The rapid evolution of the world of creating and editing subtitles in recent years has led to the emergence of various solutions to facilitate the editing of video subtitles.

Among the key players in this sector is Gabriel Delattre, our CEO and developer who contributed to more than 200 web applications, who co-created our SaaS Capte solution with his friend Emmanuel.

Capte makes it easy and fast to create content, and is accessible via https://getcapte.com.

In 2024, several free solutions are available to edit subtitles easily. Here is an overview:

1. YouTube

It may not be well known, but YouTube offers an impressive automatic caption feature thanks to voice recognition. It is easy to use: after uploading a video, simply go to the video manager, select “Edit” next to the video in question, then choose the Subtitle/CC option. Currently, this feature is limited to some languages including Russian, Japanese, English, Japanese, English, Portuguese, German, Spanish, Korean, French, French, Japanese, French, Italian, and Dutch. For videos in other languages, creating subtitles manually is still necessary. However, for videos in supported languages, this feature greatly facilitates the subtitling process.

2. Jubler

Jubler is a remarkable open source subtitling software. Its major advantage lies in its multiplatform availability, being compatible with mac, Windows and linux, a characteristic not shared by all subtitle software. Jubler also offers complete flexibility in customizing subtitles, allowing users to choose font, size, color, and add an outline to texts for better visibility. A notable feature of Jubler is the display of captions on a visual timeline, making it easier to orient when editing.

However, it should be noted that these timelines are for display purposes only and cannot be used to adjust subtitle timecodes. Despite this limitation, Jubler remains a tool of choice for refining subtitles accurately.

3. Aegisub

Aegisub is a subtitling solution that stands out thanks to its advanced features, designed to meet the needs of those looking for more than just subtitle editing. Its compatibility with all operating systems is a significant strength. Aegisub excels in offering remarkable precision thanks to its sound spectrum, allowing perfect synchronization of subtitles with audio. The automatic backup option adds considerable ease of use. This software also allows extensive customization of its subtitle format, and includes an integrated translation assistant, which is particularly useful for multilingual projects.

It is important to note that Aegisub may seem daunting for newbies due to its complexity. In addition, although possible, embedding subtitles directly into the video requires some technical mastery. Despite these challenges, Aegisub remains a preferred option for professionals and those who want to take their subtitling skills to the next level.

4. Subtitle Edit

Another subtitling software is distinguished by its ergonomic and intuitive interface, while being open source. Its ability to support a wide range of formats makes it extremely versatile. Especially useful for translation work, this software integrates Google Translate, allowing quick and easy translations, although not always accurate. An innovative error correction system, called a “magician”, makes it easy to detect and correct faults quickly. Plus, an Open-Office spell checker is built in, adding an extra layer of accuracy. The software also includes a spectrogram for better audio synchronization, although this may seem complex at first.

It should be recognized that, despite its advanced features, the interface may seem somewhat complex at first. One area for improvement would be the addition of more extensive customization features. Nevertheless, Subtitle Edit remains a solid option for those looking for an effective, multifunctional and free subtitling solution, particularly suited to Windows users.

5. Wondershare Filmora

Wondershare Filmora is a leading tool in the field of subtitle creation. Its particularity lies in its ability to allow the addition of texts in a wide variety of formats and colors, thus offering considerable artistic flexibility for the customization of subtitles. Filmora's conversion capabilities are particularly extensive, covering video, audio, and text, with extensive overlay, import, and export options. It also offers the ability to subtitle vintage DVDs and movies, which is a notable advantage.

However, less favourable aspects need to be taken into account. Notably, Wondershare Filmora becomes quite expensive after the trial period, making it more suitable for subtitling professionals than for casual users or those looking for a more economical option. Its interface, although complete, can be complex and disheartening for some users. Despite these drawbacks, Wondershare Filmora remains a powerful and comprehensive tool, suitable for professionals looking for a comprehensive solution for their subtitling needs.

6. Subtitle Edit Online

Let's see together now Subtitle Edit Online, a streamlined version of Subtitle Edit adapted to the online environment. You can therefore use it under Windows, mac, or linux. The mobile version is not up to date at all. The major advantage of this tool is its ability to offer a quick and accessible solution for creating and adjusting subtitles. When it comes to ease of use, Subtitle Edit Online is unequalled (except for Capte). Its user interface is extremely intuitive, making the subtitling process easy. Another major advantage is its machine translation capability, which is very useful for multilingual projects.

However, there are a few drawbacks worth noting. Subtitle Edit Online focuses on basic transcription features and doesn't offer advanced options, which might disappoint some users. Transcription and synchronization require manual intervention, which can be time-consuming for large-scale projects. Its simplicity makes it more suitable for smaller video projects. For more ambitious projects, it might not be up to the task. In conclusion, Subtitle Edit Online is perfect for anyone looking for a simple and effective solution for less complex subtitling tasks.

7. Open Subtitle Editor

Open Subtitle Editor stands out for its design focused on efficiency and simplicity, especially for Windows users who want to edit subtitles. Its main advantage lies in its ease of use, offering a clean and intuitive user interface, making creating and adjusting subtitles easy, even for novices. This solution is intended to be direct, without unnecessary complications, allowing you to focus entirely on subtitling.

However, it is essential to highlight some limitations of Open Subtitle Editor. It hasn't had recent updates, and while it's good for basic tasks, it may not satisfy those looking for more advanced or specialized features. Additionally, due to its simplified approach, it may not be suitable for more complex or technical subtitling projects. In short, Open Subtitle Editor is ideal for beginners in subtitling or for projects that do not require elaborate functionalities.

8. Subtitld

Subtitld is available for Linux and Windows and offers the opening of numerous video and subtitling formats. It is important to note that it includes a tool for verifying the quality of subtitles.

The advanced features for temporarily readjusting subtitles and fine syncing to audio are quite effective. You will not be able to adjust frame by frame but with timecodes. It's still easy to handle.

It may be found that the functions of automatically aligning the start and end timecodes and of attaching text blocks by magnetism are sometimes unreliable and their responsiveness in demanding scenarios remains to be proven. The risk of inaccuracies and manual adjustments remains significant.

All in all, behind a simple interface and cool basic features, Subtitld seems still limited in meeting the most advanced needs of subtitling professionals. It has the merit of being open source!

9. Gaupol

Gaupol stands out for its flexibility and ease of use in the field of subtitle editing. This software, specially designed for Linux, supports a wide range of subtitle file formats, making it easier to create, translate, and adjust subtitles.

Its interface, in accordance with the directives GNOME HIG 2.0, optimizes batch work and translation, making the process smoother. Gaupol's editing features are particularly rich, including unlimited undo and redo, advanced subtitle manipulations, and easy synchronization with videos thanks to an integrated player. However, its exclusive availability on linux may be an obstacle for some users. In summary, Gaupol is an ideal tool for both professionals and enthusiasts who are passionate about subtitling under Linux, offering a complete range of tools adapted to various subtitling projects.

Conclusion

In conclusion, you were able to discover 9 simple solutions to edit your subtitles. Know that you also have https://edit.getcapte.com which also allows you to do it very easily, without creating an account and for free!