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Add Text to Video

Type a title, caption or call to action, style it, drag it where you want it and choose when it appears and disappears. Add several texts with fade, slide, pop or typewriter effects and save the finished video, all on your device without uploading anything.

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How to use the Add Text to Video

  1. Choose a video by dropping it on the box or clicking to browse.
  2. Type your text and pick the font, size, colour, outline and background.
  3. Position it with the 3×3 grid or by dragging it on the preview.
  4. Set the timing: tick Show for the whole video, or enter when it appears and disappears (play the preview and press Now). Choose an animation.
  5. Add more texts with + Add text if you need several captions.
  6. Press Render video with text, then Download video when it's done.

Text settings that work on social video

UseSize (% of height)StylePositionTiming
Opening title8 to 12%Bold, outline or shadowCentreFirst 2 to 4 s, fade 0.5 to 1 s
Spoken caption4.5 to 6%White with medium outline or a background boxBottom centre, above the platform's buttonsWhile the sentence is spoken
Hook on TikTok / Reels6 to 8%Bold with background boxUpper thirdFirst 3 s
Name / location label3.5 to 5%Background box, left alignedBottom left3 to 5 s, slide up
Call to action / end card6 to 9%Bold, pop inCentreLast 3 to 5 s

On vertical 9:16 video, the bottom 20% and the right edge are often covered by captions, likes and share buttons, so place important text in the upper or middle part of the frame.

How reading time affects timing

Most viewers comfortably read about 3 words per second on screen (roughly 160 to 180 words per minute). As a rule of thumb, show a caption for at least 1.5 seconds plus about one third of a second per word: a 6-word caption needs about 3.5 seconds. Fades eat into this time, so add the fade length on top.

Burned-in text vs subtitles

This tool burns the text into the picture (sometimes called open captions). It always shows, on every player and platform, and keeps your exact font and position, which is what you want for titles and social media captions. Separate subtitle files (SRT or VTT) can be switched on and off by viewers and translated, but their look depends on the player. To create or edit a subtitle file, use the Subtitle Editor; to burn an existing SRT file into a video, use Add Subtitles to Video.

Frequently asked questions

How do I add text to only part of a video?

Untick Show for the whole video and set Appears at and Disappears at. The easiest way is to play the preview, pause where the text should start and press Now next to Appears at, then do the same for the end. The timeline under the preview shows when each text is visible.

Can I add several captions at different times?

Yes. Press + Add text to create another text layer. It starts at the current preview time and inherits the style of the selected text. Each layer has its own words, position, timing and animation, and you switch between them with the chips at the top.

How do I make text readable on a bright or busy video?

Use white text with a Medium or Thick black outline, or switch on a Background box with Medium opacity. A drop shadow also helps. Bold sans-serif fonts such as Arial or Impact read best on small phone screens.

Will the text look the same in the saved video as in the preview?

Yes. The preview draws exactly what is recorded. Text size is set as a percentage of the video height, so a 7% title is the same relative size whether the video is 720p or 4K.

Can I remove or edit the text after saving?

No. The text is burned into the picture, so it becomes part of every frame. Keep your original video if you may want to change the text later. For captions viewers can switch off, use a subtitle file instead.

Why does rendering take as long as the video?

The browser records the video in real time with the MediaRecorder API while it draws your text on each frame, so a 1 minute clip takes about 1 minute. Keep the tab open and visible until it finishes.

Is my video uploaded to a server?

No. Everything happens in your browser. The video and your text never leave your device and no watermark is added.

Are all the tools on FreeToolCabin tested for quality and accuracy?

Yes! Every tool on our site undergoes automated Q/A testing in real browser environments to ensure high precision, correct output, and zero errors. If you happen to spot a bug or have a suggestion, please contact us at [email protected] and our team will review it right away.

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