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How To Add Captions in Canva for Free A Complete Guide

James Hogan
James Hogan Originally published Sep 11, 24, updated Sep 29, 24

Watching a video in a bustling cafe or at a library, with zero clue of what is being said because there are no captions? Frustrated? Captions are beyond an accessibility feature, increasing user interest and understanding.

Do you think this can happen with your video, too? Fortunately, there is a free and fast way to add captions to a video on Canva. Canva can create captions for your videos and help your content pop without blowing your budget.

But here’s the scoop: although Canva is user-friendly for helping with captions, we have something more advanced in-store- Filmora. Hang in there as we walk you through a guide through both software.

In this article
    1. When to Use Canva Caption Tool?
    2. Video Guide on Putting Texts or Captions in Canva
    3. Step-by-step Guide to Add Captions with Canva
    1. Open Canva
    2. Upload Your Video
    3. Add Captions to Video
    4. Edit the Caption
    5. Download the Video
    1. Key Features of Wondershare Filmora
    2. Filmora VS. Canva, Which is the Best Tool for You to Add Captions
    3. How To Automatically Add Captions to Videos with Filmora
    4. Download the Wondershare Filmora
    5. Import Your Video
    6. Speech-to-Text Tool
    7. Choose Language
    8. Edit the Captions
    9. Export the Video
    10. How To Custom Captions with Filmora
    1. Engagement
    2. Hear Impaired or Deaf
    3. Highlight Key Details

How To Add Captions with Canva

Canva goes beyond being a design platform. It is a comprehensive, all-in-one tool for editing graphics for novices and professionals. Canva’s rich choice of templates and editing options makes it possible to design anything effortlessly.

However, the free video captions feature makes this software stand out. Video captions increase user engagement and viewership. It offers access to an array of text formatting options and text styles to match the design of your video.

When to Use Canva Caption Tool?

The freedom to add and edit captions makes Canva very easy to use. Here is a list of cases where Canva’s caption feature is supported:

  • Videos for Social Platforms: Caption your videos effortlessly for Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and other social media sites. Design stylish captions that match the vibe of your video.
  • YouTube Thumbnail: Generate a catchy thumbnail for your YouTube video in seconds. Attract viewers with pleasing video covers.
  • Facebook Videos: Add written content for Facebook videos to enhance engagement even without sound.
  • LinkedIn Portfolio: Create captions for LinkedIn videos and improve your professional profile.

Briefly, captions are an incredible way of gaining statistics, even with silent viewership. Canva offers a free captioning tool to enhance videos in seconds.

Video Guide on Putting Texts or Captions in Canva

Using Canva is incredibly easy. The accessibility to tools and intuitive interface make it equally inclusive for professionals and beginners.

Here is a video guide on how to add captions on Canva:

Next, we will break down the tutorial in detail to show you how to add captions with Canva.

Step-by-step Guide to Add Captions with Canva

Adding captions to your video can improve understanding and engagement. With Canva, you can write perfectly tailored captions for your video for free.

Here is a step-by-step guide on how to add captions with Canva:

1. Open Canva

Open the Canva web application on your PC's browser. Sign up or log in to get started. Click on the Video icon to explore different video options. Choose an option based on the type of video you want to create.

canva video options

2. Upload Your Video

Based on your video dimension selection, Canva workspace will open. Click Uploads and select Upload files to add video from your device. Alternatively, click Record Yourself to live document a video.

upload video to canva

3. Add Captions to Video

Next, add captions to your video. Move the cursor to the Text icon on the panel on the left. Click Add a Heading and type in text as the caption for the video.

add caption to video in canva

4. Edit the Caption

Now, edit the added caption to match the video style. Choose a text style, size, color, bold, and italics. Canva also offers text templates to choose from and apply.

canva text templates for captions

5. Download the Video

Once you've finished, save the video. Click Share > Download. Choose a video resolution and file type, and click Download to save it on your device.

download video from canva

Captioning a video on Canva is a child’s play. With an extended collection of text templates, effortlessly add write-ups for your videos.

But how cool would it be if Canva offered automatic subtitles?

Can You Add Automatic Subtitles in Canva?

How easy would it be if Canva could magically generate subtitles for all your videos? Fantasizing to manifest it?

Yes. Canva is a one-stop tool that offers auto-captioning features for all videos. Turn on the feature to automatically add subtitles to your video. Here is a step-by-step guide to adding automatic subtitles in Canva:

  1. Open the Canva application. Switch to the homepage and click the settings icon at the top right of the screen.
    open the account settings
  1. Under the Your Account settings, drag the scroll to the Captions. Turn on the toggle to auto-generate captions for all your videos.
    turn on the caption toggle for auto-subtitles

Now, Canva will automatically generate written text for your project's audio. However, Canva’s AI does not pick up on details very sharply. Expect a lot of errors and mistakes, and get ready to correct them.

Best Video Captions Editing Alternative to Canva: Filmora

Canva is an excellent tool for smoothly captioning your video. However, the automated subtitling can be a little taxing. The AI does not generate captions accurately, so you will likely miss out on content.

Try it free
Try it free

An impressive software like Wondershare Filmora is a powerful and robust alternative. Integrated with an intelligent AI, Filmora offers precise auto-captions for video. The professional-grade tools offer seamless video editing.

Filmora is an all-inclusive software that impresses with stellar features and outstanding user-friendliness.

