If you're a beginner venturing into the world of freelancing, this guide is for you. Writing captions or subtitles for videos is one of the more approachable work-from-home jobs, and companies keep hiring people who can turn audio into clean, accurate text.
What exactly are captions, and why do companies need them? Captions turn the speech and important sounds in a video into on-screen text, so people who are deaf or hard of hearing can follow along and anyone can watch without sound. Subtitles do the same for dialogue, often in another language. Companies need them to make their content accessible and reach a wider audience. Your job is to convert speech from videos into readable, well-timed captions and subtitles.
1. Rev
Rev is one of the best-known platforms for freelance captioning and transcription. You apply by choosing a role, completing a short skills assessment, and submitting a sample caption or transcript. If you're approved, you can start claiming jobs right away. Rev currently says it has a waitlist because of high application volume, but you can still apply.
Rev publishes its pay ranges per audio or video minute: $0.54 to $1.10 for captioners, $0.40 to $1.10 for transcriptionists, and $1.70 to $4.00+ for subtitle translators. You see the pay and deadline before you claim a job, and Rev pays weekly via PayPal for approved work.
For English captioning and transcription, Rev only accepts freelancers who live in and have ID from Australia, Canada, Ireland, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, South Africa, the UK, or the US (excluding California), and you must be at least 18. Foreign-language subtitling has its own application and may not follow that country list.
2. Scribie
Scribie is a transcription service that relies on freelance transcribers to deliver human-verified transcripts for legal, academic, podcast, and business clients. It's a transcription job more than a captioning job, but the skills carry over directly.
Scribie's transcriber registration page is open. You create an account with your name, email, country, and phone number, and Scribie asks you to enter your name exactly as it appears on the government ID you upload. Strong English comprehension and careful listening are essential. Scribie no longer publishes its transcriber pay rates on its public site, so check the rate inside your account before you take on work.
3. Vanan Captioning
Vanan Captioning offers captioning, subtitling, and translation in more than 100 languages, and it advertises caption files formatted for streaming platforms such as Netflix, Amazon, and Hulu.
Its employment page currently says "We are hiring now!" To apply, you fill out a registration form with your contact details, country, and the languages you work in. The form accepts applicants from around the world, which makes Vanan a good option if you're bilingual. Vanan doesn't publish freelancer pay rates, so ask about rates once they contact you.
4. 3Play Media
3Play Media is a captioning, transcription, subtitling, and audio description company that hires independent contractors around the world. It recruits for several tracks, each with its own application: caption editing, live captioning, dubbing and subtitling, and audio description.
3Play says contractors work independently on their own schedule and earn weekly paychecks. You need to be at least 18 with a basic understanding of English, and it looks for linguists in more than 90 languages. 3Play doesn't list pay rates on its contract work page, so you'll see them after you're accepted.
5. Capital Captions
Capital Captions is a UK-based company in Kent that provides closed captioning, subtitles, transcription, translation, audio description, and voice-over. Its client logos include the BBC, NBC Universal, Warner Bros., Sony, and National Geographic.
Capital Captions recruits experienced freelancers only. Subtitlers and closed caption writers need at least two years of subtitling experience, and transcriptionists need two years of transcription experience. It also asks for a typing speed of at least 65 words per minute, subtitle creation software, a foot pedal, and high-speed broadband. To apply, you send a CV and cover letter through its online form or by email. Pay rates aren't published.
6. Verbit
Verbit provides transcription, captioning, and speech-to-text services for schools, media companies, legal teams, and businesses. Its freelance work is built around editing AI-generated drafts on Verbit's own platform rather than typing from scratch.
Verbit's careers page currently lists freelance legal transcriber roles, one open globally and one for the US. They're part-time and remote, pay per audio minute or per page, and require legal transcription experience, fluent English, and the ability to follow client style guidelines. Depending on availability, freelancers may also get educational and media transcription work. Apply through the role's page on Verbit's careers site.
7. Daily Transcription
Daily Transcription is a US-based transcription company that hires independent contractors, including a dedicated Subtitler and Captioner role. It's looking for native English speakers who can create accurate, synchronized captions that follow FCC standards and who can work with SubRip (.srt) and Scenarist (.scc) caption files.
The captioner role lists pay of $50 to $80 per hour of material, about 1 to 10 hours of work per week, and an experience level of two to three years. Daily Transcription also hires general, medical, and legal transcribers, and its careers page has separate application paths for experienced pros and people who are just getting started.
A few companies that used to appear on this list aren't good options right now. Speechpad has closed applications, GoTranscript has paused new transcriber sign-ups and offers a waitlist, and CaptioningStar says it is not hiring. CrowdSurf's work site no longer hosts its captioning program. We'll add them back if that changes.
These aren't the only places to find captioning work, and new openings are posted all the time. Keep an eye on our newest writing related listings as we're always updating our site with the latest opportunities.
