Subtitles for Podcasts: Why Audio Content Needs Captions Too

When you think of subtitles, you probably think of video. But podcasts and other audio-only content can benefit from captions just as much as video content. Subtitles make your audio content accessible to people who are deaf or hard of hearing, help listeners follow along in noisy environments, and even improve search engine visibility. Here is why you should consider adding subtitles to your podcast or audio content.

Accessibility for audio content

Subtitles are not just for video. People who are deaf or hard of hearing rely on captions to access audio content, and providing them is a key part of accessibility compliance. Our guide on subtitles for accessibility covers the legal requirements and best practices in detail. For podcasts, subtitles are typically provided as a transcript or as a text file that listeners can read alongside the audio.

Subtitles help in noisy environments

Many people listen to podcasts while commuting, exercising, or working in shared spaces. In these situations, playing audio out loud is not always practical or appropriate. Subtitles allow listeners to follow along silently, reading the content on their screen while the audio plays through headphones or at a low volume. This is especially useful for commuters on public transport or office workers who need to keep the volume low.

Search engine visibility for audio content

Search engines cannot listen to audio files, but they can read text. When you provide a transcript or subtitle file for your podcast, search engines can index the content and match it to relevant search queries. This means your podcast episodes can appear in search results for topics discussed in the episode, not just the episode title. Platforms like Spotify and Apple Podcasts also use transcript text to improve search and discovery within their apps.

How to generate subtitles for audio

Subify supports audio-only processing, which means you can upload an MP3, WAV, or M4A file and get back a subtitle file without needing a video component. The Free plan includes 10 minutes of processing per month, which is enough to subtitle a short podcast episode or test the workflow. Paid plans include the Audio Lite and Audio Plus tiers, which are designed specifically for audio-only content and do not include burn-in video processing.

Choosing the right format for your podcast

For most podcast platforms, SRT files are the best choice. They are widely supported and can be uploaded to platforms like Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts. If you need to embed styling or create a transcript with specific formatting, ASS files are available on paid plans. Our guide to SRT vs ASS formats explains the differences and when to use each.

Best practices for podcast subtitles

When creating subtitles for audio content, accuracy is especially important. Unlike video, where visual context can help clarify meaning, audio-only subtitles need to stand on their own. Make sure speaker identification is clear, include descriptions of important sound effects or music, and keep timing aligned with the audio. Our tips for improving subtitle accuracy cover these details.

Getting started

To create subtitles for your podcast, upload your audio file to Subify and let automatic processing convert the spoken content to text. Download your SRT file and upload it to your podcast hosting platform. The Free plan includes 10 minutes of processing per month, which is enough to subtitle a short episode and test the workflow. For full styling control and translation, upgrade to a paid plan.

You can see all plans or start free today.