Captions are one of the easiest ways to increase retention on TikTok—especially since a large portion of viewers watch on mute. The best workflow depends on how often you post and how much you care about style.
3 ways to add captions to TikTok videos
1) TikTok’s built-in captions (fastest, least flexible)
- Best for: occasional posting, quick drafts
- Pros: free, inside the app
- Cons: limited styling, less “viral template” look
2) CapCut auto captions (more control, more steps)
- Best for: creators who want more design control
- Pros: editing timeline, effects, text styling
- Cons: time-consuming, easy to over-edit
3) CapKit (fast workflow + template styles)
- Upload your video
- Pick a caption template
- Export and post
CapKit is designed to get you from upload to export quickly while still looking like “big creator” captions. Browse styles on the Examples page.
Export settings that work well for TikTok
- Aspect ratio: 9:16
- Resolution: 1080×1920
- Frame rate: match your source when possible
Caption style tips
- Keep captions in the safe area (avoid UI overlays)
- Prioritize readability (contrast + large text)
- Use emphasis sparingly (highlight 1–3 key words per sentence)
Next: read the CapKit blog for step-by-step tutorials and tool comparisons.