Closed Captions Vs. Subtitles And Why The Difference Is Important

Revised: October 2025

At a quick glance, closed captions and subtitles look almost identical, but the differences between them aren’t as subtle as they first appear.

Whether you’re creating a television subtitling project or just making your videos more accessible, knowing which to use is important.

Choosing between the two can have a drastic impact on how audiences understand your video projects, and your decision could say a lot more about your brand than you realise.

With our quick guide, you can choose the best option to make your video projects more accessible and easier to understand.

At a Glance

• While both display text for video content, subtitles only show spoken dialogue, whereas closed captions provide a full description, including sound effects and non-verbal audio cues.
• Select subtitles for viewers who can hear the audio but need a text version, and closed captions for those who cannot hear or need more context, like background sounds.
• There are various formats for subtitling, including SRT, VTT, and ASS, each suited for different platforms and customisation needs.
• Subtitles and closed captions are vital for making content accessible to a diverse audience, meeting legal requirements, and showing social responsibility.
• The EU Accessibility Act: This law requires businesses to ensure content, including subtitles and captions, is accessible, enhancing audience reach and brand reputation.

Learn More About Our Subtitling & Closed Captions Services

The Difference Between Closed Captions & Subtitles

Closed captions (CCs) and subtitles may look similar, but they serve different purposes.

Subtitles show the spoken words of characters, narrators, and others in text form, acting as a text version of the dialogue in a video.

Closed captions go a step further. They include not just the dialogue but also descriptions of background sounds, like phones ringing or other audio cues.

In short:

• Subtitles are for viewers who can hear the audio but need the dialogue in text.
• Closed captions are for viewers who can’t hear the audio and need a full description of what’s happening in the soundtrack.

Closed Caption & Subtitling Formats Explained

There are numerous formats available for subtitling, each suited to specific platforms and purposes. Below is an outline of some commonly used formats:

Format	Format Name	Description
SRT	SubRip Subtitle	Simple text files containing subtitle text and start/end timestamps. Highly compatible with most media players and platforms.
VTT	WebVTT	Similar to SRT but includes additional capabilities like styling and positioning for text. Often used for web-based video players (HTML5 video).
ASS	Advanced SubStation Alpha	Provides extensive formatting options (font styles, colours, precise positioning). Ideal for videos that require highly customised subtitles.
SSA	SubStation Alpha	A predecessor to ASS. Supports styling and position adjustments, but is less advanced. Still popular for some applications.
TTML	Timed Text Markup Language	A highly versatile format allowing for rich text formatting (font size, colour, layout). Often used for professional broadcast environments.
SMI	SAMI (Synchronised, Accessible Media Interchange)	Developed by Microsoft. Supports basic text styling. Commonly utilised for video playback on Windows-based platforms.
DFXP	Distribution Format Exchange Profile	Part of the TTML standard. Used mainly in broadcasting and streaming services to ensure consistent subtitle presentation across devices.
SCC	Scenarist Closed Captions	Supports the encoding of closed captions compatible with the EIA-608/708 standards. Commonly used for broadcast television in the United States.
STL	EBU Subtitling Format	The European Broadcasting Union’s standard for television subtitling in Europe. Used widely in professional European broadcast workflows for pre-rendered subtitle files

These formats serve distinct purposes depending on the medium and level of customisation required, ensuring subtitles and closed captions are accessible and appropriately tailored for their intended audience.

Closed Captions & Subtitles in Action

Subtitles are most often used to translate video dialogue for audiences who speak a different language. The original audio remains, but the subtitles allow viewers to understand the dialogue while still hearing the original soundtrack.

Captions, on the other hand, are typically for the hearing impaired or for situations where audio cannot be played. They provide more detail than subtitles, such as identifying different speakers, describing emotional tone, or noting relevant non-vocal sounds that are important to the story.

See How to Add Closed Captions to YouTube Videos…

Why Distinguishing Between CC & Subtitles is Important

Understanding the difference between subtitles and captions is crucial to getting the most out of your content.

• Using closed captions when subtitles would suffice can distract viewers
• Using subtitles when captions are needed can alienate your hard-of-hearing audience
• Both subtitles and captions aim to make your videos accessible to a wider audience
• Subtitles make foreign language series accessible to viewers worldwide
• Captions allow the hard-of-hearing community to enjoy content*

*This is why many streaming services offer both options, ensuring the film can be enjoyed by the largest possible audience.

