Closed Captioning vs. Transcription: Understanding the Differences

Closed Captioning vs. Transcription: Key Differences and Accessibility Benefits

Digital content is everywhere today. As more people rely on online videos and audio, making sure everyone can access your content is critical. Two main tools for increasing accessibility are closed captioning and transcription services. Although both improve access, they serve different purposes and audiences.

This guide explains how closed captioning and transcription differ, how each benefits your audience, and why using both helps you reach more people.

What Is Closed Captioning?

Closed captioning displays written text on videos to show what is being said and what is happening in the audio. This text appears on the screen at the same time as the audio, including:

• Spoken words
• Sound effects (like [laughter] or [door slams])
• Music cues
• Speaker identification

Viewers can usually turn closed captions on or off as needed. The main users are people who are deaf or hard of hearing. However, research shows that over 80% of people who use captions have no hearing loss (Ofcom, 2016). Captions are also useful for:

• Watching videos in noisy places
• Learning a new language
• Better focus and retention during lectures or webinars
• Comprehending content in a different accent or dialect

To learn more about closed captioning for your videos, visit our closed caption services page.

What Is Transcription?

Transcription is the process of turning speech or audio into a written document. Most transcripts focus on spoken words only, though some include basic speaker labels. There are two primary types:

• Verbatim transcription: Every word, sound, and filler (like "um" or "uh") is included.
• Clean transcription: Non-essential sounds are removed for easier reading.

Transcription is valuable for:

• Making podcasts, webinars, and interviews accessible to the deaf and hard of hearing
• Improving content searchability, since search engines can index the text
• Providing study guides or reference material for students and professionals
• Official documentation for legal, medical, and corporate uses

Explore our transcription services and automated transcription solutions for fast, accurate results.

Closed Captioning vs. Transcription: What Sets Them Apart?

While these services are similar, they have important differences:

• Application: Closed captions appear on videos; transcripts are standalone text documents.
• Content: Captions include all speech and non-speech audio (like emotion or background sounds). Transcripts usually only contain spoken words unless requested otherwise.
• Format: Captions are timed to the video, matching each line to when it's heard. Transcripts can include timestamps, but are usually read independently of the audio or video.

In short, closed captioning helps viewers follow along in real time, while transcription creates a text version for reading and reference.

Complementary Benefits

Offering both captions and transcripts provides the best accessibility and user experience. For example:

• People can choose to watch with captions or read a transcript later.
• Students can highlight or take notes from transcripts.
• Both options make content more discoverable by search engines, boosting your SEO (Moz, 2022).

Best Practices for Closed Captioning and Transcription

To reach the widest audience, follow these proven tips:

• Ensure Accuracy: Captions and transcripts should faithfully reflect what is said or heard in the audio.
• Include Sound Descriptions: Closed captions must describe relevant non-speech sounds, like laughter or music, not just words.
• Sync Timing: Captions must be timed perfectly with the audio for smooth viewing.
• Offer Both Formats: Provide both captions and full transcripts when possible.
• Choose Professional Providers: High-quality captions and transcripts reduce errors and improve accessibility. Check out our transcription proofreading and subtitling services for extra accuracy.

Additional Considerations

For global audiences, consider text translation services or audio translation, making your content available in multiple languages.

Closed captions and subtitles also help meet legal requirements like the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which requires accessible media for people with disabilities (U.S. Department of Justice, 2010).

Pricing and Ordering

Curious about costs? See our transcription pricing or captioning services pricing for budget-friendly options.

Ready to add captions? Order captions now. Need transcripts? Order transcription with just a few clicks.

Conclusion: Choosing the Right Solution for Accessibility

Making your content accessible helps you reach more people. Knowing the differences between closed captioning and transcription empowers you to serve all viewers, including those with hearing loss and non-native speakers.

By offering both captions and transcripts, you meet legal standards, support learning, improve SEO, and build a more inclusive online presence. GoTranscript provides reliable, accurate solutions for captioning, transcription, subtitles, and translation. Let us help you make your content accessible to everyone.