CART, Closed Captions, and Open Captions, Which is Which? 

Captioning is one of the most effective ways to make spoken content accessible, but not all captions work the same way. Depending on whether your content is live or prerecorded, there are different captioning solutions designed to meet different accessibility needs. 

The three most common types of captioning are CART captioning, open captions, and closed captions. While each displays spoken dialogue as text, they are created differently, used in different settings, and offer unique benefits. 

Understanding these differences can help you choose the right solution for your event, meeting, or video content. 

What Is CART Captioning? 

Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) is a live captioning service that provides real-time text of spoken communication. A trained CART provider listens to the speaker—either in person or remotely through an audio connection—and uses specialized stenography equipment and software to produce highly accurate captions with minimal delay. 

Unlike automated speech recognition, CART captioning is performed by a professional who can identify speakers, recognize specialized vocabulary, and accurately capture conversations as they happen. 

CART captions can be viewed on laptops, tablets, smartphones, or integrated directly into virtual meeting platforms, allowing participants to follow along in real time. 

When Is CART Captioning Used? 

CART captioning is best suited for live events and conversations, including: 

• Conferences and conventions 

• Business meetings 

• College lectures 

• Webinars 

• Public meetings 

• Medical appointments 

• Religious services 

• Court proceedings 

While CART is commonly requested by individuals who are Deaf or hard-of-hearing, it also benefits people in noisy environments, English language learners, and anyone who prefers to read along while listening. 

What Are Open Captions? 

Open captions are captions that are permanently embedded into a video. Because they are “burned in,” they are always visible and cannot be turned off by the viewer. 

Open captions are commonly used for: 

• Social media videos 

• Digital signage 

• Marketing videos 

• Trade show displays 

• Waiting room televisions 

• Public presentations 

Since many people watch videos without sound, especially on social media, open captions help ensure your message is understood regardless of whether audio is enabled. 

The tradeoff is flexibility. Once open captions are added, they cannot be removed or customized. 

What Are Closed Captions? 

Closed captions are separate from the video itself. Instead of being permanently embedded, they are delivered as a caption file that viewers can turn on or off using their video player. 

In addition to spoken dialogue, closed captions often include information about sound effects, music, speaker identification, and other meaningful audio cues. 

Closed captions are commonly used for: 

• Company training videos 

• Educational content 

• Websites 

• Recorded webinars 

• Streaming platforms 

• Online learning courses 

Because caption files are separate from the video, they can often be updated, translated, or customized without editing the original recording. 

Choosing the Right Captioning Type 

The right captioning solution depends on how your audience will experience your content. 

If communication is happening live, CART captioning provides immediate access to spoken information. 

If you’re creating recorded content that will always need visible captions, open captions are often the best choice. 

If you’re publishing videos online and want viewers to control their experience, closed captions provide the greatest flexibility. 

No single captioning type is better than another—they simply serve different purposes. 

Captioning Capabilities Beyond the Basics 

Modern captioning solutions are flexible enough to support everything from small meetings to large public events and professionally produced videos. 

• Live CART Displays 

• Real-time CART captions can be displayed in multiple ways depending on your event setup, including: 

• Personal devices 

• Projectors 

• Presentation screens 

• LED walls 

• Jumbotrons 

• Venue monitors 

• Virtual meeting platforms 

Displaying captions on large screens helps attendees follow presentations from anywhere in the room and can improve comprehension in large or noisy venues. 

Post-Production Captioning 

Both open captions and closed captions can be added to existing videos through post-production services. Whether you’re updating a training library, publishing a webinar recording, or preparing marketing content, prerecorded videos can be made more accessible after filming. 

Request a quote for Post-Production Services HERE. 

Combining Captions with ASL Overlay 

Accessibility isn’t one-size-fits-all. While captions provide access to spoken English, many Deaf individuals primarily communicate through American Sign Language (ASL). 

For recorded content, organizations can combine ASL overlay with open or closed captions during post-production. By including both an on-screen interpreter and captions, videos can better support a wider range of communication preferences. 

