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SRT vs VTT: which subtitle file to use

Updated on October 25, 2026

When a transcript is ready, the site offers three files: SRT subtitles, VTT and TXT. TXT is plain text. SRT and VTT split the text into lines, each with the moment it starts and ends: that’s what makes subtitles show up at the right time. To make the file, use the SRT subtitle generator.

Short answer

  • Editing a video (CapCut, Premiere, DaVinci) or uploading to YouTube: use SRT.
  • Adding subtitles to a web player with the HTML <track> tag: use VTT.
  • Just reading or keeping the text: use TXT, or Copy text.

The difference

SRTVTT
First linethe number of the first lineWEBVTT
Millisecond separatorcomma: 00:00:02,040period: 00:00:02.040
Number before each linerequiredoptional
Best supported invideo editors and YouTubeweb players

SRT example:

1
00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:02,040
Hi Anna, how are you?

2
00:00:02,040 --> 00:00:05,100
Come by tomorrow at six.

The same in VTT:

WEBVTT

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.040
Hi Anna, how are you?

00:00:02.040 --> 00:00:05.100
Come by tomorrow at six.

Switching formats

You don’t need to: the site gives you both. If you only have one, a plain text editor is enough:

  1. Swap the comma in the times for a period (from ,040 to .040), or the other way round.
  2. For VTT, write WEBVTT on the first line and leave a blank line after it.
  3. For SRT, number each line, starting at 1.

Save with the right extension (.srt or .vtt) and as UTF-8, so accented letters don’t break.

The file name

Files come out as pegafala-transcricao.srt, .vtt and .txt, a neutral name that doesn’t repeat your audio’s name. Rename them as you like.

See also

All guides