SRT vs VTT: What's the Difference?
Updated November 5, 2026
SRT and VTT are both plain text files that list subtitle lines with their times. Use SRT for video editors, players and most uploads, because it's the most widely accepted. Use VTT for videos on web pages, because that's the format the HTML video player reads.
How they look
An SRT file numbers each line and uses a comma before the milliseconds, like 00:00:01,500. A VTT file starts with the word WEBVTT and uses a dot, like 00:00:01.500. The timing and text are otherwise nearly the same.
What VTT adds
VTT can also carry styling and positioning, such as where a line sits on screen. That helps on the web, but many other players ignore it. SRT is simpler, so it travels better between apps.
Which should you use?
Pick by where the subtitles are going.
- 1YouTube: either works.
- 2A video on your own website: VTT.
- 3Video editors and desktop players: SRT.
- 4Not sure: SRT.