AutoCaptions · burned-in subtitles via API

Add captions
to any video.

AutoCaptions transcribes your video and burns styled, broadcast-quality subtitles straight into the file — ready for YouTube, TikTok and Instagram. Pick a font, colour and position, send the video, get a captioned MP4 back. Powered by the SamAutomation API.

~18s typical processing 25+ languages 9 caption fonts
your_clip.mp4 · 9:16
Welcome to my channel —
let's get started
done burned-in captions, styled to your brand
// how it works

From raw clip to captioned video

Send a video, AutoCaptions handles transcription, timing and rendering — and returns a finished file with the subtitles baked in. No timeline, no manual sync.

1

Send your video

Upload through the dashboard or POST it to the API with your key. MP4, MOV, AVI, WebM and MKV are all supported.

2

AI transcribes & times it

Speech recognition turns the audio into accurately timed caption segments. Clean, well-mixed audio gives the best result; names, brands and jargon are where every model slips.

3

Captions get burned in

Your chosen font, colour, stroke and position are rendered directly into the video. A short social clip is usually done in well under a minute; length and resolution decide the rest.

4

Download the captioned MP4

Get back a ready-to-post file with subtitles permanently baked in — no separate .srt to manage, works everywhere video plays.

# submit a video for captioning
POST /api/autocaptions/process
"X-API-Key": "your_key"

"video_url": "https://your.app/clip.mp4",
"font": "Montserrat",
"color": "#FFFFFF",
"position": "bottom",
"language": "en"

# → { "status": "done",
# "video_url": "…/captioned.mp4" }
// features

Captions that match your brand

Broadcast-quality styling, real language coverage, and burned-in output that plays anywhere — without touching a video editor.

Caption styles

Aa

9 fonts with full control over colour, stroke and on-screen position so subtitles fit your look on every platform.

  • 9 hand-picked fonts
  • Custom text & stroke colours
  • Top, middle or bottom placement

25+ languages

文

Caption content for a global audience — English, Spanish, French, German and 20+ more, all recognised automatically.

  • Automatic language handling
  • Accurate on clear audio, proofread the names
  • Reach non-native viewers

Burned-in output

▦

Subtitles are rendered into the pixels, not a sidecar file — so they show up on every player, feed and download.

  • Hardcoded into the MP4
  • Plays on YouTube, TikTok, IG
  • No .srt to upload separately

Fast & API-first

⌁

Short clips render in seconds rather than minutes. Drive it from the dashboard, or wire the API into your own pipeline.

  • ~18s typical processing
  • Simple REST endpoint
  • Same SamAutomation key
YouTube long-form & Shorts TikTok & Reels Accessibility & compliance Sound-off social feeds
// why captions

Why captioned video wins

Captions make video easier to follow on muted feeds, more accessible, and easier to find — which shows up in the numbers.

Muted by default

Most social video autoplays without sound — captions keep your message landing.

Accessible

Readable for deaf and hard-of-hearing viewers, on every platform.

Indexable

Caption text can be read by search and recommendation systems.

25+ languages

Burned-in subtitles, styled to match your brand.

// pricing

Simple, transparent pricing

Monthly plans for every volume of content. Every plan includes the full feature set — fonts, colours, positioning and 25+ languages. Cancel anytime from your dashboard.

Starter
Perfect for getting started
€15 /month
20 videos / mo
  • AI auto-transcription
  • 5 standard fonts
  • Custom colors
  • Email support
Get started
Professional Popular
Most popular choice
€35 /month
60 videos / mo
  • Everything in Starter
  • 4 premium fonts
  • Advanced positioning
  • Priority processing
  • Chat support
Get started
Business
For growing teams
€75 /month
150 videos / mo
  • Everything in Professional
  • Bulk processing
  • API access
  • Team management
  • Priority support
Get started
Enterprise
For large organizations
€200 /month
500 videos / mo
  • Everything in Business
  • Custom integrations
  • Dedicated support
  • SLA guarantees
  • On-premise option
Contact sales
// faq

Frequently asked questions

Everything you need to know about AutoCaptions.

How accurate are the captions?

Accuracy depends almost entirely on your source audio. Clean, well-mixed speech transcribes well; music, crosstalk and heavy accents are where errors appear. Measure it on your own worst footage rather than trusting a headline number: pull ten random thirty-second windows and count only the mistakes that change meaning.

What video formats do you support?

All major formats — MP4, MOV, AVI, WebM and MKV. Videos up to 200MB and 15 minutes long are supported on the premium plans.

