"Do it yourself" Options
There are MANY lists online of recommended captioning tools. Shout out to this post from @marketing_with_eva for helping us get started with captioning resources! We recommend that you explore! Visit her page and others to make sure that you're finding the right captioning approach for you and your work.
But of course, we did want to share some of our own experiences. Below, you’ll see our opinions and advice regarding various captioning tools that we have personally used, and a few recommendations that we haven’t tried out yet. Do you have a recommendation? Do you think we’ve missed something in the descriptions below? Let us know!
Kapwing
We have found the Kapwing website to be the most user-friendly to caption videos. Why? Once you upload a video, the option to add subtitles is at the upper, middle part of the page. We did not have to look up a tutorial video to learn how to use this website. If you’re ready to jump in to practice captioning, we recommend this option!
ASL Videos
We recommend that you translate your video first. Then, you can simply copy and paste each sentence.
English Videos
We recommend that you “auto-generate” your captions. Then, you will be able to proof-read and edit your captions. Then, you will be able to proof-read and edit your captions. You’ll also be able to add your personal touch -- the name of the speaker, background noises, the name of music you use, etc.
Note: the free version of Kapwing has a 7-minute limit. If your video is longer, you can divide the video into shorter segments, use a different service, or choose one of Kapwing’s paid options.
Note: make sure you are building in time to upload and download your videos. These steps are not complicated, but do take time. Think of these times like “cooking time” with a recipe or “drying time” for a painting.
Let us know when you use Kapwing! What did you think?
Youtube
Youtube has fairly convenient ways to caption videos. One issue lies with the difference between their “classic” studio and “upgraded” studio. When you know which version you are using, you can search for tutorials on how to provide these captions.
ASL Videos
We recommend that you translate your video first. Then, you can simply copy and paste each sentence.
English Videos
We recommend that you “auto-generate” your captions. Then, you will be able to proof-read and edit your captions. You’ll also be able to add your personal touch -- the name of the speaker, background noises, the name of music you use, etc.
Note: make sure you are building in time to upload and download your videos. These steps are not complicated, but do take time. Think of these times like “cooking time” with a recipe or “drying time” for a painting.
Let us know what you think about Youtube’s captioning services!
Facebook’s captioning tool is only available if you are an administrator for a Facebook Page or Business (this is because several laws require content from "entities" to be accessible). If you have a personal Facebook page and want to make your content accessible, then you are a morally decent and creative individual! And you’ll currently have to caption it with another service (such as Kapwing, AutoCap, Clipomatic, sharing from YouTube, etc).
ASL Videos
We recommend that you translate your video first. Then, you can simply copy and paste each sentence.
English Videos
We recommend that you “auto-generate” your captions. Then, you will be able to proof-read and edit your captions. You’ll also be able to add your personal touch -- the name of the speaker, background noises, the name of music you use, etc.
Note: make sure you are building in time to upload and download your videos. These steps are not complicated, but do take time. Think of these times like “cooking time” with a recipe or “drying time” for a painting.
Let us know what you think about Facebook's captioning services!
Accessibility as a personal choice
There are no laws that require individuals to make their personal social media platforms accessible. There are no laws that require us to write stories, create art, or cook delicious food to share with others. When we carefully create something, we add to the richness of the world and sooth our minds in the process. We hope that the ritual of accessibility can be seen like the ritual of letting paint dry, cookies cool, or anything else required to make our work seem full and complete.
Here are a few apps and tips to caption short videos, stories on Instagram and Facebook, and your next viral TikTok sensation. This list is limitted. We hope to see more options in the future!
IOS apps
Android apps
General Tips
Coming Soon!