Add Text to Video Online
Upload a video, add titles, captions, subtitles, labels, lower thirds, or animated text, then customize the font, color, position, background, timing, and animation. Works with MP4, MOV, WebM, AVI, and more. No software download needed.
Add Text to Video Online Features
Text style gallery
Try popular text styles, motion, and timing
Build each text layer like a real edit. Choose a preset, change the font, color, background, size, position, animation, start time, and end time, then export the text into the video.
- Font 1,000+ choices
- Color Fill and stroke
- Background Box or none
- Animation Fade, pop, slide
- Position Drag anywhere
- Timing Start and end
- Openings
Pop
Title
A large, bold headline for hooks, intros, ads, Reels, Shorts, and product reveals.
- Captions
Fade
Regular caption
Clean subtitle style with a strong backing box for videos watched without sound.
- Names
Slide
Lower third
A polished speaker label for interviews, webinars, podcasts, and testimonials.
- Tutorials
Typewriter
Typewriter note
A precise label for tutorials, walkthroughs, screen recordings, and product demos.
- Quotes
Lift
Bad Script
Handwritten text for quotes, story clips, lifestyle videos, and creator updates.
- Promos
Bounce
Titan sticker
A bright call to action style for promos, sales, launches, and social ads.
Plus infinite more combinations
The presets are just a starting point. Mix any font, color, size, background, animation, position, and timing to build your own text style.
Timing control
Place text at the exact moment it belongs
Each text box can use its own position, style, animation, start time, and end time, so labels and titles appear right when the edit needs them.
- Track 1
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0:00–0:03
Intro title
Open with the hook
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0:11–0:18
Quote highlight
Bring in the key line
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- Track 2
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0:04–0:10
Topic label
Name the section
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0:19–0:24
Call to action
Finish with the next step
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Readability
Make text clear on any background
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Contrast first
Use light text on dark footage, dark text on light footage, or add a backing panel.
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Keep it short
Make each line easy to scan on a phone before the viewer scrolls away.
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Respect safe zones
Keep important words away from platform controls, captions, and the frame edge.
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Match the edit
Use fast motion for promos and quieter fades for tutorials, demos, and interviews.
Text layers
Use the right text layer for the job
- Any position
Overlay
Freeform text placed anywhere on the video.
- Spoken words
Caption
Text that explains speech, sound, or context.
- Accessibility
Subtitle
Translated or transcribed speech for viewers who need text.
- Scene change
Title card
A full frame title or section break.
- Speaker ID
Lower third
A name, role, or location label near the lower frame.
Add text overlays without installing software
EchoWave is used by creators, marketers, and teams around the world
How to add text to a video
Add text to a video online in three steps.
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1. Upload your video
Choose an MP4, MOV, WebM, AVI, or another common video file from your device and open it in EchoWave’s browser editor.
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2. Add and style your text
Click Add Text, type your message, then adjust the font, size, color, background, position, animation, and timing. Add one text box or layer several titles, labels, captions, and calls to action on the same video.
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3. Export and share
Preview the result, check that every text layer is readable, then export the video with the text burned in so it stays visible on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, LinkedIn, or anywhere else you upload it.
What creators say after trying EchoWave
What kind of text can you add to a video?
Add text overlays for every kind of video
Text helps people understand a video before they turn sound on. It also gives quick context when someone scrolls past your content on a phone.
Social media videos
Add headline text for TikTok, Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, Facebook, LinkedIn, and paid social ads. Keep the message short, large, and centered away from platform controls.
YouTube videos
Add intro titles, chapter labels, speaker names, sponsor notes, and end screen prompts before uploading to YouTube. Need a dedicated walkthrough? See our add text to YouTube video guide.
Tutorials and screen recordings
Place labels next to buttons, show step numbers, highlight a setting, or add short notes when an action on screen needs extra context.
Product demos and ads
Call out features, prices, benefits, product names, discount codes, and calls to action. Use a background box when the video is busy.
Podcast and music clips
Turn audio clips into short videos with quote text, speaker names, waveform visuals, progress bars, and captions. EchoWave also has tools for podcast videos, audio waveform videos, and lyric videos.
Memes and reaction clips
Add top text, bottom text, quick reactions, or short captions to GIFs and video memes. For GIF specific editing, use our add text to GIF tool.
Access 1,000+ fonts
Choose from a large Google Fonts library, adjust font weight, and keep your titles, labels, and captions consistent across every video.
Need full brand control? Business plans can upload custom fonts for text overlays that match your brand kit.
Make videos easier to watch without sound
Text gives viewers the point of the video even when sound is off. Add short captions, labels, and speaker names so people can follow the story in a feed, on a commute, or in a quiet room.
Animated text for titles and calls to action
Use fade, swipe, pop, slide, or typewriter effects when you want text to enter at the right moment. Keep motion subtle for tutorials and clearer for ads, promos, and social posts.
Export your video with text
Text added in EchoWave is exported into the final video, so it stays visible after you upload it to YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, LinkedIn, or another platform.
EchoWave supports common video formats such as MP4, MOV, WebM, and AVI. You can add text for free. Free exports include a small EchoWave watermark, and paid plans remove it when you need watermark free videos.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I add text to a video online?
Upload your video to EchoWave, click Add Text, type your message, then set the font, color, position, animation, and timing. Preview the result and export the finished video from your browser.
Is it free to add text to a video?
Yes. You can add text to a video for free. Free exports include a small EchoWave watermark, and paid plans remove the watermark.
Can I add text to only part of a video?
Yes. Each text layer has its own timing, so you can show text for a few seconds, keep it on screen for a full section, or place it at an exact moment.
Can I add multiple text boxes to one video?
Yes. Add separate text boxes for titles, captions, labels, lower thirds, quotes, and calls to action. Each one can use its own style and timing.
Can I animate text on a video?
Yes. You can use animation styles such as fade, pop, slide, swipe, and typewriter effects to bring text in and out at the right moment.
Can I add captions or subtitles automatically?
For typed text, use this add text tool. If you want speech turned into captions automatically, use EchoWave’s Add Subtitles tool and then edit the caption style.
Can I add text to an MP4 video?
Yes. EchoWave supports MP4 and other common formats such as MOV, WebM, and AVI.
Can I add text to a YouTube video?
Yes. Download the video file you want to edit, add text in EchoWave, then export and upload the finished version to YouTube.
Can I add text to a video on my phone?
Yes. EchoWave runs in the browser, so you can use it on a phone, tablet, laptop, or desktop without installing a separate editing app.
How do I make video text easier to read?
Use high contrast, keep lines short, add a background box when footage is busy, avoid the edges of the frame, and leave text on screen long enough to read.
Does adding text reduce video quality?
No. Adding text does not need to reduce quality. Export settings control the final resolution and file size, so choose the quality level that fits where you plan to post the video.
Can I use custom fonts?
Yes. You can choose from 1,000+ fonts. Business plans can also upload custom fonts for brand specific text styles.
Will the text stay visible after I upload the video?
Yes. EchoWave exports the text into the video file, so the text remains visible on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, LinkedIn, websites, and ad platforms.
Can I add text for TikTok, Reels, and Shorts?
Yes. Use large, short text, keep it away from platform buttons, and preview the video before posting so the text remains readable on mobile.
Add text to your video Free online editor
Start for free. Free exports include a small EchoWave watermark, and paid plans remove it.
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