Add captions to a TikTok video
TikTok's own auto captions are small, plain and easy to miss. The bold, word-by-word captions you see on big creators' videos are burned into the video before upload. BolCaps makes those for free in your browser: drop the clip in, pick a style and post the finished MP4.
Add captions to my TikTok
How to do it
- Film or export your TikTok as a vertical 9:16 video without TikTok's own text.
- Open the Caption studio and add the video.
- Let the AI write the captions, then fix any word that is wrong.
- Pick a style. Big centered words with one highlighted word work best for TikTok.
- Export the MP4 and upload it to TikTok as usual.
Keep captions out of the buttons
TikTok covers the right side with like and share buttons and the bottom with your caption and music. Place your captions in the middle third of the screen, a little above center, so nothing hides them.
Burned-in captions vs TikTok captions
TikTok's auto captions only show when a viewer turns them on and look the same on every video. Burned-in captions always show, match your brand and also appear when the video is reposted to Reels or Shorts.
No watermark
Your video is exported clean. A small "Made with BolCaps" credit is on by default, and one tick box turns it off. You need a free account only when you download.
Which caption style works best on TikTok?
The proven look is 2 to 3 bold words at a time, white with a thick dark outline, with the spoken word highlighted in yellow or green. Pick Pop or Highlight box in BolCaps for that look. Calm educational accounts often do better with a cleaner Subtitle style. Choose one and use it on every video so your audience recognises you.
Hook, caption, keep them watching
The first second decides the swipe. Put your hook on screen as text before you say it, keep each caption short, and remove filler words like "um" and "so" from the captions so the text reads faster than speech.
Frequently asked questions
Will the captions hurt my video quality?
No. The video is exported at full quality, in 1080p or 4K (4K needs a recent computer).
Can I do this on my phone?
Yes. Open bolcaps.com in Chrome or Safari on your phone.
Which caption style gets the most views?
Bold white text with a black outline and one highlighted word is the most common style on viral TikToks, because it is easy to read on any background.
Can I use the same video on Reels and Shorts?
Yes. All three use 9:16, so one export works everywhere.
Should I also use TikTok's auto captions?
No. If your captions are burned in, leave TikTok's captions off so viewers do not see the words twice.
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