Our verdict: Aegisub is the standard tool for styled ASS subtitles, as used in anime fansubs and karaoke videos. It times lines on an audio waveform and places, rotates and animates text right on the video. It is built around the ASS format and has no automatic speech recognition or translation.
About Aegisub
Aegisub is an open-source subtitle editor released under a BSD license. After the original project went quiet, the TypesettingTools community took over development and publishes current releases on GitHub.
You time lines by listening to the audio and marking start and end points on the waveform or spectrum display. Styles control fonts, colours and borders, while visual typesetting tools let you drag, rotate and clip text on the video frame. Lua automation scripts add karaoke effects and batch tasks.
What it does well
- Audio timing. Mark line timing on a waveform or spectrum with keyboard shortcuts.
- Styles. Reusable styles for fonts, colours, outlines and positions.
- Visual typesetting. Move, rotate, scale and clip text directly on the video.
- Karaoke timing. Times individual syllables for karaoke effects.
- Lua automation. Scripts automate repetitive edits and create complex effects.
Who it is for
Good fit
Fansubbers and video creators who need precisely timed, styled or animated subtitles.
Look elsewhere
People who only need to fix a simple SRT file or want subtitles generated automatically.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Best-in-class ASS styling and typesetting
- Accurate waveform timing
- Powerful Lua automation
- No ads
Cons
- Steep learning curve
- Built around ASS; other formats are only converted
- No speech-to-text or automatic translation
How to install Aegisub
Download the x64 installer from the official downloads page and run it. Open your video and then its audio (Audio → Open Audio from Video) so the waveform appears. Learn the timing shortcuts early; they make work much faster.
Questions about Aegisub
Is Aegisub free?
Yes. Aegisub is open source under a BSD license and has no paid version.
Is Aegisub still maintained?
Yes. The TypesettingTools community maintains Aegisub and publishes new releases on GitHub.
Can Aegisub open SRT files?
Yes. It imports and exports SRT, but its styling and typesetting tools work with ASS subtitles.
