SRT or VTT: which caption file do you need?

A practical guide to choosing a subtitle format, and what changes when you convert.

Start with the destination

The right format is usually the one your player or editor accepts. Check the import options in the destination before changing a file. SRT is widely used by editing and publishing tools. WebVTT is designed for web video, including the HTML track element.

Both formats connect words to time

Each cue contains a start time, an end time, and the text to show. An SRT timestamp uses a comma before milliseconds. A WebVTT file starts with WEBVTT and uses a dot before milliseconds. A converter can change those conventions while preserving cue timing and text.

Styling needs a second look

Caption files can also contain positioning and styling instructions. These do not always survive a format change. ClipToDraft’s converter keeps the cue text and timestamps and removes styling, comments, and layout settings. If the placement of your captions matters, check the result in the destination player.

Review before publishing

Open the converted file in your video player. Check the first and final cues, a section with fast speech, and any speaker changes. If you only need the spoken words for a document, export TXT. That intentionally leaves the timestamps behind.

Convert your captions →