No. Subtitles translate or transcribe the dialogue for viewers who can hear the audio, while captions are built for accessibility and include non-speech sounds. Many teams offer both so viewers can choose.
Video Glossary
Subtitles
Subtitles are on-screen text that translates or transcribes a video's dialogue for viewers.
What are subtitles?
Subtitles are the on-screen text of a video's dialogue, shown in time with the audio. They are mainly used to help viewers who speak a different language follow what is being said, though they can also transcribe speech in the same language.
Subtitles vs. captions
The difference comes down to sound. Subtitles assume the viewer can hear the audio and need help with the language. Captions assume the viewer cannot hear it, so they also describe non-speech sounds. If your goal is accessibility, use captions. If your goal is reaching viewers in other languages, use subtitles.
Why subtitles matter
Subtitles open your content to a global audience without reshooting or re-recording. They improve comprehension, help with sound-off viewing, and make your videos easier to share across regions. They also give search engines more text to index in multiple languages.
Adding subtitles to your videos
You can generate subtitles from a transcript, then translate them into the languages your audience speaks. For webinar teams, subtitles make on-demand replays useful well beyond the original audience. Livestorm's AI features help you turn recordings into captioned, subtitled content you can reuse.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are subtitles and captions the same?
What languages should I add subtitles in?
Start with the languages your audience actually uses, which you can check in your analytics. You can always add more over time, since one recording can carry many subtitle tracks.
Do subtitles help videos rank in other countries?
They can. Subtitles add text in each language you translate into, which gives search engines more to index and makes your content discoverable to viewers who search in their own language.
How do I add subtitles to a webinar recording?
Generate a transcript, translate it, then attach it as a subtitle track. Livestorm's AI features (https://livestorm.co/features/ai) help you turn recordings into captioned and subtitled content you can reuse.
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