Why Subtitles & Closed Captions are Key for Promoting Accessibility

• Accessibility in visual media is essential for inclusivity across diverse abilities
• Prioritising accessibility ensures content is understood by all audiences
• Accessible features like subtitles, closed captions, and audio descriptions remove barriers for those with hearing or visual impairments
• Accessibility broadens reach, boosts engagement, and strengthens brand loyalty

It demonstrates social responsibility and positions brands as inclusive industry leaders

Accessibility is a critical consideration for brands in all forms of visual media, ranging from explainer or training videos to advertisements.

By prioritising accessibility, your brand can ensure your content can be experienced and understood by individuals across diverse abilities and backgrounds.

This not only creates an inclusive experience but also communicates the brand’s commitment to valuing all audiences, including staff and consumers.

Accessible visuals, with features like subtitles, closed captions, and audio descriptions, eliminate barriers that might otherwise exclude individuals with hearing or visual impairments.

Creating accessible content also enables brands to reach a broader audience, enhancing engagement, brand loyalty, and overall impact. It’s a win-win.

Beyond compliance with regulations, accessibility in media demonstrates social responsibility and helps establish brands as inclusive leaders in their industry.

Understanding the EU Accessibility Act

The EU Accessibility Act 2025 (EAA) helps people with disabilities access products, services, and digital content across the European Union.

It requires businesses to make things like websites, apps, e-books, and video services accessible to everyone.

Subtitles and closed captions are key to meeting the EU Accessibility Act. By adding text for spoken words and sound effects, they make video content available to people who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Using these tools in your media helps you follow the rules and reach a larger audience. It also shows your company cares about inclusion and boosts its reputation as a responsible brand.

Contact Us to Discuss Your EAA Subtitling Needs

The Benefits of Using a Subtitling Company

While you can probably add subtitles to smaller projects yourself, there are many reasons for hiring a subtitling company to provide professional subtitles or closed captions.

The main pros of using a professional subtitling company include having a trusted professional do all the technical work, including time-coding, syncing, encoding, etc.

They can also customise the subtitles in a variety of styles, fonts, colours, and placements. Not only can this save you a lot of time, but their expertise will also eliminate any errors you may experience personally, saving you time, money, and hassle.

Professional subtitling companies like Matinée offer a range of subtitle and closed caption styles and have a dedicated project management team that analyses individual projects carefully to determine and advise the best approach for each.

Find Out More About Our Subtitling Services

Invest in Professional Subtitling & CC Services With Matinée

At Matinée, we provide professional subtitling and closed captioning services to make your video content more accessible across a range of content and video formats.

Why not contact us today to find out how we can help your business with professional subtitling, translation, and voice over services?

• Email us at [email protected]
• Call us on +44 (0) 118 958 4934

Get A Quick Quote for Closed Captions

FAQs

Is Audio Description or Subtitles Better for Accessibility? + –

Audio description and subtitles serve different accessibility needs. Audio description enhances content for visually impaired audiences, while subtitles assist those who are deaf or hard of hearing.

The best option depends on your audience’s specific requirements. Contact us to discuss your project’s needs.

What is the Most Compatible Subtitle Format? + –

The most compatible subtitle format is SRT, which is widely supported across various platforms and media players. It’s simple and lightweight and ensures seamless integration with most video content for improved accessibility and user experience.

Are Closed Captions Different From Open Captioning? + –

Yes, closed captions can be turned on or off by viewers, while open captions are always visible as they are embedded in the video itself.

Closed captions offer more flexibility, whereas open captions ensure universal visibility.

Are Subtitles or CCs Best for Broadcast Television? + –

Subtitles are ideal for translating dialogue for multilingual audiences, whereas closed captions (CCs) are best for accessibility, including audio descriptions and sound effects.

For broadcast television, closed captions ensure inclusivity and compliance with accessibility standards.

Can You Advise Me On Whether Closed Captions or Subtitles Are Best For My Project? + –

Yes, our expert team has decades of experience and is happy to help determine what’s best for your project.

Give us a call or send us an email, and we can talk through your project goals, the content type, target audience, and other important factors that’ll support us in selecting the right accessibility options.

• Email: [email protected]
• Telephone: +44 (0) 118 958 4934