More retention
Your videos stay watchable sound-off: you keep the audience that scrolls without sound.
// Captions · Subtitles · Accessibility
Professional video captioning
Most videos are watched without sound. Without captions, you lose the bulk of your audience in the first seconds. On MotionMate, you hand your video captioning to a freelance editor who delivers frame-accurate captions, proofread and on-brand — burned into the image for social or as an .srt file for YouTube. It is one of editing's most cost-effective levers: low entry price, immediate effect on retention, reach and accessibility of your content.
// Why caption
The detail that changes reach
Captioning a video is not a luxury: it is a distribution necessity. On mobile, in transit, at the office, the overwhelming majority of views happen with sound off. A video without captions gets scrolled past. With clean, well-paced captions, you hold attention even without audio and mechanically gain retention.
Beyond retention, captions widen your audience: deaf or hard-of-hearing people, non-native viewers, noisy environments. They also reinforce comprehension and memorization of your message. For search, caption files give YouTube's engine usable text about your video's content.
Automatic captioning exists, but it is riddled with errors: proper nouns, jargon, punctuation, loose timing. Professional captioning fixes all of that, respects readability rules (line length, display duration) and aligns with your style. On MotionMate, you choose the format (burned-in or .srt), the language, and escrow payment is released only on your approval.
// What captioning brings
Captions that work for you
Wider reach
Accessibility for the deaf and hard of hearing, and openness to non-French-speaking viewers.
Clean timing
Frame-accurate, proofread, readable captions that follow display rules.
The format you need
Burned into the image for social or a downloadable .srt file for YouTube, your choice.
// What it costs
Price of captioning
The rate depends on length, language and the delivered format.
Project typeRangeWhat it covers
Short video (under 3 min)€15–50 / videoShort, Reel or TikTok, animated burned-in captions
Standard video€1–3 / minuteTimed, proofread FR captioning, burned-in or .srt
Multilingual captions€3–6 / minuteTranslation + timing in an additional language
Short-video pack€10–35 / videoSliding scale on a batch of vertical videos
Indicative ranges seen on the French market in 2026 · the final price depends on the brief, deadline and editor
// The process
Get captions in 3 steps
01
Post your brief
Describe your need: length, language, format (burned-in or .srt), caption style.
02
Pick your editor
Compare editors, check their captioning samples and ratings, then start the job.
03
Get your edit
Get your captioned videos or .srt files, proofread, approve. Payment follows your approval.
// Frequently asked
Captioning: your questions
Burned-in or .srt file: which to choose?
Burned-in captions (etched into the image) are perfect for TikTok, Reels and Shorts because they always show and can be animated. An .srt file is preferable on YouTube: it stays toggleable and helps search. Many editors deliver both if needed.
Why not use automatic captioning?
Auto tools get proper nouns, jargon, punctuation and timing wrong. For a video published under your brand or channel, those errors hurt credibility. Professional captioning fixes everything and respects readability rules.
How much does captioning a video cost?
For a standard video, expect around €1 to €3 per minute in French, more for multilingual. Short videos are often billed flat (€15 to €50), with a sliding scale on packs of several clips.
Can you caption in another language?
Yes, many editors offer multilingual captioning (translation then timing). It is an excellent way to open your videos to an international audience. State the target languages in your brief for a tailored quote.
Can captioning be combined with editing?
Absolutely. Many editors offer captioning as an option of their editing service, which avoids a round trip. If your video is already edited, captioning can also be ordered on its own.
// Keep going
Explore other needs
Vertical format
Shorts, Reels & TikTok
Full vertical editing with dynamic captions built in.
Long form
YouTube editor
Editing and captions for your long videos.
Intent
Delegate your editing
The complete guide to subcontracting your editing without hiring.
Overview
Video editing hub
Back to the hub to explore all editing categories.
// Start whenever you want
Caption your videos
Browse vetted editors or post your captioning brief. Immediate effect on your retention.