Captions assume the viewer cannot hear the audio, so they include non-speech sounds like [music] or [applause]. Subtitles assume the viewer can hear and usually translate the dialogue into another language. If your goal is accessibility, use captions.
Video Glossary
Captions
Captions are the on-screen text of a video's spoken words and key sounds, timed to match the audio.
What are captions?
Captions are the on-screen text that shows a video's spoken words and important sounds, timed to match the audio. People rely on them for two reasons. First, accessibility: captions give deaf and hard-of-hearing viewers a full text version of the audio, which standards like Section 508 and WCAG expect. Second, sound-off viewing: most social video is watched on mute, so captions keep your message clear when the audio is off.
Captions vs. subtitles
People mix these up often. Captions assume the viewer cannot hear the audio, so they include non-speech sounds like [applause]. Subtitles assume the viewer can hear but may not speak the language, so they focus on translating the dialogue.
The main types of captions
Closed captions can be turned on or off, and they are the accessible default. Open captions are baked into the video and always show, which suits social feeds with no caption button. Live captions appear in real time during a live stream or webinar.
How captions help your videos
Captions widen your reach and lift watch time. They help non-native speakers, and they add readable text that search engines can index. For teams running on-demand webinars, captions also make replays and clips easier to repurpose. With Livestorm AI Studio, captions are added automatically as your webinar replay becomes short clips, so you skip the manual step.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between captions and subtitles?
Are open and closed captions the same thing?
No. Closed captions can be turned on or off by the viewer, while open captions are baked into the video and always show. Closed captions are the accessible default, and open captions work well for social feeds with no caption button.
Do captions improve SEO?
Indirectly. Captions add readable text to the page and tend to raise watch time and engagement, both of which can support rankings. They also make your video content easier for search engines to understand.
How do you add captions to a webinar replay?
You can generate them from a transcript, then review and sync the text. With Livestorm AI Studio (https://livestorm.co/features/ai/livestorm-ai-studio), captions are added automatically as your replay is turned into clips, so you skip the manual step.
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