Reference
SRT, VTT and plain text — which one you need.
Choose the file your next tool needs, without losing the distinction between text, timing and design.
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How it works
Check the destination
Read the player or editor’s accepted subtitle formats.
Download the matching format
Use SRT or VTT for timing, TXT for words, or a rendered video for styling.
Test one full playback
Check the opening, special characters, line breaks and the last cue.
Changing a file extension is not conversion. SRT and VTT have different syntax; TXT has no cue timings to convert unless you supply them.
The format’s full capabilities and this app’s export are different things. LumaCaption exports simple text and timing in SRT and VTT, not the styled animation from its video preview.
- SRT
- Numbered subtitle cues; comma-separated milliseconds. Broad support, with formatting differences between players.
- WebVTT
- A WEBVTT header and period-separated milliseconds. The standard supports cue settings and styling.
- TXT
- A readable transcript without timestamps, suitable for editing into notes or an article.
- Captioned video
- Text rendered into the picture. Keeps the chosen appearance but cannot be switched off.
Spot the difference in a timestamp
An SRT timing line reads 00:00:04,120 --> 00:00:06,480. The equivalent VTT line reads 00:00:04.120 --> 00:00:06.480. VTT also begins with WEBVTT followed by a blank line.
In VTT, characters such as ampersands and angle brackets can have special meaning. Use a proper exporter rather than a global replacement over the entire text.
What can be lost in conversion
Advanced WebVTT files can contain positioning, voice annotations and styling that a basic SRT export does not preserve. Some SRT players recognise basic formatting tags; do not assume all players behave identically.
When you have the original project, download both formats directly. If converting an existing file, test the result in the actual destination and keep the source file as a backup.
Choose by the next step
| Your next step | Output | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Upload a subtitle track | SRT | Destination support and matching video cut |
| Add a web text track | VTT | Player configuration and language label |
| Write show notes | TXT | Names, quotations and editorial structure |
| Publish designed captions | Video | Readability, crop and interface overlays |
Common questions
Can I rename .srt to .vtt?
No. The header, timestamp syntax and supported markup differ. Use an exporter or converter that parses the file.
Which format keeps animated captions?
Use the rendered video for LumaCaption’s animated styles. The SRT and VTT exports contain the transcript and timings.
Is a TXT transcript a caption file?
Not by itself. A video player needs timing information to know when to show each line.
