Guide
Add captions for free, with no watermark, on iPhone
Updated
To add captions to a video on iPhone for free with no watermark, use CaptionAddr: it transcribes the English speech on your iPhone, lets you edit and style word-by-word captions, and exports a captioned copy with no required watermark. The free plan covers videos up to 2 minutes and includes every caption style.
What “free, no watermark” means here
CaptionAddr is a free download, and the free plan is not a trial: it keeps working for videos up to 2 minutes long. Free includes on-device transcription, word editing, all 20 caption fonts and styles, and export to Photos.
Exports have no required watermark on either plan. A small CaptionAddr watermark exists as an option, and it stays off unless you choose to turn it on. No account is needed to start.
Caption a video for free, without a watermark
- Install CaptionAddr. Download it from the App Store on an iPhone or iPad with an A12 chip or newer, running iOS or iPadOS 17.0 or later. There is no account to create.
- Choose a clip up to 2 minutes. Tap Select Video and pick one video with Apple’s Photos picker. Trim longer recordings to 2 minutes or less in Photos first if you want to stay on the free plan.
- Let the captions generate. Captions start as soon as the video opens; keep the app open. The English speech is transcribed on your iPhone, not on a server.
- Fix the words. In Edit Captions, play through the clip and correct, delete or reorder words.
- Style the captions. Choose a font and size, turn on the tinted background if you want it, then drag the captions into position.
- Leave the watermark off and export. The optional CaptionAddr watermark is off by default, so export as normal and save the captioned movie to Photos.
Tips for a clean result
- Check the export. Play the exported copy in Photos to confirm the captions and the absence of any watermark before you post.
- Trim before importing. Cutting dead air at the start and end keeps a clip within the free 2-minute limit and makes captions start on the first word.
- Keep your original. CaptionAddr exports a new copy and leaves the original video in your library, so you can caption it again later.
- Use large, outlined text. Social apps re-encode uploads, and large text with a dark outline, which CaptionAddr always draws, stays readable after compression.
Limits
- Length. Free covers videos up to 2 minutes. Longer videos, up to 30 minutes, need CaptionAddr Pro, an optional monthly or annual subscription through Apple. The App Store shows the current price in your currency.
- English only. CaptionAddr transcribes English speech and doesn’t translate.
- Burned-in captions only. There is no SRT, VTT or text export.
- Single-word captions. Captions appear one word at a time; full-sentence layouts and manual per-word timing aren’t available.
- No direct posting. The app doesn’t post to social platforms; you upload the exported video yourself.
Frequently asked questions
Can I add captions to a video on iPhone for free with no watermark?
Yes. CaptionAddr’s free plan captions videos up to 2 minutes and exports them with no required watermark. The optional CaptionAddr watermark is off unless you turn it on.
Is the free plan a trial?
No. The free plan keeps working for videos up to 2 minutes. CaptionAddr Pro is only needed for longer videos, up to 30 minutes.
Do free exports have lower quality or fewer styles?
Free includes all 20 caption fonts and styles and the same export. The plans differ in maximum video length.
Do I need to sign up or upload my video?
No. There is no account, and transcription runs on the device with a speech model built into the app.
Does it work on iPad too?
Yes. CaptionAddr runs on iPhone and iPad with iOS or iPadOS 17.0 or later and an A12-class chip or newer.