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Word-by-Word (TikTok-Style) Captions in DaVinci Resolve

Captions that pop in one or two words at a time, right as they're spoken, are the standard for TikTok, Reels and Shorts. DaVinci Resolve doesn't have a one-button mode for it, but there are two ways to get there.

Updated September 30, 2026 · by The Bigger Studio

Word-by-word caption in a neon style reading 'word by word' — One or two words at a time, timed to the voice. The key word is bigger.

Why word-by-word works

People watch on mute. Short captions are read in a glance, so viewers don't fall behind.
The eye stays in the center of the frame, where the action is, instead of reading a long line at the bottom.
Emphasis is easy to spot. When one word gets bigger or changes color, the message lands.

The manual way: Text+ in Fusion

This works in any version of DaVinci Resolve, including the free one. Plan on roughly an hour per minute of talking the first few times.

Get a transcript with timings. Use a subtitle file (.srt) or a subtitle track so you can see where each phrase starts.
Make one caption and style it. Add a Text+ title above your clip. Pick a bold font, a large size, a thick outline or shadow, and center it on screen.
Animate the entrance. In the Fusion page, keyframe the scale from about 80% to 100% over 3–4 frames. Add a small bounce if you like.
Save it as a Macro or a Power Bin title so you don't rebuild the style every time.
Duplicate it for each group of 1–3 words. Type the words, then slide the clip until it starts exactly when the word is spoken. Zoom into the audio waveform to line it up.
Emphasize key words. For the important ones, change the color, make them bigger, or add a highlight box behind them.

Tip: trim each caption so it ends when the next one starts. Gaps make captions flicker; overlaps make them stack.

The one-click way: Bigger Subs

Bigger Subs does all of the above for you. It writes the subtitles word by word on your computer, times every word to the voice, picks the words to emphasize, and places the result on your DaVinci Resolve timeline as a transparent clip.

Choose words at a time: 1, 2, 3 or more, and how many words per line.
Emphasis built in: impact words, highlights and level changes, suggested from how you say them. Change any of them with a click.
Safe margins for TikTok, Reels and Shorts so captions never hide under the buttons.
Sounds that follow the words, from subtle clicks to paper and camera sounds, never cartoonish.

It works with DaVinci Resolve Free and Studio, on Mac and Windows. It's a one-time $59 purchase, and you can try the full app free for 2 days.

Manual vs. one click

	Text+ by hand	Bigger Subs
Time for 1 minute of talking	About an hour	About a minute
Timing to the voice	You line up every word	Automatic, word by word
Changing the style later	Redo it	Pick another style and place again
Sound effects	Add them one by one	Synced automatically

FAQ

How many words should appear at once?

For fast, punchy videos use 1–2 words. For interviews, courses and calmer content, 3–4 words reads better.

Where should captions sit on a vertical video?

Slightly below the center of the frame. The bottom fifth is covered by the caption and buttons of TikTok, Reels and Shorts.

Make your first word-by-word captions in a minute

Built by a working video editor after a subtitle plugin let him down. Try the full app free for 2 days.

Get the free trial

More guides: How to add animated subtitles in DaVinci Resolve · Auto subtitles in DaVinci Resolve