Format comparison

SRT vs VTT vs TXT: Which Export Should You Choose?

SRT and VTT are timed caption files for video. TXT is plain text for reading, search, and analysis.

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Quick answer

SRT and VTT are timed caption files for video. TXT is plain text for reading, search, and analysis.

Choose

SRT

Best for

Broad player and editor support

Captions that need styling or positioning

View SRT guide
Choose

VTT

Best for

HTML5 video captions on the web

Editors that only accept SRT

View VTT guide
Choose

TXT

Best for

Reading, search, AI workflows, and quick sharing

Any time-synced caption use

View TXT guide

Format snapshots

Quick definitions and best-use highlights for each format.

SRT.srt

SubRip (SRT)

SRT is a subtitle format with numbered cues and timecodes (HH:MM:SS,mmm). It is the most widely supported caption file.

Best for: Uploading captions to video platforms and editors

View SRT guide
VTT.vtt

WebVTT

WebVTT (VTT) is the web standard for captions in HTML5 video. It supports cue timing, positioning, and simple styling.

Best for: Captions for websites and web players

View VTT guide
TXT.txt

Plain text

TXT is a plain text file that stores your transcript as simple lines. It keeps speaker labels and paragraph breaks but adds no styling or timecodes.

Best for: Quick copy/paste into notes, emails, or a CMS

View TXT guide

Key differences

  • SRT and VTT contain timestamps; TXT does not
  • VTT is web-native and allows styling; SRT is universal
  • TXT is easiest for copy/paste and indexing

Common pitfalls

  • TXT will not sync to video
  • SRT/VTT require strict timecode formatting
  • Long caption lines reduce readability

When to choose each format

SRT

Best for

Broad player and editor support

Avoid when

Captions that need styling or positioning

VTT

Best for

HTML5 video captions on the web

Avoid when

Editors that only accept SRT

TXT

Best for

Reading, search, AI workflows, and quick sharing

Avoid when

Any time-synced caption use

Example snippets

SRT example

1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:02,400 Host: Welcome back to the show. 2 00:00:02,400 --> 00:00:05,100 Guest: Great to be here.

VTT example

WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.400 Host: Welcome back to the show. 00:00:02.400 --> 00:00:05.100 Guest: Great to be here.

TXT example

Host: Welcome back to the show. Guest: Great to be here. Host: Today we cover onboarding. Guest: The first week is critical. Host: Let's dig in. Guest: Happy to.

FAQ

Quick answers for the most common format-decision questions.

What is the difference between SRT, VTT, and TXT?

SRT and VTT are timed caption formats for video. TXT is plain transcript text for reading, search, notes, and analysis.

Should I choose TXT or VTT?

Choose TXT when you need plain text. Choose VTT when the transcript needs to appear as timed captions in a web video player.

Can TXT be used as subtitles?

No. TXT does not include caption cues or timestamps. Use SRT or VTT for subtitles.

Transcribe and export

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Upload audio or video, transcribe, and download in TXT, DOCX, PDF, SRT, or VTT.

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  • 3 transcriptions per day
  • Max 35 minutes per file
  • Max 50 MB per file
  • First transcript summary included
  • Export to TXT, DOCX, PDF, SRT, VTT
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