Best Subtitle Editors

Subtitle Workshop is a General Public License – GPL – and open-source subtitling management software. The interface is pretty straightforward and works in a variety of languages. It has tools for timing and message adjustments that are customizable, so you’ll be able to create a practical interface that allows you to work efficiently.

This program has tons of tools that make it perfect for advanced subtitle editing, like line adjustments, spell checking, automated frame-per-second changes, and duration settings. There are also tools available so you can either auto or manually detect, then mark and fix any text and timing errors.

What are its best features?

• Over 60 subtitle formats
• An integrated spell-checking feature
• A customizable interface
• Detecting and adjusting text and timing errors
• An auto-translation mode
• What could be improved?
• The interface has a learning curve with all the tools and features

Jubler is another GPL free software, but it’s important to note that this is a Java-based program. This means it requires the newest version of Java Runtime Environment if you want to run it. Regardless, one of its best features is its optimizing algorithm. This will help you fix any timing inconsistencies between your subtitles and tracks. The program handles frame rate conversions automatically, which would otherwise offset the timing of the subtitles.

Jubler runs on Windows, Mac, and Linux so long as you meet the system requirements. Otherwise, you just need to ensure that your OS can run Java Runtime Environment.

What are its best features?

• Possible to add and edit subtitles in the play mode
• Spell-check integration available
• An auto updater
• Color options for subtitles
• A translation mode

What could be improved?

• You must install MPlayer in order to see subtitles

While you can’t create subtitles from scratch with DivXLand Media Subtitler, this is a superb freeware application that allows you to edit external subtitle text files. Also, it’s possible to upload a text file with dialogue lines in the program as long as they’re in chronological order.

The program supports a wide range of subtitle formats and has the capacity for auto caption timing settings and correction. Plus, you can do spell checks in multiple languages and get instant previews of your work without having to save it.

What are its best features?

• Over 30 subtitle formats supported
• Auto timing correction
• The interface is in multiple languages
• Quick previews that don’t require saving
• A multi-language spell checker

What could be improved?

• Embedding subtitles directly into video files is limited to the AVI format
• You must upload a text file in order to input subtitles

Subtitle Edit is an open-source editor with consistent updates, which makes it one of the best free subtitle editors. Users can adjust their subtitles in a variety of ways or create them from scratch. There are literally hundreds of subtitle formats in the program that will auto-sync with videos. It also comes with a function that allows you to rip subtitles directly from DVDs and auto-translate subtitles from a wide variety of languages.

But for a free editor, the best feature is that it offers a lot of support channels. The developer has videos posted that walk you through the program. And he updates his Subtitle Edit blog regularly, so you always know about the latest updates.

What are its best features?

• An auto translator
• Support for over 280 formats
• You can get this subtitling software for free
• A solid tool for watching videos in multiple languages
• Subtitle synchronization is quick and easy

What could be improved?

• Doesn’t support a lot of media players

SRTEd works as a .srt graphical editor for subtitles that turns a tedious editing job into a quick and painless task. The program makes it easy for users to create a visual for their subtitles and then arrange and fix any synchronization errors. Overall, it’s a light program, but it comes with a ton of options that – if you spend a little time with it – are easy to figure out. The drag-and-drop feature is great to help you keep organized while working, and there are a ton of features to help you place a subtitle exactly where you want it down to the millisecond.

What are its best features?

• A simple interface that separates subtitles line-by-line
• An overlapping subtitles checker
• A search function
• Low system requirements
• Drag-and-drop clips into the interface

What could be improved?

• Offers a lot of features with little in the way of tutorials, so you’ll need to explore things for yourself

Kijio is a subtitle editing software that allows you to work within a visual timeline instead of editing a series of textboxes. It’s possible to create subtitles in only a few clicks by writing the subtitle from scratch and dragging directly into a frame. The program has a lot of great auto-features that not only check for sync errors but also mark them in the timeline.

The key feature of Kijio is that it works within the VLC player. This means you won’t have to download any additional video or sound codecs to play your media files. Just move files to any location and get to work.

What are its best features?

• Translates subtitles in over 50 languages
• Drag-and-drop functions for subtitles
• Timing checker and marker functions
• Works with VLC

What could be improved?

• The program randomly crashes at times

Subtitle Processor is a free and lightweight subtitles processor that works only on Windows or Linux. With this program, you can import or create subtitles from scratch. From there, you’ll be able to repair and manipulate subtitles as you please with its integrated DVD and movie player. The interface is cluttered with a wide variety of tools and doesn’t hide any of them in menus. Just drop a file in and start using the various tags to begin work.

What are its best features?

• Tag list of tools with easy access
• An integrated DVD and video file player that works for synchronization
• A free program
• A translator
• What could be improved?
• No preview functions

Open Subtitle Editor is another free, open-source editor. But it differs because it uses .NET Framework instead of Java to edit subtitles. So you’ll need a .NET Framework version 4 or later in order to utilize this program. Also, this is a Windows-only program as it uses Windows Media Player technology to edit the subtitles.

The program is one of the more simple programs on this list as it doesn’t have any additional video-editing functions. But you can do all the simple subtitle edits like adding, removing, translating, and re-sync. Plus, you don’t have to upload a text file to work within the program.

What are its best features?

• A capability to create subtitles without a text file
• An ability to re-sync subtitles as you work
• Tools that allow you to directly edit text of any subtitles
• A simple, easy-to-use interface

What could be improved?

• Doesn’t have any editing features
• Works in a Windows Media Player framework
• Requires you to install .NET Framework 4

Subtitle Horse has been around for a long time and is one of the most widely used and respected online subtitling programs. It has a clean interface that’s easy for anyone to learn and use and it has support for a variety of file formats. This program is one of the best free subtitling software programs for video files you’ve created – it’s not a program for importing full movies. But you can easily insert video files from YouTube or other URLs and get to work fast.

The program offers a range of tools that allow you to zoom in on your timeline and manipulate your subtitles however you want. It also offers a translator in several languages, along with playback options not available in other free subtitling software programs.

What are its best features?

• The free program
• A clean, easy-to-use interface
• A multi-language translator
• Saving and exporting files in multiple subtitle formats
• Searching functionality

What could be improved?

• Doesn’t hold files very well. It’s recommended to export after each project to avoid losing your work

Kapwing offers a full-on video editing suite that has a variety of subtitle editing tools. With a simple interface, it’s easy to load up a video and get to work – you don’t even have to register to start. With the program, you can alter the timing, position, and appearance of subtitles. And it’s possible to either create subtitles directly in the program or upload a .srt file.

If you need to collaborate with others on a project, Kapwing has a group workspace feature that allows you to easily blend your talents together with other colleagues. Plus, the program is online, so there’s nothing to download.

What are its best features?

• Color editing on subtitles includes outline and background coloring
• An ability to upload videos or input a URL
• A collaboration feature that allows you to create a group workspace
• An ability to change the style, position, and font of subtitles

What could be improved?

• Only supports the SRT format
• Lots of limitations in the free version