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Subtitle guide

SRT vs VTT

TL;DR — Learn the practical differences between SRT and WebVTT, and when each subtitle format makes more sense.

SRT and VTT solve a similar job, but they fit different playback environments.

The short version

  • SRT is simple, old, and widely supported.
  • VTT is better for HTML5 video and web players.
  • If your workflow is browser-first, VTT is usually the safer output.

What changes between them

Timestamp format

SRT uses commas:

00:00:01,000 --> 00:00:03,500

VTT uses dots:

00:00:01.000 --> 00:00:03.500

VTT needs a WEBVTT header.
SRT does not.

Cue numbering

SRT commonly includes cue numbers.
VTT does not require them.

When to use SRT

  • You are sending subtitle files to a client.
  • Your editor or archive process expects SubRip.
  • You need the simplest portable format.

When to use VTT

  • You are working with HTML5 video.
  • Your player or site expects WebVTT.
  • You want web-friendly caption delivery.

Practical rule

If subtitles are being displayed in a browser, start from VTT.
If subtitles are being exchanged between people or tools, SRT is still a very common handoff format.

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