SRT vs VTT vs TXT: Which Transcript Format Should You Use?
When you export a transcript you'll usually see three options — TXT, SRT and VTT. They contain the same words but are structured for very different jobs. Here's how to choose.
TXT — plain text for reading and writing
A .txt file is just the words, optionally with timestamps. Use it for notes, quoting, feeding text into an AI, or turning a video into a blog post. It's the most flexible format and the easiest to paste anywhere.
SRT — subtitles for video editing
SubRip (.srt) breaks the transcript into numbered blocks, each with a start and end time and one or two lines of text. It's the universal subtitle format: import it into Premiere, CapCut, DaVinci Resolve or YouTube to burn or attach captions.
VTT — captions for the web
WebVTT (.vtt) is the HTML5 standard for the <track> element. Use it when you're embedding a video on a website or in an HTML5 player. It's similar to SRT but supports styling and positioning cues.
Quick pick
- Reading, notes, blog, AI input → TXT
- Editing a video / uploading subtitles → SRT
- Embedding video on your site → VTT
JotVox exports all three from any transcript, each with timestamps, so you can grab whichever fits the job.