The Best Font for Subtitles : our top 8 picks!

Great digital content requires more than just creating or recording videos. You have to make sure your videos reach your audience with ease, and readable subtitles are a big part of that. The subtitle font matters, especially with a wide audience that includes non-native speakers of the language in the video.

A good subtitle is clear for everyone to see without drawing attention away from the video. So what is the best font for subtitles? Below are the best options, each with its own style and use case.

1. Arial

We start off with the most widespread font in the world. Arial guarantees safety and readability: almost everyone has come across it at some point, so your viewers are guaranteed to be familiar with it. Arial is a generic sans serif style used for all kinds of purposes.

One reason Arial is a good choice is its numbers and symbols: clear and simple in design. There are variations like Arial Black, though that one is less suitable for long sentences. If you want a font that is safe to use, pick Arial. It does not add much distinction though; if you want something more unique, continue down the list.

2. Roboto

Roboto is the official subtitle font for Google, and Roboto Medium is the default subtitle font on YouTube. There is a reason for that: Roboto is one of the best fonts for subtitles, with a wide range of styles and weights you can use based on preference and sentence length.

Roboto is generally better for long sentences in your subtitles, and because it is seen everywhere, it is easy to read for your audience. Thanks to its open-source license, Roboto is free for everyone.

3. Times New Roman

Another font that promises excellent readability. It was created for the famous British newspaper The Times and has come a long way since its days as the default font of older Microsoft Word versions. This serif typeface has a level of uniqueness that makes your work look sophisticated, with a note of simplicity.

Times New Roman works best for subtitles with short sentences on screen at a time. If you are looking for something different, this might be your breakthrough.

4. Verdana

Verdana offers something different. It is a condensed style, which makes it suitable for small screens. If your target audience watches on mobile phones or small tablets, this is a great option that also brings a touch of freshness to your video.

The font also works on larger screens: it takes up very little space at the bottom of the screen while staying clear, so the focus stays on your video.

5. Tiresias

Tiresias is a great option when looking for the best subtitle font. It was created for vision-impaired viewers and is so clear and readable that it became the standard font for BBC subtitles. Use it when your viewers must read to grasp the information on screen.

It is one of the most legible fonts in the sans serif category, with up to six different styles, and it is refreshingly distinctive: clarity and uniqueness in one.

6. Antique Olive

Antique Olive was made specifically for video content. It is a classic style of lettering, another sans serif with unique characters, best fitted for content on the big screen. If a digital board is what you have in mind, Antique Olive is the way to go.

A common pattern with Antique Olive is a black box-like background that helps the font stand out. Some argue it draws attention to the font, but it is an effective way to make it clearer.

7. Futura

Want something uniquely designed for a promotional video? Futura is one of the best options. Another flexible sans serif: the regular version is great for subtitles, and the condensed type fits longer sentences on small mobile screens. It is readable, clear, and gives your content a futuristic sense of appeal.

8. Helvetica

This font takes you to the media scene. It is popular among many broadcasting and top advertising companies, and it is famous enough to have a documentary to its name. Helvetica has a full, concrete look and comes in many typefaces: Condensed Bold, Condensed Black, Thin, Light, UltraLight and more, giving you a wide range of styling options and a modern touch.

9. Open Sans

Known for its exceptional readability, Open Sans is perfect for a variety of screen sizes, from mobile devices to large displays. It was designed with digital use in mind, ensuring consistency and clarity across devices and browsers. Its clean, neutral design fits both casual and professional settings, a modern and reliable option for your subtitles.

Creating subtitles in your favorite font with Amberscript

Now that you know the best subtitle fonts, how do you generate a customized subtitle for your video? YouTube has a default font, but if you want your own style, or your video is meant for other platforms, you need to customize your subtitles. One option that stands out is our automatic subtitling and manual subtitling service.

Amberscript is an online AI speech recognition tool that transcribes your video and converts the result into text or subtitles, which you then fine-tune in the online editor. The whole process takes just minutes:

1. Upload your video

   Pick the service that fits (machine-made, human-made or translated subtitles) and upload your file. The software detects the language and transcribes it within minutes.

2. Edit to your taste

   The editor generates a first draft with timestamps. Adjust the text, change the font, size and background, and highlight important parts.

3. Export and publish

   Download subtitles as a separate file (SRT, EBU-STL or VTT) or burn them into the video, and upload straight to platforms like YouTube.

Final tips for the perfect subtitles

• Color. Sharp contrast colors like white or black work for most videos. For footage with extremely dark and light scenes, a colored font can be advisable.
• Size. Adjust the size to fit the video: not so big that it blocks vital information, not so small that it is hard to read.
• Alignment. Align your text left or center, never right. For more tips, check our guide on good looking subtitles.
• Security. Your video is processed through a secure network: Amberscript is GDPR compliant and ISO 27001 and ISO 9001 certified.

Why Amberscript?

• Fast. Edit your own text within minutes or leave the work to our experienced language experts.
• Accurate. Our language experts and thorough quality controls ensure 99%+ accuracy of your subtitles.
• Easy. A variety of integrations and API interfaces let you fully automate your workflows.
• Secure. Your data is in safe hands: GDPR compliant, ISO 27001 and ISO 9001 certified.

Looking for an easy way to create subtitles for your videos? Explore our automatic subtitling and manual subtitling services, or learn more about how to create subtitles fast and easy.