Free Add Text to Video Online
Titles, lower thirds and animated captions. No watermark, no upload, no sign-up.
Add any text to your video in your browser. Titles, lower thirds, animated captions, emojis and stickers, with full font, colour and outline control. Export a clean MP4 with the text burned in and no watermark. Your videos are never uploaded. No sign-up, no watermark.
- Titles and lower thirds
- No watermark
- No sign-up
- Animated captions
- SRT and VTT
- Up to 4K export
How do I add text to a video for free?
Drop your clip into the editor above and press Add Text. Type your message, choose a preset (title, caption, lower third), then style it with font, size, colour, outline or a background box. Drag it anywhere on the frame and add an entrance animation. Press Export and download the MP4 with the text burned in. Everything runs in your browser, so nothing is uploaded, and the export has no watermark.
- Price
- Free, no credits and no watermark
- Account required
- No
- Video uploaded to a server
- No, text is added and rendered in your browser
- Text tools
- Titles, lower thirds, captions, subtitles, stickers, emojis, shapes
- Animations
- Fade, slide, pop, typewriter and more
- AI captions
- English speech, on-device
- Subtitle files
- Import and export SRT and VTT
- Input formats
- MP4, WebM, MOV, MKV, JPG, PNG, WebP
- Output
- MP4 (H.264 and AAC) in Chrome and Edge
- Max export
- Up to 4K at 60 fps
- File size limit
- 1 GB per imported file
- Best browsers
- Chrome and Edge on desktop; Firefox works with the compatibility engine
What is the ToolDeck add text to video editor?
ToolDeck Add Text to Video is a free, browser-based editor that adds titles, lower thirds, captions, animated text, emojis and stickers on a dedicated text track. It also includes AI auto captions for English speech, plus SRT and VTT import and export. It uses WebCodecs and WebAssembly to render text locally, so your files never leave your device. No account, no watermark, MP4 export up to 4K at 60 fps.
It is best for YouTube titles, TikTok and Reels captions, tutorial call-outs, product demos, family videos and client deliverables. It is not built for uploading custom web fonts or for AI captions in languages other than English.
How to add text to video in 3 steps
- 1
Import your video
Drop your clip onto the timeline. Files open in your browser and are not uploaded.
- 2
Add and style text
Press Add Text or open the text track, type your message, choose font, size, colour and outline, then drag and resize it on the frame. Add entrance animations and time them precisely.
- 3
Export the text-edited MP4
Choose resolution, frame rate and GPU or CPU, then render. Download a clean MP4 with the text burned in and no watermark.
Everything you need for styled video text
Titles, subtitles and lower thirds
Add any text on a dedicated text track. Style with font, size, weight, colour, outline, glow and a background box. Drop it at the top for a title, bottom-left for a lower third, or centre for a caption.
Animated text entrances
Fade in, slide, pop, typewriter and other entrance animations. Time them precisely to a beat, a cut or the moment a talking head says the key phrase.
AI auto captions in one click
Whisper speech recognition turns English speech into editable caption clips. Edit any word on the timeline, restyle the whole track, or export as SRT. Your audio stays on your device.
Import and export SRT or VTT
Import a subtitle file in any language and burn it into the video with your chosen style. Export the caption track back as SRT or VTT for YouTube or other platforms.
Stickers, emojis and shapes
Add emojis, icons and simple shapes on top of the video or below the text. Great for reaction highlights, CTA buttons, checkmarks and highlight boxes.
Position and size precisely
Drag text anywhere on the frame. Resize with the handle, snap to safe zones, and keep TikTok UI clear by placing text in the middle band of a vertical video.
Any ratio for any platform
16:9 for YouTube, 9:16 for TikTok and Reels, 1:1 for Instagram, and more. Text is sized for the ratio, so it looks right wherever you post.
MP4, no watermark
Export the edited MP4 up to 4K at 60 fps. Text and captions are burned into the video, so the export looks the same everywhere. No watermark, no sign-up.
What you can make with text overlays
YouTube titles and thumbnails
Add a bold opening title and a lower-third name tag. Style consistently across a video series.
TikTok, Reels and Shorts captions
Bold, high-contrast captions read on a phone screen. Snap them to the beat and place them in the safe zone so UI does not hide them.
Course and tutorial call-outs
Add step numbers, keyboard shortcuts and highlighted keywords at the moment they matter. Pause on the text so viewers can read it.
Product demos and reviews
Lower-third feature labels, price tags and CTA buttons on screen at the right moment without editing in another tool.
Family and event videos
Add names, dates and title cards to wedding, birthday and travel videos. Style them to match the mood of the footage.
Client deliverables
Add branded lower thirds, end cards and watermarks (of your own brand) to client videos. Export a watermark-free MP4 for the client.
Add text to video FAQ
Detailed answers about pricing, privacy, text styling, animations, captions, subtitles and browsers.
Free, watermark and sign-up
How do I add text to a video for free?
Drop your clip into ToolDeck, press Add Text, type your message, choose font, size, colour and outline, then drag it into position on the frame. Add an entrance animation if you want. Press Export, choose GPU or CPU, and download a clean MP4. Everything runs in your browser, so nothing is uploaded, there is no watermark and no account is needed.
Is it really free, with no watermark?
Yes. No credits, no daily caps, no watermark, no sign-up. The only limits come from your device: memory, processor speed and a 1 GB per-file cap.
Do I need an account?
No. Open the page, drop in your clip and start adding text.
Text, titles and styling
How do I add a title or a lower third to a video?
