Subtitle Edit
Finish subtitle timing and formats locally with optional speech and translation backends.
- Starting price
- Free local editor
- Free access
- Free MIT-licensed software
- Billing unit
- Local compute; optional provider usage
- Platform
- Windows 10 22H2+, macOS 12+, Linux
- Verified
- 20 Oct 2026
Overview
What you provide
- Open a subtitle file and the matching video, or configure a speech-to-text source for a new subtitle.
What you get
- Subtitle Edit creates and corrects timed subtitles with local media playback and format conversion.
Choosing this tool
Subtitle Edit is for finishing captions when timing, line breaks and file conversion matter as much as transcription. Buzz gives a simpler local speech-to-text front end; Sonix suits browser collaboration. Choose Subtitle Edit when an existing subtitle needs hands-on correction rather than buying another transcription allowance.
A decision worked through
A 60-minute video with an existing SRT can be retimed locally without buying 60 transcription minutes. If you instead call an online provider from the app, budget that provider separately; an offline editor does not make an optional cloud request offline or free.
Subtitle Edit alternatives for this task
For Subtitle Edit, compare Buzz, Sonix. Match the input, delivery format and operating responsibilities before comparing price.
| Product | Price / unit | Free allowance | Input → output | Key limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subtitle EditRead profileOfficial source ↗ | MIT editor: no software fee | Local editing is free | Media/subtitles become corrected captions. | Online services have separate terms. |
| BuzzRead profileOfficial source ↗ | MIT local app: free | No per-minute local fee | Speech becomes TXT, SRT or VTT. | New Mac builds require Apple Silicon. |
| SonixRead profileOfficial source ↗ | USD 10/hr or Core USD 25/mo | 30 minutes once | Audio/video become timed text. | Seats do not add media hours. |
Setup & workflow
- Download the release for your operating system and open a copy of the media.
- Configure the desired local model or import the existing subtitle.
- Correct timing and text, then export and review the delivery format.
Requirements & installation
- Use the signed macOS DMG, Windows release or Linux Flatpak; native Linux requires mpv and ffmpeg.
Limits & review
- The current macOS build requires macOS 12 or newer and recommends 14+. Linux native builds need mpv and ffmpeg, while Flatpak bundles dependencies. Optional online providers transmit the data needed for their requests.
Your part
- Play the finished subtitle against the exact delivery video and inspect reading speed and overlap.
Sources & verification4
This profile is based on official sources, not a hands-on product test.
Vendor descriptions and demos document advertised features. Editorial guidance is based on these sources.
- Official installation and privacy READMEgithub.com
- Subtitle Edit official referencegithub.com
- Buzz official referencegithub.com
- Sonix official referencesonix.ai
