Add Text to Video Online

Add a static title, label or callout to a supported video. Choose nine positions, text color, size and one display range. Export MP4 locally without uploading.

Loading the online tool…

Your video stays on your device — processed locally in your browser, never uploaded.

Quick Facts About Add Text to Video Online

Add a static title, label or callout to a supported video. Choose nine positions, text color, size and one display range. Export MP4 locally without uploading.

Overlay: One static text block, with manual line breaks and a 200-character input limit.
Position: Nine presets in a 3×3 grid; no free-position dragging.
Style: Text color, relative font size and an optional automatic black/white contrast outline.
Display time: Entire clip or one custom range with 0.1-second controls, applied by source-frame timestamps.
Output: H.264 MP4 with text burned into the image; no selectable subtitle track.
Audio: Compatible audio may be copied; other audio may need conversion or may not be retained.
Processing: Local browser rendering without source upload; depends on codec support and available memory.

Text Overlay vs Subtitles

A static text overlay is a single designed block for a title, label, callout or branding text. TakeVid keeps that text and position fixed, with visibility over the whole video or one chosen time range. This tool does not import subtitle files, transcribe speech or manage multiple timed dialogue cues. For dialogue that changes along the timeline, use Add Subtitles to Video with an SRT or VTT file. Both workflows can burn text into image pixels, but the text-entry and timing controls serve different needs.

Text overlay	Subtitles
Title	Dialogue
Label	Timed captions
Callout	SRT/VTT cues
Branding text	Multiple timed cues
One static block and one display range here	Use the dedicated subtitle tool for cue sequences

How to Keep a Static Text Overlay Readable

Enter a short title or label, add line breaks yourself and choose one of the nine position presets. The font size is relative to the video height; the outline switch automatically chooses black or white to contrast with the text color. There is no automatic wrapping or fit-to-frame, so long lines and large blocks can run outside the picture. The before/after still preview checks style and placement, even when a custom time range is set; it is not a playback preview of when the text appears. Export the MP4 and check the beginning and end of the selected range, as well as the sound. Re-encoding burns the text into the picture, so it cannot be switched off like a selectable subtitle track.

How to Add Text to a Video

Open your video and type the text — press Enter for multiple lines.
Pick one of the nine positions, set the font size, color and outline, and choose the time range where the text shows.
Check the preview, then export and download the MP4.

Why Use TakeVid Add Text to Video

One static text block of up to 200 characters
Nine placement presets with manual line breaks
Font size, color and outline controls
One display range or the full video duration
Still preview of styling; review the export to check timing
Runs locally with WebCodecs — your video is not uploaded
Free, with no registration or added watermark

Supported Formats

Supported MP4, MOV, WebM or MKV files; both the container and video codec must be readable in your browser. Output is H.264 video in MP4. Audio compatibility depends on the source and browser. This page adds one text overlay; import timed SRT/VTT cues in Add Subtitles to Video instead.

Common Use Cases

Add an intro title or your channel name to a clip
Label screen recordings and software tutorials
Brand your footage with a name or channel watermark
Make videos understandable when watched on mute
Add the date, location or people's names to travel and event clips
Mark review cuts with notes for clients or teammates
Add title cards without desktop editing software

Privacy & Browser Processing

This tool runs entirely in your browser using WebCodecs. Your video is decoded, processed and re-encoded on your device — it is never uploaded to a server, and everything is released when you close the tab.

Download Videos with TakeVid

TakeVid is a browser extension that detects supported video and streaming resources on many websites. Save compatible media in your browser, then edit the source clip with these local video tools.

Install TakeVid Extension

Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of text can I add?

One static text block, up to 200 characters, such as a title, name, label or credit. Add manual line breaks as needed. For changing timed dialogue, use the separate SRT/VTT subtitle tool.

Can the text appear only during part of the video?

Yes. "Display period" defaults to the entire video; switch to "Custom range" and set the start and end seconds - for example, 0-5 seconds for an intro title, or 30-60 seconds for a caption, with the text hidden the rest of the time.

Will adding text reduce the video quality?

The video is re-encoded as H.264, so quality and file size can change. Compatible audio may be copied; other audio may need conversion or be omitted depending on browser support. Check the finished picture and sound.

What unit is the font size in?

Font size is relative to video height. The still preview helps judge styling, but it is not a timing preview. Review the downloaded video to check placement, wrapping and the chosen display range.

Which font is used?

The system's built-in bold sans-serif (PingFang SC / Microsoft YaHei / Noto Sans, etc.), which renders Chinese well and requires no web font download.

Will my video be uploaded?

Your selected files are processed on your device and are not uploaded to TakeVid. The page and processing modules must load first; available browser codecs and memory still limit what can be processed.