Can I customise the caption style?

Yes. Choose from 9 fonts and control colour, position, stroke effects and timing so your captions match your brand on every platform.

How fast is processing?

Render time scales with length and resolution, so a fifteen-second vertical clip and a ten-minute talk are not comparable. What you can rely on is that it does not need you sitting there while it runs.

How does billing work?

Subscriptions are billed monthly. You can cancel any time from your dashboard, and your plan stays active until the end of the current billing period.

Free auto captions and what they do

An auto caption tool turns speech in a video into timed text. Some tools burn that text into the video. Others create a separate caption file, such as SRT or VTT.

Free options usually come with limits on video length, exports, languages, styling, watermarks, or monthly use. Check the current free tier before uploading a large batch, because those limits change.

For one video, a platform’s built-in caption tool may be enough. For repeatable video production, automatic caption generation with editable timing and styling gives you more control.

Turning auto captions on

Open the video editor or upload screen, find Captions, Subtitles, or Accessibility, and choose the spoken language. Generate the captions, play the video once, and correct names, numbers, and technical terms before publishing.

Instagram and other platforms move controls between releases, so the exact menu name can change. If the switch is missing, check the app version, account type, selected language, and accessibility settings.

You can also connect caption generation to an n8n workflow when every new video should follow the same steps.

Choosing a free auto caption app

Use caseBest type of free toolCheck before choosing
One social postBuilt-in platform captionsEditing, placement, and download options
Reusable captioned videoVideo editor with speech-to-textWatermark, export quality, and language support
Separate subtitle fileTranscription or subtitle editorSRT or VTT export and timing controls
Automated batchesCaption API or workflow toolUsage limits, retries, storage, and pricing model

There is no single best free app for every job. Pick the tool that produces the file you need and lets you fix transcription errors before export. Free plans change, so verify the current limits instead of choosing from an old comparison.

If the captions are one step in a larger render, start with a JSON-to-video workflow that keeps text, timing, and video settings together.

Closed caption conversion and Instagram files

A closed caption converter changes one subtitle format into another, such as SRT to VTT. It may also extract timed text from a supported caption file. Conversion does not fix bad timing, spelling, or missing speaker labels.

Keep the original subtitle file before converting it. Then check the first cue, the final cue, line breaks, special characters, and frame-rate-dependent formats. A valid file can still display badly if its timestamps overlap.

The search phrase Sacaption Instagram is often used when someone wants captions for an Instagram video. You can generate captions before upload and burn them into the video, or use Instagram’s available caption controls. Burned-in captions travel with the video; closed captions depend on the platform retaining and displaying the subtitle track.

For videos created from a prompt, add captions after the text-to-video render so the timing matches the final audio.

Questions people ask

Is there a free auto caption tool?

Yes. Social platforms and video editors may offer free automatic captions, but export, styling, duration, or usage limits can apply. Check the current terms before processing a batch.

What is an auto caption?

An auto caption is timed text generated from spoken audio by speech-recognition software. You should still review names, numbers, punctuation, and specialist terms.

How do I turn auto captions on?

Open the video’s editing or accessibility controls and select Captions, Subtitles, or speech-to-text. Choose the spoken language, generate the text, and review it before publishing.

What is the best free app for generating auto captions?

There is no single best free app. Built-in platform captions suit quick posts, while a video editor is better when you need an exported video or subtitle file. Free features change, so compare the current watermark, duration, language, and export limits.

What does a closed caption converter do?

It converts subtitle files between formats such as SRT and VTT. It normally preserves the text and timestamps, but you still need to check timing, encoding, and line breaks.

Can I use an SRT file on Instagram?

Instagram’s upload and caption options can change between releases and content types. The reliable method is to burn captions into the final video before upload when you need the text to appear exactly as designed.

What does Sacaption Instagram mean?

Sacaption Instagram is a search phrase associated with adding automatic captions to Instagram videos. Generate the captions in Instagram when that control is available, or add them in an editor before uploading.

Are burned-in captions the same as closed captions?

No. Burned-in captions are part of the video image and cannot be switched off. Closed captions are stored as a separate track or file, so the player can show or hide them.

How are auto caption tools usually priced?

Pricing may be based on minutes processed, exports, credits, operations, or seats. A solo creator usually benefits from usage-based pricing when output varies, while a seat plan can make sense for steady use. Rates and plan rules change.

Caption your next video

Burned-in subtitles in 9 fonts and 25+ languages, processed in seconds — on the same SamAutomation API key.