Subtitle Edit

Name: Subtitle Edit
Brand: Subtitle Edit

A free, open-source subtitle editor with built-in video playback and format conversion.

softwareSubtitle Toolssubtitle-editoropen-sourcevideo-captioning

What is Subtitle Edit?

Subtitle Edit is a free, open-source Windows/Mac/Linux application for creating, editing, and converting subtitle files, developed by Nikolaj Lynge Olsson. It plays video alongside the subtitle timeline for accurate synchronization, converts between dozens of subtitle formats, and offers optional integration with third-party services for translation, speech-to-text, text-to-speech, and OCR of image-based subtitles. The app is offline-first and states it does not collect, store, or transmit subtitle or media content, appealing to editors who work with sensitive or unreleased footage. It's distributed under an open-source license with active development on GitHub, and includes local auto-backup so in-progress edits aren't lost.

SpecificationsAI-estimated

deploymentDesktop App

open source✅ Yes

api available❌ No

Key Features of Subtitle Edit

Synchronized video playback alongside the subtitle timeline for precise timing.

Converts between dozens of subtitle formats including SRT, ASS, and VTT.

Optional OCR support for extracting text from image-based subtitles like VobSub.

Integrates with third-party translation and speech-to-text services when enabled.

Local auto-backup protects in-progress edits from being lost.

Runs fully offline and does not transmit subtitle or media content.

Use Cases for Subtitle Edit

Subtitle timing and sync

Adjust subtitle timing against a video file frame by frame.

Subtitle format conversion

Convert a batch of ASS subtitle files to SRT for a different player.

OCR of hardcoded subtitle images

Extract editable text from image-based VobSub subtitles.

Offline subtitle editing for unreleased content

Edit subtitles for confidential footage without uploading files anywhere.

Pros & Cons of Subtitle Edit

Pros

Completely free and open source
Strong format conversion and OCR support
Works fully offline for privacy-sensitive projects
Active development and community support

Cons

Interface is utilitarian, not modern-looking
Windows-first tool; Mac/Linux require extra dependencies (mpv, ffmpeg)
No cloud collaboration features
Translation/speech-to-text require optional third-party services

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Subtitle Edit free?

Yes, it's completely free and open source.

Does Subtitle Edit work on Mac and Linux?

Yes, though Mac and Linux require additional dependencies like mpv and ffmpeg.

Can Subtitle Edit convert between subtitle formats?

Yes, it supports converting between many common subtitle formats.

Does Subtitle Edit require an internet connection?

No, core editing works fully offline; some optional features use third-party online services.

Pricing Overview

View full pricing →

Free

Detailed plans are not listed. Visit the official website for pricing information.

Reviews & Ratings0.0

Write a Review See all reviews →

No reviews yet. Be the first to write one!

Top Alternatives & Similar Software

View all alternatives & similar software→

Aegisub

AI-suggested

Aegisub is a free, cross-platform, open-source subtitle editor focused on advanced timing and styling rather than basic caption entry. It includes a real-time video preview synced to the subtitle track, waveform/audio-based timing tools for lining up dialogue precisely, and a powerful styling system historically favored by fansub and anime subtitling communities for karaoke-style effects. Distributed under BSD-style open-source licenses with development hosted on GitHub, Aegisub supports English, Spanish, Turkish, and Simplified Chinese interfaces among others. It remains widely used for advanced typesetting work that goes beyond what mainstream captioning tools support.

Compare with Subtitle Edit