Subtool by Thinkelution

Free subtitles for your Shorts and Reels.

Add English subtitles to YouTube Shorts, Instagram Reels, and other short videos. Subtool automatically transcribes speech, times each word, and lets you create captions that highlight as you speak.

Start creating captions →

Upload a videoAdd captions to your next shortMP4, MOV or WebM · Up to 5 minutes · 95 MB

Karaoke captions that follow your voice

Choose word highlights, a karaoke sweep, word-pop animation, or classic subtitles. Customize fonts, colors, caption size, and placement to suit your video.

Edit subtitles before you export

Review the transcript, correct names and words, adjust individual word timings, and choose where each caption begins. Preview the result while your video plays.

Ready for Shorts, Reels, and landscape video

Keep your video's original shape or choose a 9:16 crop. Export an MP4 with captions built in, or download ASS and SRT subtitle files.

Coming next

More ways to make it yours.

We're just getting started. Here's what's on the way.

Coming soon

More with premium

Paid subscription plans are on the way, with extra features for creators who want to do more.

Weekly font drops

Fresh fonts. More personality.

Look forward to new, playful fonts every week—more ways to give your captions a style of their own.

In development

Finer control. More possibilities.

More features and custom editing tools are in the works, so you can shape every caption your way.

How to add subtitles to a short video

Create your free account. Sign up with your email and verify the one-time code.
Upload your video. Choose an MP4, MOV, or WebM up to 5 minutes long and 95 MB.
Review and style the captions. Check the English transcript, choose an effect, and adjust the font and colors.
Export your captioned video. Download the MP4 and upload it to your preferred video platform.

Questions about subtitling with Subtool

Is Subtool free to use?

Yes. You can create an account, generate subtitles, and export captioned videos for free. The current upload limit is 5 minutes and 95 MB per video.

Which languages does Subtool support?

Subtool currently generates English captions. You can edit the recognized words and their timings before exporting.

Can I create word-by-word highlights?

Yes. Choose Word highlight, Karaoke sweep, or Word pop in the caption editor. The highlights follow the individual word timings.

Are my videos and projects public?

No. Your account is required to view your projects, play your videos, and download your captions or exports. The public website does not list private projects.

Do subtitles stay visible after I upload the video?

The exported MP4 has captions built into its video image. The captions remain visible when the video is played or uploaded to Shorts, Reels, or other platforms.