Press Add Text, type the words, then choose a preset: title, caption, lower third or custom. Drag it into position and set the timing. Lower thirds are best placed bottom-left with a semi-transparent background box for readability.
Can I animate the text?
Yes. Pick an entrance animation (fade, slide, pop, typewriter) and a duration. Set the text’s start time precisely on the timeline so the animation lands exactly on the word or the beat you want.
Can I add emojis and stickers?
Yes. Emojis and simple shapes can be added on the text track or as image overlays. Use them for reaction highlights, checkmarks, CTA buttons and highlight boxes.
Can I use my own font?
A library of system and Google Fonts is included. Uploading arbitrary font files is not supported. For brand fonts, install them on your system first — some browsers will pick up installed system fonts.
How do I keep text readable on a busy background?
Use bold weight plus a stroke (outline) or a semi-transparent background box. On phone screens, add contrast and avoid thin fonts.
Can I use text with AI captions?
Yes. AI captions are editable text clips on the text track, so you can restyle them exactly like any other text, or add extra titles on top.
Captions and subtitles
How do I generate automatic captions from my video?
Open the AI Captions and Subtitles tab on the left and press Generate Captions. Whisper runs on your device and adds caption clips on the text track. Edit any word, pick a style and export.
Can I import an SRT or VTT subtitle file?
Yes. Press Import SRT / VTT file and choose your file. The cues become editable caption clips that use your chosen style and are rendered into the exported MP4.
Can I export the captions as SRT or VTT?
Yes. After generating, importing or adding captions, open Export and press SRT or VTT. Only captions are exported; ordinary text titles and stickers are not.
Which languages are supported for AI captions?
The built-in speech model recognises English speech. For other languages, import an SRT or VTT file and burn it into the video.
Quality, formats and export
Will the text be baked into the video?
Yes. Text, captions and stickers are rendered into the MP4. The exported file looks the same on any device or platform, without needing a font or the original project.
What resolution can I export?
Up to 4K at 60 fps if your device has enough memory and processing power. For social, 1080p is faster and plenty sharp.
What formats can I import and export?
Import MP4, WebM, MOV, MKV (if the browser plays it), plus JPG, PNG, WebP photos. Export is MP4 (H.264 with AAC audio) in Chrome and Edge, or MP4/WebM from the recorder engine.
Privacy and devices
Does it upload my video?
No. Text rendering and encoding happen in your browser. Open the Network tab in your browser developer tools and export a video to verify nothing is uploaded.
Which browser works best?
Chrome and Edge on desktop for the fastest preview and export. Firefox works with the compatibility engine. Safari has limited support for some animations.
Does it work on mobile?
The editor loads on mobile, but layout and performance are built for desktop. For serious text editing use Chrome or Edge on a computer.
Legal and responsible use
Can I use exported videos commercially?
ToolDeck claims no rights over your exports. Commercial use depends on the rights to the footage, fonts, music and images inside the video. Make sure you are licensed to use them.
What this editor does well, and where it is limited
Everything runs on your own computer, so results depend on your browser, memory and graphics card.
| Project type | Result | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Titles, lower thirds and stylised text | Works well | Full font, size, colour, outline, glow and box styling. |
| Animated text entrances | Works well | Fade, slide, pop and typewriter. Time to a beat or a cut with the timeline. |
| AI captions in English | Works well | Review the text. Speech recognition can mishear names, accents and noisy audio. |
| AI captions in other languages | Not supported yet | The speech model is English only. Import an SRT or VTT file in any language instead. |
| Very long subtitle files | Works, memory heavy | A 5,000-line SRT loads, but a very long timeline strains browser memory. Split long videos into parts. |
| Custom web fonts | Limited | A library of system and Google fonts is available. Uploading arbitrary font files is not supported. |
| Text on Safari | Limited | Some animations may look different. Use Chrome or Edge on desktop for the most accurate preview. |
Tips for better text on video
Keep one style per video
Same font, colour and size for every title in a video. Consistent styling makes the video look professionally edited.
Bold and outline for phone screens
On a phone, thin fonts disappear. Bold weights plus a stroke or box outline stay readable on any background.
Add a background box for busy footage
A semi-transparent box behind the text guarantees readability on busy backgrounds without losing the underlying footage.
Time the text to the words
Set text appearance to the moment the speaker says the word. Read-along text keeps viewers engaged and boosts retention.
ToolDeck vs cloud text editors
Cloud editors upload your files and often watermark free exports. ToolDeck adds text in your browser and puts no watermark on the export.
| Feature | ToolDeck | Typical cloud editors |
|---|---|---|
| Your video is uploaded to a server | Never | Usually yes |
| Watermark on export | None | Varies by plan |
| Sign-up needed | Not required | Often |
| Credits or daily caps | None | Varies by plan |
| Add text, titles and lower thirds | Yes | Yes |
| Animated text entrance | Yes | Varies by plan |
| AI auto captions | Yes, English speech (on your device) | Yes |
| Import and export SRT and VTT | Yes | Varies by plan |
| Stickers, emojis and shapes | Yes | Varies by plan |
| Works offline after loading | Editing yes, AI captions need first model download | Usually no |
General comparison. Individual products differ, and features, limits and pricing change.
Use media you have the right to edit
Only edit and publish footage, music, fonts and images you own or are licensed to use. Using someone else's work without permission can infringe copyright.
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Your videos never leave your device
There is no upload step and no account. Text rendering and encoding happen in your browser. You can check this yourself: open your browser developer tools, go to the Network tab, then add text and export a video and watch for file uploads. Read how we keep it private.