# Add subtitles to a video, free

> Type each line, drag it to where it is spoken, pick a style once and every subtitle follows. Nothing to pay; AI transcription is there if you want to skip the typing.

Type and time subtitles yourself for free. Style them once, keep them in the safe zone and burn them into the video. AI captions are optional, in 17 languages.

- Page: https://cutluma.com/tools/subtitle-editor
- Open in the editor: https://cutluma.com/editor?guest=1&tool=subtitles
- Access: Free, no credit card, runs in the browser
- Maker: CutLuma (https://cutluma.com/)

## How it works

1. **Drop in your video** — Any clip with speech, or one you want to subtitle for a quiet audience.
2. **Type the subtitles** — Add a subtitle line, type what is said and drag its ends to match the speech. Press the arrow keys to time it frame by frame.
3. **Style and export** — Choose a font, size, colour and background once. Export the MP4 with subtitles burned in.

## Why CutLuma for this

- **Free, with no limits** — Typing, timing and styling subtitles costs nothing on the free account.
- **Right-to-left ready** — Arabic, Hebrew and Urdu lines are laid out right to left with a matching typeface.
- **Skip the typing when you like** — The [AI caption generator](/tools/add-captions-to-video) writes the subtitles in 17 languages on the paid plans, and you edit them in the same place.

## FAQ

**Is the subtitle editor free?**

Yes. Writing and timing subtitles by hand is free. Generating them with AI uses the AI minutes of the paid plans.

**Can I edit the timing after typing?**

Yes. Drag either end of a subtitle on the timeline, or nudge it a frame at a time with the arrow keys.

**Are the subtitles burned in?**

Yes. They are rendered into the video, so they show on every platform and player.

**Where should subtitles sit on a vertical video?**

Above the bottom quarter of the frame, clear of the caption and buttons that TikTok and Reels draw on top.

## Related

- [How to make a TikTok video](https://cutluma.com/guides/how-to-make-a-tiktok-video)