AI Captions vs. Human-Generated Captions 

With the rise of artificial intelligence, many video platforms now offer automatic captioning. While these tools may be convenient, they should not be relied upon as an accessibility solution. 

AI-generated captions use speech recognition technology to transcribe spoken language automatically. Although the technology has improved, it can still misinterpret words, struggle with accents and specialized terminology, fail to identify speakers, omit punctuation, and incorrectly transcribe names or technical vocabulary. These errors can change the meaning of a message and create barriers for viewers who depend on captions to access information. 

Professionally generated captions—including CART captioning for live events and human-created open and closed captions for prerecorded videos—provide a much higher level of accuracy. Trained captioning professionals understand context, recognize industry-specific terminology, identify speakers, and ensure captions are complete, properly timed, and easy to read. 

Professional CART providers are also highly trained language access professionals. Many hold certifications through the National Court Reporters Association (NCRA) or a state court reporter certification program, demonstrating their proficiency in speed, accuracy, and realtime captioning. These credentials help validate the professionalism and quality of the services they provide and give organizations confidence that communication will be accurately captured. 

For organizations with responsibilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), providing effective communication is the goal. Because automatically generated captions can contain significant errors, they may not provide the reliable access needed for individuals who are Deaf or hard of hearing. Human-generated captioning is the most dependable way to provide accurate, accessible communication and is the preferred solution for meetings, events, educational content, training materials, healthcare communications, and other important information. 

When accessibility matters, professionally provided CART captioning, open captions, and closed captions remain the trusted standard for creating inclusive communication. 

Captioning Benefits More Than Accessibility 

Although captioning is essential for many Deaf and hard of hearing individuals, its benefits extend far beyond disability accommodations. 

Captions can improve comprehension for: 

• English language learners 

• People with auditory processing differences 

• Individuals with learning disabilities 

• Viewers in noisy environments 

• People watching videos without sound 

• Anyone consuming technical or information-heavy content 

• Providing captions can also increase viewer engagement, improve information retention, and make content more accessible to broader audiences. 

• Choosing the Best Solution for Your Audience 

Before selecting a captioning service, consider how your audience will access your content. 

Ask yourself: 

• Is the content live or prerecorded? 

• Will participants need real-time communication access? 

• Should captions always be visible or optional? 

• Where will the content be viewed? 

• Are there audience members who would benefit from ASL in addition to captions? 

Answering these questions will help determine whether CART captioning, open captions, closed captions, or a combination of accessibility services is the best fit. 

Ultimately, captioning is about more than meeting accessibility requirements. It’s about creating communication that is easier to understand, more inclusive, and accessible to as many people as possible. By choosing the right captioning solution for your audience, organizations can ensure their message reaches everyone—whether they’re attending a live event, watching a webinar, or viewing a prerecorded video months later. 

Q&A 

1. What is the difference between CART captioning, open captions, and closed captions? 

CART captioning provides live, real-time captions during meetings, classes, conferences, and other events. Open captions are permanently embedded into a video and are always visible, while closed captions can be turned on or off by the viewer. The right captioning type depends on whether your content is live or prerecorded and how your audience will access it. 

2. When should I use CART captioning instead of closed captions? 

Use CART captioning when spoken content is happening live and participants need immediate access to the conversation. CART is commonly used for conferences, business meetings, webinars, classrooms, healthcare appointments, and public events. Closed captions, on the other hand, are intended for prerecorded videos that viewers watch after production. 

3. Are open captions or closed captions better for videos? 

Neither is universally better—it depends on where the video will be viewed. Open captions are ideal for social media, digital signage, and public displays because they are always visible. Closed captions are better for websites, training videos, and streaming platforms because viewers can turn them on or off, customize their appearance, and often choose different languages. 

4. Who benefits from captioning? 

Captioning benefits far more people than just individuals who are Deaf or hard of hearing. Captions also help people learning English, individuals with auditory processing or learning differences, viewers in noisy environments, and anyone watching videos without sound. Whether using CART captioning, open captions, or closed captions, providing text alongside spoken content improves accessibility, comprehension, and engagement for a wide range of audiences.