a diverse audience. However, it’s important to note that translating and downloading subtitles are premium features, so checking the pricing page for more details would be advisable.
3. Voicella
Voicella is an incredibly user-friendly app for Android users, designed specifically for adding subtitles and captions to videos. Voicella can translate and transcribe speech from over 90 languages, catering to a diverse global audience. The process is straightforward: select your video, translate and transcribe the speech, then use the Voicella editor to place your subtitles accurately on the video timeline.
This level of control ensures that your subtitles are synchronized perfectly with the audio. Additionally, the ability to share your subtitled video directly to social media platforms like YouTube, Snapchat, Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok enhances its appeal, particularly for content creators looking to increase their viewership.
Voicella’s also offers a wide variety of advanced features like AI-powered automatic speech recognition and translation, offering almost error-free speech-to-text and voice-to-text conversions. This not only saves time but also significantly reduces the effort required in subtitling. Moreover, the app allows for extensive customization of subtitles, including adjustments in font, size, color, and position. Voicella also supports offline models in English, Russian, and ten other languages for free, which is a bonus for users without consistent internet access.
4. Canva for Subtitling TikTok Videos
Canva, widely known for its user-friendly design tools, also offers a solution for creating and adding subtitles to TikTok videos. This might come as a surprise to many who primarily associate Canva with graphic design, but its versatility extends to video editing as well. Here’s how you can use Canva to add subtitles to your TikTok videos:
First, you need to log in to your Canva account and select the ‘Video’ option from the create menu. Canva provides various templates, including ones specifically designed for TikTok videos. Once you’ve chosen your template, upload your video to Canva. This can be done by dragging and dropping the video file into the Canva interface or uploading it via the upload tab.
After your video is uploaded, it’s time to add subtitles. Canva doesn’t automatically generate subtitles like some dedicated video editing apps, so you’ll need to manually type in your subtitles. But here’s where Canva shines – it offers a plethora of text styles and animations that can make your subtitles visually appealing and in sync with your video’s aesthetic.
You can choose different fonts, colors, and sizes to ensure that your subtitles are both readable and stylistically in tune with your video. Position the text boxes at the appropriate timings to match the spoken words in your video. This manual process gives you complete control over the appearance and timing of your subtitles.
Once you’re satisfied with the subtitles, you can preview the video in Canva to ensure everything looks as expected. If all seems good, export the video from Canva. The platform allows you to download your video in various formats, suitable for uploading to TikTok or any other social media platform. This method of adding subtitles might require a bit more effort compared to automated tools, but it offers a high level of customization that can significantly enhance the visual appeal of your TikTok videos.
Conclusion
As you have seen, when it comes to adding and editing captions on TikTok videos, the options are multifarious and while Submajic is our favourite in this collection the other featured apps are equally important.
And let me reiterate, incorporating subtitles and closed captions is more than just a nod to inclusivity; it’s a strategic move that can significantly broaden your audience and enhance viewer engagement. By choosing the right app for your style and needs, you can ensure your TikTok videos resonate with a wider and more diverse audience. So, experiment with these tools, find what works best for you, and watch as your TikTok videos reach new heights of accessibility and appeal.