SRT vs VTT: which subtitle format to use

Subtitles are text files that hold the words to be shown on screen and the times at which each line should appear. SRT and VTT are the two formats you will meet most often. They look similar, but they are not interchangeable: a small difference in the timestamp and a single header line decide whether a player shows your captions or ignores them. This guide compares the two formats, shows an example of each and explains how to choose and how to check the result with the Video Transcriber on Valtrinity.

By Valtrinity. Updated 18 October 2026.

What a subtitle file holds

Both formats are plain text. Each subtitle cue has a start time, an end time and one or more lines of text. The player reads the file and shows each cue at the right moment. Because the files are plain text, you can open and edit them in any text editor, and a small mistake in a timestamp is easy to spot.

Neither format contains the video itself. The subtitle file sits alongside the video, and the player or platform matches the two.

• Cues have a start time, an end time and text.
• The file is plain text and can be edited.
• The video is separate from the subtitle file.

SRT: simple and widely accepted

SRT, short for SubRip, is the most common subtitle format and the one most players and platforms accept. Each cue is numbered, followed by a timestamp line and the text, with a blank line between cues. Timestamps use hours, minutes, seconds and milliseconds separated by a comma, such as 00:01:02,500. SRT has no built-in styling, so colours, fonts and positions are left to the player.

• Numbered cues with a blank line between them.
• Timestamps use a comma: 00:01:02,500.
• No built-in styling or positioning.

VTT: web-friendly and more capable

WebVTT, usually shortened to VTT, was designed for the web and is used by HTML5 video. The file must start with the word WEBVTT on its own line. Timestamps use a full stop instead of a comma, such as 00:01:02.500. VTT also supports styling, positioning and metadata, so a caption can be placed at the top of the frame or shown in a different colour. Cue numbers are optional.

• The first line must be WEBVTT.
• Timestamps use a full stop: 00:01:02.500.
• Supports styling, positioning and metadata.

Side by side: the same cue in both formats

Worked example. A single line that appears from one minute two and a half seconds to one minute five seconds reads like this in SRT:

1, then 00:01:02,500 --> 00:01:05,000, then the words on the screen, then a blank line.

In VTT the same cue reads: a line saying WEBVTT at the top, a blank line, then 00:01:02.500 --> 00:01:05.000, then the words, then a blank line. The only differences are the header line and the full stops, but a player will reject a VTT file with the wrong header or an SRT file with full stops.

• SRT: comma in the timestamp, no header.
• VTT: full stop in the timestamp, WEBVTT header.

Which players and platforms accept which

Most video players and video hosting platforms accept SRT, which makes it the most practical choice when you do not know where the video will go. HTML5 video on a website works with VTT, and many players accept both. Some platforms convert one format to the other on upload, but that conversion can drop styling, so check the result after upload rather than assuming the file is shown as you intended.

• SRT: the widest acceptance across players and platforms.
• VTT: the natural choice for HTML5 video on a website.
• Check the result after upload, because conversions can drop styling.

How to choose

Choose SRT when you are unsure, when a platform asks for it or when you only need plain captions. Choose VTT when you are putting the video on a web page and want styling or positioning, or when your developer asks for it. Many workflows export both, so you can upload the one each destination needs without converting it yourself.

• Choose SRT for plain captions and wide compatibility.
• Choose VTT for web pages and styling.
• Export both when you do not know the destination.

Export and check with the Video Transcriber

The Video Transcriber on Valtrinity lets you upload your own audio or video file, produce a transcript with timestamps and export it as TXT, SRT or VTT. Open the exported file in a text editor and check the first lines. An SRT file starts with the number 1, and a VTT file starts with WEBVTT. Then play the video with the subtitles on to check the timing.

• Export SRT or VTT from the Video Transcriber.
• Check the first lines match the format.
• Play the video to check the timing.

Tools mentioned in this guide

Frequently asked questions