Subtitle generator with no file-size limit
Veed caps free uploads at 250 MB. Kapwing caps at 250 MB. Clideo at 500 MB. BurnSub has no cap — your hardware is the only limit. 4K, hour-long, multi-GB files all work.
File-size caps: BurnSub vs the rest
| Feature | BurnSub | Veed.io | Kapwing | Clideo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free-tier file limit | None | 250 MB | 250 MB | 500 MB |
| Pro-tier file limit | None | 2 GB | 2 GB | 2 GB |
| Max video length | Unlimited | 15 min (free) | 4 min (free) | Limited |
| Resolution cap (free) | 4K | 720p | 720p | 1080p |
| Bitrate cap | None | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Why no limit | Local processing | Server costs | Server costs | Server costs |
Why cloud subtitle tools cap file size
Every uploaded byte costs the SaaS bandwidth and storage. They cap file size to limit free-tier costs and force big-video users into the Pro plan. The cap isn't about your file — it's about their margins.
BurnSub uses your hardware, not theirs
Because nothing uploads, there's nothing to cap. Your CPU decodes the video, Whisper-Turbo runs on your GPU, WebCodecs encodes the output. The only limit is RAM — and modern browsers handle multi-GB files fine.
What's the practical limit then?
- Phones (iOS/Android) — typically 1–2 GB before Safari/Chrome run out of memory.
- Mid-range laptop (8 GB RAM) — comfortably handles 4–6 GB files.
- 16 GB+ desktop / M-series Mac — 10+ GB and hour-long 4K videos work without issue.
Can BurnSub handle my GoPro / drone / DSLR footage?
Yes. H.264 (.mp4 / .mov) and H.265 (HEVC) are supported via WebCodecs. Action-cam and drone files at 4K60 work as long as your browser has enough RAM. Long DSLR clips (LongGOP) decode fine.
What about hour-long lecture or podcast videos?
Whisper-Turbo can transcribe arbitrarily long audio. The browser processes the file in chunks, so a 60-minute lecture caption-and-burn typically takes 15–25 minutes total on a recent laptop. Compare that to Veed's 15-minute free-tier cap (which would force a $24/month upgrade just to start).