# Open vs closed captions

Canonical URL: https://getvidiyo.app/glossary/open-vs-closed-captions
Last updated: 2026-10-08

> Definition: Open captions are always displayed because they are part of the video image; closed captions are stored as a separate text track or file that viewers can turn on or off in the player.

Open and closed captions contain the same words; what differs is who controls them. Open captions are baked into the picture by the editor. Closed captions travel alongside the video as text, and the viewer decides whether to see them. The W3C's accessibility guidance describes it the same way: closed captions can be hidden or shown by the viewer, open captions are always displayed ([source](https://www.w3.org/WAI/media/av/captions/)).

## What's the difference between open and closed captions?

Open captions are part of the image and closed captions are a separate track.

| | Open captions | Closed captions |
|---|---|---|
| Where they live | In the video pixels ([burned in](https://getvidiyo.app/glossary/burned-in-captions)) | In a sidecar file or embedded text track |
| On/off | Always on | Viewer toggles with CC |
| Style | Designed in the edit | Set by the player, often adjustable by the viewer |
| Search and translation | No | Platforms can index and auto-translate them |
| Common formats | Any video file | [SRT](https://getvidiyo.app/glossary/srt-file), WebVTT, SCC, TTML |

## Which should you use for short-form, YouTube and product videos?

The right choice depends on where the video plays:

- **Reels, TikTok and Shorts.** Open captions, because many people watch muted and the caption style is part of the look.
- **YouTube long-form.** Closed captions uploaded as a file at minimum. YouTube accepts SubRip (.srt), WebVTT (.vtt) and other formats ([source](https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/2734698?hl=en)). Add open captions too if the style matters.
- **Product videos on a website.** Closed captions through the player's text track, so they're accessible and don't get in the way of the UI you're showing.
- **Ads.** Usually open captions, since autoplay is muted.

## What about accessibility?

For accessibility, closed captions are generally better because viewers can resize them, change contrast and use assistive tools. Open captions still help a lot, especially for people who never turn captions on. Providing both, open captions in the picture and a closed caption file on platforms that accept it, serves the widest audience.

## How does Vidiyo handle open and closed captions?

Vidiyo does both. Captions you add in the editor are burned into the exported MP4 as open captions, styled and placed by you or the assistant. From the captions menu, **Export SRT** saves the same words as a closed caption file you can upload to YouTube or a website player, and **Import SRT** brings in captions made elsewhere. Captions come from local transcription on your Mac, and you can correct any word before exporting.

## Frequently asked questions

### Which is better, open or closed captions?

Neither in general. Open captions guarantee visibility and styling, which suits social feeds. Closed captions give viewers control and are searchable and translatable, which suits YouTube and websites. Many creators use both.

### What does CC mean on a video?

CC stands for closed captions. The CC button in a player turns the caption track on or off. If a video has open captions, the CC button doesn't affect them.

### Are captions and subtitles the same thing?

Not quite. Captions are in the same language as the audio and often include non-speech sounds. Subtitles usually translate the audio into another language, though some regions use 'subtitles' for both.

## Related terms

- [Burned-in captions](https://getvidiyo.app/glossary/burned-in-captions)
- [SRT file](https://getvidiyo.app/glossary/srt-file)
- [Word-level captions](https://getvidiyo.app/glossary/word-level-captions)
- [Whisper transcription](https://getvidiyo.app/glossary/whisper-transcription)

## Where Vidiyo does this

- [Auto captions that are transcribed on your Mac](https://getvidiyo.app/features/auto-captions)
- [Burned-in vs closed captions: which should you use?](https://getvidiyo.app/blog/burned-in-vs-closed-captions)

## Sources

- [Captions/Subtitles (W3C Web Accessibility Initiative)](https://www.w3.org/WAI/media/av/captions/) (accessed 2026-10-08)
- [Supported subtitle and closed caption files (YouTube Help)](https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/2734698?hl=en) (accessed 2026-10-08)