A free, on-device Captions alternative

If you want clean subtitles without a subscription, a sign-in, or your footage going to the cloud, Just Captions is the simpler swap. It transcribes and burns in captions right on your iPhone — free to start, nothing uploaded.

Add captions free Try it in your browser

Processed on device Captions in ~1 minute No card to start

The Captions app is a capable, full-featured AI video tool — but it leans on cloud processing, an account, and a subscription for its best features. If all you really need is fast, readable subtitles on your phone, that's a lot of overhead. Just Captions takes the opposite approach: one job, done locally, in about a minute.

Side by side

Just Captions vs. the Captions app

	Just Captions	Captions app
Where it runs	On your device	In the cloud
Footage uploaded	No — stays on phone	Uploaded for processing
Works offline	Yes	No
Account required	No	Yes
Price to start	Free, no card	Free trial, then subscription
Auto transcription	Yes	Yes
AI translate	33 languages	Yes
Batch videos	Up to 20	Varies by plan
Focus	Fast, readable captions	Full video editing suite

Competitor details are based on publicly available information and may change — check their site for the latest.

Why people switch

Less app, more done

What you gain

Privacy — your clips never leave the phone
No subscription wall to get readable captions
No login, no waiting on an upload or a render queue
Works on a plane, on the subway, anywhere offline

When the Captions app fits better

You want a full editing suite, not just subtitles
You rely on AI eye-contact or avatar features
You edit mainly on desktop and want sync

We'd rather be honest about fit. If you need a captioning workhorse that's free, private and instant, Just Captions is the easy pick.

FAQ

Switching questions

Is there a free alternative to the Captions app?

Yes. Just Captions lets you caption your first videos free with no card and no account. It transcribes and burns in subtitles on your device, so nothing is uploaded.

Does Just Captions work without an account?

Yes. You don't need to create an account or sign in to caption a clip — download the app and start. That's a key difference from cloud-based caption apps.

What makes Just Captions different?

Captions are generated entirely on your device, so your footage never leaves your phone and the app works offline. It's focused on doing one thing fast: clean, readable subtitles in about a minute.

Can I try it before downloading?

Yes — the free online tool captions a clip right in your browser, on your device, so you can feel the engine before installing the app.