Key Features of Wondershare Filmora

  • Highly accurate AI-powered auto-captioning.
  • Supports up to 23 languages.
  • Upload external SRT caption files.
  • Add, remove, or merge subtitles.
  • Apply pre-made subtitle presets and templates.

Filmora VS. Canva, Which is the Best Tool for You to Add Captions

Feature Filmora Canva
Automatic Captioning Support 23 languages Support 18 languages
Manual Caption Editing Allows manual editing of captions Requires manually typing each caption
Caption Customization Extensive options for font, color, size, animation Basic text formatting options
Caption Timing Provides tools to precisely time captions Captions must be manually timed
Export Options Multiple formats including SRT subtitles Limited export options
Platform Availability Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and iPadOS Web-based, works on any platform
Cost Paid with a free trial Free with paid plans

How To Automatically Add Captions to Videos with Filmora

Filmora’s workspace accommodates all. Whether professional or amateur, here is a quick step-by-step guide on how to automatically add captions to videos with Filmora:

1. Download the Wondershare Filmora

Download and install Filmora software on your computer. Launch the application and set it up to get started.

Try it free
Try it free

2. Import Your Video

Click New Project to open a new workspace. Click Import and select your video from a local destination on your PC. Alternatively, you can simply drag and drop your video into the library.

import video to filmora

3. Speech-to-Text Tool

Next, navigate to the Tool tab on the menu and choose Audio from the drop-down. Select Speech-to-Text for auto-captioning.

speech-to-text tool-filmora

4. Choose Language

In the caption pop-up, select a preferred language for audio transcribing. Select the clip and click Ok.

anguage settings for captions

5. Edit the Captions

Let the AI generate captions for the audio. Find a ‘CC’ file attached to your video. The generated subtitles will play on the screen. Click to edit them or change the style and theme.

select text style effects in filmora

6. Export the Video

Once you're done, click Export to save the video. In the pop-up, choose name, location, and resolution, then click Export.

export video to pc from filmora

Filmora’s powerful AI can convert speech to text almost accurately within minutes. With multiple language options, it is easier to engage a broader audience.

Filmora also supports captioning with external files instead of AI-based captions. Upload an SRT file and see how it cohesively displays subtitles with the respective audio.

How To Custom Captions with Filmora

Filmora is very versatile. In addition to offering two automated captioning modes, users can also manually insert them into the video. Here is a tutorial on manually creating captions in Filmora:

  1. Import your video to the library and drag it to the timeline. Click on the Tile tab on the top. Choose a subtitle template and drag and drop it anywhere on your video. It will appear as a ‘T’ icon on the text timeline.
    text templates in filmora
  2. Double-click the ‘T’ icon to add in text. Edit the style, size, animation, and color from the text properties. Click the Advanced button to add text animations, borders, shapes, fill and shadow.
    edit caption in filmora
  3. Add captions manually to your video. Click download to save the video to a local destination on your PC.

Whether manually or bot-generated, captioning in Filmora is easy. The simple interface eases the task of professional editing with easy tool accessibility.

Why Add Captions to a Video

This article discusses various methods of captioning a video. But is captioning really essential? Here is an insight into some of the key benefits of captioning:

  1. Engagement: Captions encourage user understanding and engagement. They draw viewers' attention even with muted audio. Written text on the screen attracts viewers and helps them focus.

  2. Hear Impaired or Deaf: Create an inclusive environment for people with special needs, such as deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals. Captions help them easily understand the context of a video.

  3. Highlight Key Details: By adding subtitles, focus on the essential details of your video. Add stylizing effects in a promotional video to grab the attention of a potential customer.

Adding subtitles or closed captions seems daunting, yet it offers crucial incentives. It ensures content clarity and better user engagement on your videos.

Conclusion

Wrap Up! Canva offers a versatile platform for graphic designing and editing. By the end of this article, you know how to add captions on Canva in just five simple steps. With easy captioning effects and simple text styling, it is a convenient way to improve your videos. However, its limited auto-captioning effect restricts users from more complex working modes.

Nevertheless, try Wondershare Filmora. It offers three subtitling modes and supports over 16 languages. Convert speech to text with a single click!

Get Started for Free Get Started for Free

FAQs on How to Add Captions to Video on Canva

  • Can Canva add captions to videos?
    Yes. Canva is an all-in-one graphic design and editing tool. It offers manual and auto-generated captions for all videos.
  • How do you make captions appear and disappear in Canva videos?
    To automatically appear or disappear caption in Canva, go to settings > Your Account. Scroll down to Captions and turn on the toggle to allow video auto-captioning.
  • Can I add captions to audio files in Canva?
    Yes. In canva, generate captions for audio or video files. Upload an audio file and manually write captions for it.
  • Are there any limitations to adding captions in Canva?
    Canva does not offer editing for auto-generated captions, and it cannot download videos with embedded captions. The auto-captions can only be generated in English. Alternatively, try Filmora, which offers three captioning modes and over 16 supported languages. There are also advanced editing features for better stylizing effects.
  • Can I sync captions with specific parts of the video in Canva?
    Yes. To sync captions with a specific clip, split the video in canva. Add a caption, and then play the footage till where you want to sync. Right-click and select Split to add a new caption for the following clip.
  • How do I edit captions after they've been added in Canva
    Only manually added captions can be edited in Canva. Double-click a text to open formatting properties. Adjust the font color, size, style, and italics. Choose text presets for instant text styles.
James Hogan
James Hogan Sep 29, 24
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