Add Text to Video Online
Overlay custom text on video frames with 9 positions, 3 font sizes, multiple colors and outlines. Text is permanently burned into the video.
Local processing protects your privacy
Video files are never uploaded to any server. All processing is done locally in your browser. Your video content stays completely private.
Flexible Text Styling
Mix and match 9 positions, 3 font sizes, white/black/yellow colors, and black/white outlines to create professional video text effects.
Time Range Support
Specify exact time ranges for text display — perfect for title cards, chapter markers, and time-coded annotations.
Add Text to Video
Overlay custom text on video frames. Text is permanently burned into the video after export.
Supports MP4, WebM, MOV, and more
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Use Cases for Video Text Overlay
Content Creation & Social Media
- Add a title card to Vlogs or short videos so viewers immediately understand the topic and content.
- Add feature callout text to product demo videos — no complex editing software required.
- Annotate travel videos with location names and dates to document every memorable moment.
Business & Professional Use
- Overlay timestamps on surveillance footage for easy verification and record retrieval, without needing specialized recording equipment.
- Add copyright notices or brand slogans to corporate training videos to boost brand visibility and protect intellectual property.
- Add chapter titles or step-by-step instructions to tutorial screen recordings to improve learning experience.
- Add hashtags or account names to social media short videos to boost brand recognition and virality.
How to Use
Upload Video
Click the upload area to select a video file. Supports MP4, WebM, MOV and more.
Enter Text
Type the text you want to add in the text field. Maximum 100 characters.
Adjust Style
Choose text position (3×3 grid), font size, color, and outline
Set Time Range (Optional)
Specify start and end times for text display. Defaults to the full video duration.
Export & Download
Click "Add Text" to process. Download the video with text burned in when done.
About the Video Text Overlay Tool
VideoKit Video Text Overlay is powered by the WebCodecs API and renders text frame-by-frame directly in your browser — no server uploads required. Text is drawn onto each video frame using the Canvas 2D API, producing a "hardcoded subtitle" effect: text is permanently burned into the video pixels and displays correctly in any player.
Unlike online video editors, all processing in VideoKit happens locally. Speed depends on your device, not your network bandwidth. Supports MP4, WebM, and MOV output — ready to drop into your existing workflow.
If you need toggleable soft subtitles instead of permanently burned text, use the /add-subtitles-to-video subtitle embedding tool. Each tool has its own use case — choose whichever fits your needs.
💡 Chrome or Edge is recommended for best performance
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between this tool and the subtitle tool?
This tool adds hardcoded subtitles — text is burned directly into the video pixels and cannot be turned off. The /add-subtitles-to-video tool adds a soft subtitle track that can be toggled on/off during playback. Hardcoded text is ideal for permanent overlays such as title cards, timestamps, and annotations.
Will adding text reduce video quality?
Since text is burned in via re-encoding, the video undergoes one encoding pass. The tool uses high-quality encoding (High Quality preset) by default, so the visual difference is minimal. For the highest quality, select a higher bitrate option in the output settings.
Can I add multiple lines of text?
The current version supports single-line text up to 100 characters. For multiple lines, process the video twice: export with the first line, then add a second line to the exported video.
Will my video files be uploaded to a server?
No. All processing happens locally in your browser using the WebCodecs API. Your video files never leave your device.
How can I make the text more readable?
We recommend enabling an outline (black outline with white text, or white outline with black text). Outlines significantly improve readability over complex backgrounds. Yellow text also works well on dark video backgrounds.
Can I make text appear only during a specific time range?
Yes. After uploading a video, enter the start and end time (in seconds) in the Time Range section. The text will only appear during that period. For example, show a title in the first 5 seconds, or add an annotation between seconds 30 and 60. Leave the end time blank to show text for the full duration.