Caption API

Burn captions into video with one API call

POST a video link, get back an MP4 with styled, animated captions plus SRT, VTT and a JSON transcript with word timing. Transcription, optional translation and the burn run in one job. 5 credits per minute, billed per second.

1. Get a key

No account needed. Or create one at your account.

curl -X POST https://api.awesomevideoeditor.com/v1/keys/anonymous \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" -d '{"name":"my-app"}'
# {"token":"av_live_...", ...}
export AV_KEY=av_live_...

2. Caption a video

This is the real response for the 8-second CC0 sample (trimmed): 2 credits, because each step rounds up to the next cent. maxCredits refuses anything pricier, and a short balance returns 402 with a checkout link, without charging.

curl -X POST https://api.awesomevideoeditor.com/v1/captions \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $AV_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "sourceUrl": "https://awesomevideoeditor.com/samples/cc0-interview-es.mp4",
    "preset": "builtin:karaoke",
    "platform": "tiktok",
    "maxCredits": 10,
    "wait": true
  }'
{
  "status": "succeeded",
  "creditsCharged": 2,
  "result": {
    "language": "es",
    "transcriptText": "en la escuela es súper diferente al mundo laboral…",
    "cues": [{ "start": 0, "end": 2.38, "text": "…", "words": [{ "text": "en", "start": 0, "end": 0.14 }, …] }],
    "files": [
      { "name": "mp4", "url": "https://api.awesomevideoeditor.com/v1/jobs/…/result?…&file=mp4" },
      { "name": "srt", "text": "1\n00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:02,380\n…" },
      { "name": "vtt", … }, { "name": "json", … }
    ]
  }
}

Long videos: drop wait and poll GET /v1/jobs/:id, or pass webhookUrl. Any public link works (direct file, Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive); upload local files with POST /v1/uploads/url.

Price

1 credit = 1 US cent. Captioning is 1 credit to transcribe + 4 to burn per minute, +2 to translate. Burning your own SRT costs 4. Failed jobs are refunded.

$5 pack500 credits, one-time, never expire
$0.050/min
$20 pack2,200 credits, one-time, never expire
$0.045/min
$50 pack6,000 credits, one-time, never expire
$0.042/min
Creator plan$9/month, 1,200 credits
$0.037/min
Pro plan$29/month, 4,500 credits
$0.032/min
Scale plan$99/month, 18,000 credits
$0.028/min

Useful options

  • preset: 34 built-in looks, see caption styles.
  • translateTo: captions in another language.
  • platform: keep captions clear of TikTok, Reels or Shorts buttons.
  • highlightWords, faceAvoid, styleOverrides: same price.
  • Free first: POST /v1/captions/style-preview renders real frames, estimate quotes the price.

Reference

Sample clip: “Entrevista Maricarmen Canales - TECMTY” by NachoCHOCO, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped to 9:16.