If you want your online course to reach a wider audience in 2025, subtitling isn’t optional, it is essential. Whether you’re selling on platforms like SchoolMaker or your own website, adding subtitles can dramatically increase accessibility, engagement, and even sales.
In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about subtitling online courses in 2025, including why it matters, which tools make it easy, and how to do it the right way.
What Are Subtitles in Online Courses?
Subtitles (also called captions) are the on-screen text that displays what’s being said in your course videos. They help learners follow along, even when they can’t hear clearly, or when English isn’t their first language.
There are two main types:
- Closed captions (CC): Viewers can turn them on or off.
- Open captions: Always visible on the video.
Modern e-learning platforms increasingly support auto-generated captions and allow creators to upload subtitle files (usually .SRT or .VTT) for better accuracy.
Why Subtitling Online Courses Matters in 2025
Subtitling has evolved from being a “nice-to-have” to a core feature of professional e-learning. Here’s why:
1. Accessibility & Inclusivity
Roughly 5% of the global population has some level of hearing impairment. Subtitles ensure everyone, including deaf or hard-of-hearing students, can fully participate. Many countries now also have accessibility standards (like WCAG and ADA) that recommend captions for educational content.
2. Better Comprehension
Subtitles help learners retain information better, especially in technical or language-heavy courses. Even native speakers benefit from having text reinforcement for complex topics.
3. Multilingual Reach
If you subtitle your course in different languages, you instantly open it up to international markets. This can significantly boost enrollments and revenue.
4. Improved Engagement
Studies show that videos with subtitles have 15–25% higher watch times. Learners are more likely to stay focused and complete your course when subtitles are available.
5. SEO Advantage
Search engines can’t “listen” to video content, but they can crawl subtitle text. This means subtitled videos can help your lessons rank higher in search results.
Best Subtitling Tools for Online Courses in 2025
Let’s look at the most reliable and time-saving tools available this year for creating accurate subtitles.
1. Descript
Descript automatically transcribes your video, lets you edit text to edit the video itself, and exports clean SRT files. Perfect for course creators who record talking-head or tutorial videos.
Best for: All-in-one editing and subtitling
Pricing: From $12/month
2. Kapwing
A browser-based tool that supports automatic captioning, translation, and branding. You can add subtitles directly into your videos or export them separately.
Best for: Quick edits and social course clips
Pricing: Free plan available; Pro starts at $16/month
3. Happy Scribe
Known for its high transcription accuracy and support for over 100 languages. You can generate subtitles, translate them, and download SRT/VTT files ready for upload to your LMS.
Best for: Multilingual courses
Pricing: Pay-as-you-go or subscription options
4. Veed.io
Offers AI-powered subtitling with a built-in video editor. It is perfect for course creators who want stylish subtitles that match their brand.
Best for: Aesthetic, branded subtitles
Pricing: Free basic plan; Pro from $18/month
5. YouTube Studio
If your course videos are hosted (even privately) on YouTube, its built-in captioning tool can automatically generate subtitles and allow manual edits.
Best for: Free and easy subtitling for YouTube-based courses
Pricing: Free
How To Subtitle Your Online Course (Step-by-Step)
Here’s how to add accurate subtitles to your online course the right way:
Step 1: Transcribe Your Video
Use an AI transcription tool (like Descript or Happy Scribe) to automatically generate a transcript of your video. Make sure to review and correct technical terms or names.
Step 2: Edit & Sync the Text
Adjust timing so that each line of text appears in sync with the speaker’s words. Keep sentences short, ideally one or two lines per caption.
Step 3: Export in the Right Format
Most course platforms accept .SRT or .VTT subtitle files. Export your final captions in one of these formats.
Step 4: Upload to Your Platform
Upload the subtitle file to your course platform (like SchoolMaker). Double-check that timing and formatting display correctly.
Step 5: Translate (Optional)
To reach global learners, translate your subtitles into key languages such as Spanish, French, or Arabic. Tools like DeepL or Subtitle Edit can automate much of this.
Best Practices for Subtitling Online Courses
To make your subtitles clear, readable, and professional:
- Keep each subtitle under 42 characters per line.
- Display text for at least 1 second but not longer than 7 seconds.
- Use white text with a semi-transparent background for better contrast.
- Avoid clutter, keep subtitles centered and consistent throughout all lessons.
- Translate into your audience’s top languages if you’re targeting global learners.
How Subtitles Boost Course Sales and Completion Rates
Adding subtitles doesn’t just make your course more accessible, it can directly improve performance metrics:
- Higher completion rates: Learners stay focused longer when they can read along.
- Fewer refund requests: Students understand your content better.
- Expanded global reach: Multilingual subtitles let you sell worldwide without re-recording.
- Improved professionalism: Courses with clean captions look more polished and credible.
In short, subtitles are a high-impact, low-effort upgrade for your online course business.
Conclusion
In 2025, the e-learning landscape rewards accessibility and clarity. Subtitles make your content more inclusive, easier to understand, and more appealing to learners across the world.
With the right subtitling tools, and the simple process outlined here, you can transform your online course into a more global, professional, and profitable product.
Start subtitling your lessons today. Your students, and your bank account, will thank you.
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