Kapwing alternative
Kapwing subtitles alternative: Scriptorium vs Kapwing
Kapwing is a browser video editor with automatic subtitles. Its free plan adds a watermark to exports and limits their length, which matters if the video is the goal. If the goal is a subtitle file (SRT or VTT) you will attach elsewhere, a transcription-only tool is simpler.
Updated
Where Kapwing is the better choice
- Subtitle styling with 100+ presets, per-speaker styling, and burned-in subtitles in the exported video.
- Subtitle translation into over 100 languages, and dubbing.
- Accepts a YouTube link as well as files.
- Paid plans list auto-subtitling up to 1,000 minutes a month on Pro.
Where Scriptorium fits better
- No watermark and no video output at all: you get SRT, VTT and the other text formats.
- A first file up to 15 minutes with no account.
- A self-hosting option.
Kapwing and Scriptorium side by side
| Kapwing | Scriptorium | |
|---|---|---|
| Free route | 10 credits; exports up to 4 minutes with a watermark; auto-subtitling up to 10 minutes; 2 GB upload | One file up to 15 minutes and 25 MB, 3 tries a day, no account |
| Account for the free route | Check their site | No for the first file; a free account adds a saved library |
| Languages | Translation into over 100 languages (transcription count: check) | 33 plus automatic detection |
| Exports | Hard-coded video, or separate SRT, VTT, TXT | TXT, timestamped TXT, SRT, VTT, Markdown, JSON and CSV |
| Speaker identification | Detects multiple speakers and separates them in the subtitles | Optional speaker labels, up to 8 speakers |
| Meeting bot | None mentioned; upload based | No bot: you upload the recording after the call |
| Entry paid price | Pro shown as $16 a month; the page did not make clear whether that is monthly or annual billing | Pro $9.99 a month (600 minutes), Pro+ $19.99 a month (2500 minutes) |
| Accepts links | Yes, including YouTube; Scriptorium does not | No: files only |
Checked on 2026-10-24 from the vendor's own pages listed below. Prices and limits change; confirm on their site before you buy. A cell that says "Check their site" means the page did not state it, was unreadable to us, or contradicted itself, and we chose not to guess.
Which should you pick?
- Pick Kapwing if You want styled, burned-in subtitles and an edited video from one place.
- Pick Scriptorium if You want a clean SRT or VTT without a watermark or an editor.
Scriptorium's transcripts are automatic and make mistakes; read them against the audio. The free preview is on the home page, and the pricing page lists plans.
Sources
Questions
Does Kapwing watermark free exports?
Can Scriptorium take a YouTube link?
Is it free?
Try it with your own file
Upload a recording and read the transcript.