2026-05-18 · 4 min
Transcript vs. Subtitles: What's the Difference?
The difference between a transcript and subtitles, and when to use each.
These terms are often confused, even though they serve different purposes.
Transcript
A full, continuous text of spoken content — typically for reading, note-taking, and articles. No timecodes, formatted like regular prose.
Subtitles
Short lines tied to timecodes, displayed on top of a video (SRT, VTT format). Designed to be read while watching, not as a standalone document.
When to Use Which
- Writing an article or notes → transcript
- Adding captions to a video → subtitles
- SEO below the video → transcript
- Accessibility for deaf viewers → subtitles (or closed captions)
Most tools can produce both from the same audio.