Add Text to Video
Put words on your video without an editing app. Type a title, caption, name or call to action, choose where it appears and how it looks, and decide whether it stays for the whole clip or only for a chosen part.
- Files stay on your device
- No sign-up
- Free to use
Show the text during
Text
When to show it
Untick to show the text only during the part selected on the timeline.
Processing happens on your device with FFmpeg. Keep this tab open; long or high-resolution videos can take several minutes.
How to use Add Text to Video
- Drop a video onto the upload area.
- Type your text; press Enter for a second line.
- Choose the position, size, colour, weight and background box.
- Keep “For the whole video”, or untick it and select when the text appears on the timeline. Then select Add text and download.
Add Text to Video features
Nine positions
Place text in any corner, edge or the centre, with a comfortable margin.
Size relative to the video
Text scales with the video height, so it looks the same on 720p and 4K footage.
Readable backgrounds
Dark or light boxes and drop shadows keep text legible over any footage.
Timed text
Show the text throughout, or only between chosen start and end times.
Multi-line and special characters
Line breaks, punctuation and accented letters are supported.
Private
The text is drawn in your browser with FFmpeg; nothing is uploaded.
When to use Add Text to Video
- Adding a title or name to the start of a video.
- Labelling product demos and tutorials with steps.
- Burning in a short caption for social media where sound is off.
- Adding a website or handle as a call to action at the end.
- Dating and labelling footage for archives.
Add Text to Video FAQ
Can I add full subtitles for a whole video?
This tool adds one text block, optionally for a chosen time range. For many timed subtitles, a subtitle file with an editor or player is more practical.
Which font is used?
DejaVu Sans, an open font with wide character coverage, in regular or bold. It supports Latin, Greek and Cyrillic scripts.
Is the text permanent?
Yes. It is drawn into the picture (burned in), so it appears on every player and cannot be switched off.
How do I make text readable on bright footage?
Choose the dark box background, or a dark text colour with a light box. Shadows alone work well only on darker footage.
Does adding text reduce quality?
The video is re-encoded to draw the text, with normal compression that is hard to see at the default quality.
Burned-in text and why it is everywhere
Most videos on social media are watched without sound, so text carries the message: titles explain what the video is about, captions summarise what is said, and labels guide viewers through steps. Text drawn directly into the picture, called burned-in or open captions, works on every platform and player, unlike separate subtitle files that some apps ignore.
Legibility depends on contrast and size. Video changes constantly, so text that is readable on one frame may disappear on the next when the background brightens. A semi-transparent box behind the text, or a shadow on darker footage, keeps it readable throughout. Sizing text relative to the video height ensures it is large enough on phones without overwhelming large screens.
Placement matters too. The lower third of the frame is the traditional spot for names and captions because it rarely covers faces. On vertical platforms, apps overlay their own buttons and captions at the bottom and right, so text slightly higher in the frame avoids collisions.
Timing text to a specific part, such as a title for the first five seconds or a call to action at the end, keeps the rest of the video uncluttered. Select the range on the timeline and untick “For the whole video”.