Caption styles
Word-by-Word Captions
Word-by-word captions put a single spoken word on screen at a time, large and bold, so the viewer reads at exactly the pace the speaker talks. In CapsAI you choose one word per caption at upload and pair it with the Beast preset; each word then shows for exactly the time it is spoken. You correct the words, and the pacing takes care of itself.
Start with 3 free minutes. Free exports may include a CapsAI watermark.
Upload Video
For best results, upload a video with clear speech. You can review and edit the captions after generation.
Drag and drop video or
Accepted formats: MP4 and MOV, with a 9:16, 16:9 & 1:1 aspect ratio supported only.
English subtitle example: This is a preview of the subtitle design Please transcribe to get your video
What the captions look like
Hook, word one
STOP
The first word fills the frame on its own. With Words Per Frame set to one, a single word is the whole caption until the next one is spoken.
Hinglish punchline
bilkul
Hinglish selected: a Roman-script Hindi word gets the same weight as the English words around it.
Number in a claim
₹499
Prices and numbers are the words most often misheard; fix them in the editor before they flash past at full size.
Tamil lesson
கவனம்
Tamil selected: one word at a time works in any of the 11 supported languages when the font covers the script.
What you get
- Reading speed matches speaking speed, so fast hooks stay followable
- One large word fits a vertical frame without covering the speaker
- Word timing is editable, so a late flash can be nudged rather than regenerated
- Font, colour, outline and position are adjustable on top of the preset
- Hinglish, Hindi and nine other spoken languages work with the same pacing
Where it helps
- The first three seconds of a Reel or Short, where every word has to land
- Fast-talking commentary and reaction clips
- Punchlines and reveals where one word carries the moment
- Short ads where the price or offer should appear on its own
How it works
How it works
Step 1
Upload a speech-led MP4 or MOV
Keep the upload option at one word per caption, which is the default. This style depends on clean word timing, so a clip with one clear speaker and little background music gives the best result.
Step 2
Choose the spoken language
Hinglish, English, Hindi, Bengali, Telugu, Marathi, Tamil, Urdu, Gujarati, Kannada or Punjabi. Mixed Hindi-English speech should use Hinglish.
Step 3
Select the Beast preset
This is the free preset behind the word-by-word style: a heavy display font in upper case with a thick black outline, so a single word stays legible over any footage. Words Per Frame can be changed later in the Captions panel.
Step 4
Fix misheard words and late timestamps
Every word shows alone, so a wrong word has nowhere to hide. Play the clip once at full speed and correct anything that lands early, late or wrong.
Step 5
Export the MP4
The captions are burned into the video. Post the same file to Reels, Shorts or anywhere else.
Choose your spoken language
What to do next
Related tools
Questions
How many words appear on screen at once?
One, when Words Per Frame is set to one, which is the default at upload. The editor lets you switch to two, three or four words per frame if a stretch needs more context, and the karaoke and animated styles keep more of the sentence visible with the current word highlighted.
Is word-by-word a good choice for a long video?
Usually not. One word at a time is tiring over several minutes, and viewers lose the sentence. Use it for hooks and short clips, and switch to a full-line style for tutorials, interviews and lessons.
What happens when the speaker talks very fast?
The words flash faster, because the timing follows the audio. If a stretch becomes unreadable, shorten the clip, slow the delivery in the next take, or use a style that keeps the full line visible.
Can I download the word timings as an SRT or VTT file?
The export is an MP4 with the captions burned in. Separate SRT or VTT files are not available from the editor yet; the standalone converters under /tools work on subtitle files you already have.
Does it cost anything to try word-by-word captions?
The first 3 minutes are free, and Beast is one of the free presets, so you can export with it on the free plan. After that you buy one-time minute packs, with no subscription. Free exports may carry a CapsAI watermark.
Pacing is the whole style
With one word on screen, the caption is only as good as its timing. Speech recognition gives each word a start and an end; the caption shows the word for exactly that window. A word that lands a quarter of a second late reads as a mistake even when the spelling is right, which is why the editor lets you move individual words rather than whole lines.
Pauses matter too. When the speaker stops, the screen goes quiet instead of holding a stale word, and the next word arrives with the next breath.
Where the hook goes
On Reels and Shorts, the right edge and the bottom of the frame are covered by buttons and the description. Put the single word in the middle third of the frame, keep the outline heavy enough to survive bright footage, and check the first three words at phone size: they decide whether anyone keeps watching.