How to use the Add Text to Video tool
- Choose your video.
- Type your text and pick a font, size and colour.
- Drag the text on the preview, or tap a position.
- Set when it appears with the time sliders, then press Add text to video.
About this tool
Text on video needs to survive two things: a busy background and a small phone screen. This tool gives you an outline and an optional background box so words stay readable over any footage, five font styles including a bold meme look, and a size set as a percentage of the video height, so text looks the same whether the video is 480p or 4K.
The preview is the real thing. It draws your text onto the actual video frames with the same code that renders the final file, so what you position is exactly what you get. Drag the text anywhere, or tap one of nine preset positions, and set the seconds it should appear and disappear, with an optional fade.
Why use ToolsCrow for this
- True live preview. The preview uses the same drawing code as the export.
- Readable anywhere. Outline and background box options for busy footage.
- Timed text. Show it for part of the video with a fade.
- No watermark. Free, private, no sign-up.
Good to know
- One text block per pass. For several captions at different times, run the tool again on the result, or use the subtitle tool with an SRT file.
- The text is burned into the picture, so it cannot be edited later. Keep your original.
Frequently asked questions
Is my video uploaded to a server?
No. Everything runs inside your browser tab using your own device's video hardware. Your file is never sent to ToolsCrow or anyone else, which also means there is no waiting for an upload and it keeps working if your connection drops after the page has loaded.
Is it really free? Is there a watermark?
It is free with no sign-up, no watermark and no daily limits. The only limits are the ones your device sets: memory and processing power.
How large a video can I use?
Because the video is processed on your device, the limit is your device's memory rather than a server quota. Phone clips of several hundred MB are fine on most devices, and desktop computers usually handle 1 to 2 GB. Files over about 4 GB are not supported.
Which browsers work best?
Current Chrome, Edge and Safari (16.4 or newer, including iPhone and iPad) work best because they include the WebCodecs video engine. Recent Firefox versions work for many files. Older browsers fall back to a much slower real-time mode or may not work at all.
Can I add several text blocks?
Yes, one at a time: add the first, then use "Add text" again from the result and place the next one. For many timed captions, the Add Subtitles tool takes an SRT file and burns them all in one pass.
Will the text look right on a phone?
Yes. The size is a percentage of the video height, so it scales with the video rather than being fixed to a pixel size.
Why do this in a browser instead of an app?
There is nothing to install, nothing to sign up for and no upload. The work is done by the same video engine your browser uses to play video, so it is fast on any reasonably modern phone or computer, and your file never leaves the device.
Related video tools
- Add Subtitles to VideoBurn subtitles into your video so they show everywhere, including on social platforms that ignore subtitle files.
- Add Watermark to VideoBrand a video with your own logo.
- Meme Video GeneratorSlap bold meme text on a clip in a few seconds.
- Video CropperDrag the crop box, pull a corner, or pick a ratio such as 1:1 for Instagram or 9:16 for TikTok.
- Video CompressorShrink any video to a fraction of its size while keeping it sharp, or type the exact size you need in MB.
- Video TrimmerKeep just the part you need.
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