CompareTexts / Captions and localization
Compare subtitles by timestamp
Compare two SRT files even when cue numbering or line breaks differ. Cues are matched by their time ranges so you can find missing, changed and retimed captions.
Your inputs
Files and pasted text are read locally. Nothing is sent for comparison.
Comparison results
Choose inputs and run the comparison.
Worked example
A retimed caption
Select Load example above to run this sample in your browser.
Original
Cue 1 at 00:00:01,000: “Welcome back.”
Revised
Cue 7 at 00:00:01,250: “Welcome home.”
What the result means: With the sample 1,000 ms tolerance, the cues match by time despite different numbers. The result shows both the wording and start-time change.
How to use it
How to compare subtitles by timestamp
- STEP 01
Paste two SRT tracks or load local .srt files.
- STEP 02
Choose the allowed timing difference for matching cues.
- STEP 03
Review missing cues, text changes and timing shifts.
Cue numbers are not reliable identifiers
Adding one caption can shift every cue number that follows it. A line-by-line diff then reports hundreds of false changes. Timestamp matching is useful for checking revised subtitles, forced-caption tracks and translations against a reference timeline. The report includes original cue times so you can jump back to an editor.
What to check in the results
The matcher aligns cues in time order, pairing as many as possible and preferring smaller start-time shifts. Heavily retimed or differently segmented tracks may need manual review. This tool reads SRT, not ASS or VTT.
For a general line and character comparison, use the text diff tool. The text comparison guide explains a worked example, line counts, and how to keep shared links private.
Common questions
Why compare SRT by time instead of cue number?
Cue numbers shift when captions are inserted or removed. Matching by timestamp can still pair the corresponding spoken line when the numbering changes.
How do I find missing subtitles?
Paste or load both SRT tracks and compare them. Unmatched original cues appear as removed; unmatched revised cues appear as added, with their timestamps.