Skip to content
Scriptorium
Transcribe free

Best of

Best free SRT generators, ranked by what they state

The question behind most "free SRT" searches is whether the file itself is free. This list ranks tools that make subtitles from speech on five points their pages state, including that one. Riverside free tool and TryScriptorium tie at the top with 4 of 5. We make TryScriptorium and rank it by the same rules; its weaknesses are written out. Checked on 2026-10-27.

Updated

The ranking

#ToolAuto from speechFree SRTNo sign-upEdit lines30+ min per fileScoreWhat its page says
1Riverside free toolYesYesYesNot statedYes4 of 5"Unlimited transcriptions for free", "No sign up required", SRT and TXT download; the page describes editing the transcript, not subtitle timing.
2TryScriptoriumYesYesYesYesNo4 of 5Free preview: one file up to 15 minutes and 25 MB; SRT and VTT download; edit any line before export; small model for guests.
3Happy ScribeYesYesNot statedNot statedYes3 of 5Free plan: 45 minutes per recording; its pricing table lists TXT and SRT on Free; sign-up and editing are not stated on the pages read.
4KapwingYesNot statedNot statedYesNo2 of 5Auto-subtitling up to 10 minutes on Free; downloads "as an SRT, VTT, or TXT file" (free or paid not stated); exports carry a watermark; lines and timing editable.
5Otter.aiYesNoNot statedNot statedYes2 of 5SRT is listed on paid plans; the free plan exports mp3 and txt; 30 minutes per conversation.
6VEEDYesNoNoYesNot stated2 of 5Says upgrading is needed to "download subtitle files"; "Sign up now to start creating"; lines are edited by clicking and typing.
7VMEG audio to SRTYesYesNoNot statedNot stated2 of 5"Free to use 3 times a day", shared across its tools; "Download requires a free VMEG sign-in"; SRT export; VTT is not stated as an output.
8NottaYesNoNot statedNot statedNo1 of 5Its free web tool takes one file up to 5 minutes and SRT is a Pro export; "No account required" but an email is needed to receive the result.
9Subtitle EditNot statedNot statedNot statedYesNot stated1 of 5Offline, open-source editor for Windows, macOS and Linux; its README does not say it generates subtitles from speech or name SRT.

Checked on 2026-10-27. "Not stated" counts as nothing: many pages say a subtitle file exists without saying which plan includes it. Subtitle Edit is included because it is the best-known free editor; it edits and converts, and its README does not say it listens to audio.

Pick by situation

  • The audio or video is yours and short, and you want an SRT now: the top of the table; check each page for its cap and sign-up.
  • The file is long: Riverside's free tool states no cap; Happy Scribe's free plan is 45 minutes per recording; ours is 15 minutes without an account.
  • You already have subtitles to fix: an editor, not a generator: see the free subtitle editor and the subtitle checker (both run in your browser).
  • Captions burned into the picture, or styled: a video editor such as VEED or Kapwing; their exports carry a watermark on free plans, per their pages. TryScriptorium makes the file only.
  • Arabic subtitles: see the Arabic list and the SRT punctuation fixer.

TryScriptorium, honestly

What it does on these criteria: makes SRT and VTT from speech, free, with no account for a first file, and an editor for every line. Where it is weaker: the preview stops at 15 minutes. Our weaknesses, plainly: guests get the small model; the no-account preview is limited to one file of 15 minutes and 25 MB, 3 tries a day; there is no link input (you upload a file); there is no DOCX export in the app (open the TXT in Word, or convert it with the free browser tool at /tools/transcript-to-docx); it does not join live calls and has no live captions; and the transcripts are automatic and make mistakes. For platform limits on line length and timing, run the file through the subtitle checker.

How we ranked

Five criteria, fixed before we filled in the table. Each cell is Yes only when the vendor's own page, read on 2026-10-27, says so; No when it says the opposite; Not stated otherwise, which scores nothing. The score is the number of Yes cells and ties are listed alphabetically. This ranks what products state, not how well they transcribe: we have not tested the other tools on your audio, and a transcript from any of them needs reading against the recording.

  1. Makes subtitles automatically from speech, as stated
  2. SRT download on a free route, as stated
  3. No sign-up needed to start, as stated
  4. Subtitle lines can be edited before export, as stated
  5. No per-file cap below 30 minutes stated on the free route (30 minutes or more, or none stated)

We make TryScriptorium, so it is in the table and scored by the same rules. We chose criteria that matter to someone who wants a free transcript fast, which is also what we built, so weigh our own placement with the most caution. Prices and limits change; the source links are below and each is worth a click before you decide.

Sources

Every row about another product was read on that product's own page on 2026-10-27. Where a page contradicted itself the cell says so.

Questions

What is the best free SRT generator?
On what the pages state (2026-10-27), Riverside free tool, TryScriptorium tie at the top. The deciding facts are usually the file length cap and whether the SRT download is free.
Is the SRT file free?
VEED says upgrading is needed to download subtitle files; Otter and Notta list SRT on paid exports; Riverside's free tool and TryScriptorium offer SRT without payment. Confirm on each page.
Can I make an SRT from audio without a video?
Yes: an SRT is a text file of times and words. Upload the audio to a tool that makes subtitles from speech.
Do I need an account?
Riverside and TryScriptorium state none for a first file; VEED and VMEG state a sign-up to create or download. Check the page before you start.
Are these ratings?
No: Yes, No or Not stated per criterion, from each tool's own pages, dated.

Try it with your own file

Upload a recording and read the transcript.

Transcribe free — no sign-up Create free account

More pages like this