Closed captions and subtitles provide a way to add text to a video. They both aim to improve video accessibility to hard-of-hearing viewers or translate the audio to a different language.
Though often used interchangeably, closed captions and subtitles have some differences. Subtitles only include the text of the video’s speech or dialogue, while closed captions include text for other audio. For instance, they will specify when someone is singing or a phone rings in the video, among other audio information.
Another difference between closed caption vs subtitles is how they are added to the video. For subtitles, you can choose to have them burned in the video, giving them a permanent display. You can also upload subtitles in a separate document, which allows users to turn them off if not needed. For closed captions, the text is uploaded to a different document.
Choosing between closed caption vs subtitles depends on your target audience and the goals of your video content. Subtitles are ideal if your target audience includes viewers who don’t understand the primary language. This helps you reach a wider audience globally.
Closed captions are superior when you want to enhance accessibility for audiences with hearing difficulties. They are used when you want to improve the SEO performance of your content. Being on a separate document makes it possible for search engines to index them.
Another important factor in choosing closed caption vs. subtitles is the content of your video. If non-verbal information in the video is important in conveying the message accurately, then closed captions are a better choice. If the video’s message can be conveyed compellingly without the non-verbal audio, then subtitles are ideal.
