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5 min read•Beginner

How to Create Subtitles Online from Scratch – Free

Create subtitles from scratch with our free tool: choose your output format first, add lines with start and end times plus text, then download in SRT, VTT, ASS, or other formats. No signup. The tool shows format-specific tips so you enter times and text correctly.

Table of Contents

When to create subtitles from scratch

Use the Create Subtitles tool when:

  • You have no subtitle file and need to type dialogue and timing manually
  • You are translating or writing subtitles for a video from zero
  • You want to build an SRT, VTT, or ASS file line by line
  • You have a list of timestamps and text (e.g. from a transcript) and want to turn it into a subtitle file

The tool does not convert or edit existing files—it only creates new subtitle files from the lines you add.

Step-by-step: create subtitles online

1

Open the Create Subtitles tool

Go to the Create Subtitles page. No signup or login required.

2

Choose output format

At the top, select the format you want for your file (SRT, VTT, ASS, SSA, SBV, SUB, LRC, or JSON). The tool then shows format-specific tips: how to enter times, an example, and how to write the text. Follow these so your file is valid for that format.

3

Add lines and enter times and text

Click "Add line" (or "Add first line" if the list is empty). For each line, enter start time, end time, and subtitle text using the format shown in the tips (e.g. HH:MM:SS,mmm for SRT). Start time must be before end time.

4

Add more lines and reorder

Keep adding lines for each subtitle. Use the up/down arrows to reorder and the trash icon to remove a line. New lines get the start time pre-filled from the previous line's end.

5

Download

When you're done, click "Download" to get your subtitle file in the format you chose in step 2. There is no separate export dropdown—the format is fixed when you select it at the start.

Choose output format first

The tool asks you to pick the output format (SRT, VTT, ASS, etc.) before you add lines. Once you select a format, a short guide appears with:

  • Time format — e.g. HH:MM:SS,mmm (comma for SRT) or HH:MM:SS.mmm (dot for VTT)
  • Example — e.g. 00:01:23,456
  • Text — plain text only for most formats; ASS/SSA can be edited later in an advanced editor for styling

Following these tips ensures the generated file is correct for your chosen format. You can change the format at any time; the tips update automatically.

Time format

The exact time format depends on the output format you selected. In general, use HH:MM:SS,mmm (hours, minutes, seconds, milliseconds). Examples:

  • 00:00:00,000 — start of video
  • 00:01:23,456 — 1 minute 23.456 seconds
  • 01:00:00,000 — 1 hour

SRT uses a comma before the milliseconds; VTT often uses a dot. The tool accepts both. Start time must always be before end time for each line. For format-specific rules, use the guide shown in the tool after you select your output format.

Tips

  • Choose the output format at the start so the time and text tips match your target format.
  • When you add a new line, the start time is pre-filled from the previous line's end—adjust as needed.
  • SRT and VTT are widely supported; ASS is useful if you plan to add styling later in a program like Aegisub.
  • Processing is done in your browser; we don't store your subtitles.

Ready to create subtitles?

Use our free Create Subtitles tool. No signup, no watermarks.

Open Create Subtitles tool