To add subtitles to a video on Mac for free, use GeekLink: import your video → auto-generate subtitles with AI speech recognition → edit and style → burn into video or export SRT.
Step-by-Step Guide
Download GeekLink for Mac — Download GeekLink from geeklink.dev. It's free to use and runs on macOS 13+ with Apple Silicon.
Import your video — Open GeekLink and drag your video into the app. Supports MP4, MOV, MKV, AVI, and more.
Auto-generate subtitles — Click 'Speech Recognition' to use Whisper AI. It automatically transcribes spoken words into timed subtitles with 95%+ accuracy.
Edit subtitles — Review and edit each subtitle line in the built-in editor. Fix any errors and adjust timing as needed.
Style and export — Customize font, color, size, and position. Then burn subtitles into the video or export as a standalone SRT file.
Why GeekLink is the Best Free Subtitle Tool for Mac
Completely free: Basic subtitle generation and editing features are free, no watermarks.
No cloud uploads: Whisper runs locally on your Mac — your video stays private.
95%+ accuracy: OpenAI Whisper is one of the most accurate speech recognition models available.
No Premiere needed: All-in-one subtitle workflow — generate, edit, style, and burn-in without any other software.
Multi-language: Generate subtitles and translate across 13+ languages.
FAQ
Is GeekLink really free?
Yes, basic features including speech recognition and subtitle editing are free. Pro features like AI translation require a license.
Does it work on Intel Macs?
Currently GeekLink requires Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3/M4). Intel Mac support is not available yet.
Can I add subtitles to YouTube videos?
Yes, download the video first, then use GeekLink to generate and burn-in subtitles. You can also export SRT files to upload to YouTube directly.
What's the difference between burn-in and SRT export?
Burn-in (hardcode) renders subtitles permanently onto the video frames. SRT export creates a separate subtitle file that players can toggle on/off.