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 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 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).