You want to create videos but editing takes forever. Recording yourself on camera feels awkward. Hiring someone costs too much. Meanwhile, your competitors pump out content while you’re stuck figuring out complicated software.
Kapwing’s text to video tool solves this problem. You type what you want to say or paste a script. The AI generates a complete video with visuals, voiceover, and subtitles. No camera needed. No editing experience required. You can create professional videos in minutes instead of hours.
This guide walks you through every step of using Kapwing’s text to video generator. You’ll learn how to access the tool, turn your ideas into videos, customize the output, and download your finished content. We’ll also cover the free plan limitations and how to avoid watermarks. By the end, you’ll know exactly how to transform text into shareable videos without spending money on expensive software or hiring a video editor.
What you need to know before you start
Kapwing’s text to video generator works on any modern web browser without downloads or installations. You need a free Kapwing account to access the tool, which takes less than a minute to create using your email or Google login. The free plan gives you access to the AI video generator but adds a small watermark to your exports.
Understanding Free Plan Limits
Your free account includes 5 minutes of text-to-speech generation per month, which the kapwing text to video tool uses to create voiceovers. A typical 30-second video consumes about 30 seconds of your monthly quota, so you can make roughly 10 short videos before hitting the limit. Videos export with a Kapwing watermark in the bottom right corner, and you’re capped at 720p resolution for downloads.
Free accounts reset your text-to-speech minutes on the first day of each month.
Pro accounts ($16/month) give you 80 minutes of AI generation, remove watermarks, and unlock 1080p exports. Business plans ($50/month) increase this to 200 minutes monthly and add team collaboration features.
Scripts That Work Best
Keep your input between 50 and 500 words for optimal results. The AI handles scripts written in clear, conversational language better than technical jargon or complex sentence structures. Break longer content into multiple shorter videos instead of creating one lengthy piece, as this improves both generation speed and viewer engagement.
Write your script with natural pauses and transitions between ideas. The AI interprets your text to select relevant visuals, so descriptive language helps the system choose better stock footage and images. Avoid writing stage directions or camera instructions, as the generator focuses purely on the spoken content you provide.
Step 1. Open Kapwing and access text to video
Point your browser to kapwing.com and click the "Sign Up" button in the top right corner. Create your account using email or Google authentication. After logging in, you land on the Kapwing dashboard where all creation tools appear.
Navigate to the Text to Video Tool
The fastest route to the kapwing text to video generator starts from your main workspace screen. Look for the "Create" button at the top of the page and click it. A dropdown menu appears showing various creation options including "AI Video Generator," "Meme Maker," and other tools.
Select "AI Video Generator" from this menu. The system redirects you to a dedicated page where you can input text prompts or scripts. This interface displays a large text box in the center where you’ll enter your content, along with customization options for voice, aspect ratio, and subtitle styling.
Alternative Access Method
You can also reach the text to video tool through Kapwing’s AI tools menu. After logging in, click the lightbulb icon in the top navigation bar. This opens a panel showing all AI-powered features including script generation, video editing, and the text to video converter.
Bookmarking the AI Video Generator page saves you navigation time for future projects.
Click "Text to Video" or "Script to Video" from this panel. Both options take you to the same generation interface where you’ll input your content in the next step.
Step 2. Turn your script or prompt into a video
The text input box dominates the screen once you reach the kapwing text to video generator page. You’ll see two primary options for creating your video: entering your own script or generating one from a prompt. Both paths lead to the same outcome, but choosing the right approach depends on whether you already have written content ready.
Enter Your Script or Generate a Prompt
Click inside the large text field labeled "Use my own script" and paste your prepared content. Your script should focus on what you want the voiceover to say, not camera directions or visual instructions. The AI interprets your words to select matching stock footage and images automatically.
If you don’t have a script ready, click "Generate AI Script" instead. Type a brief description of your video topic (like "3 tips for productivity" or "benefits of morning exercise"), and Kapwing’s AI writes a complete script for you. Review the generated text and edit any sections that don’t match your message before proceeding.
Example Script Template:
[Hook] Did you know 80% of people quit their goals by February?
[Problem] Most people fail because they set unrealistic targets.
[Solution] Start with tiny habits. Walk 5 minutes daily instead of joining a gym.
[Call to Action] Try one small change today and comment what you chose.
Configure Video Settings
Below your script, you’ll find four critical settings that determine your video’s final format. Select your "Language of Text Input" first, which defaults to English but supports Spanish, French, Japanese, and dozens of other options. This tells the AI which language your script uses, not which language the output will be.
Choose your narrator’s voice from the dropdown menu showing options like "Professional Male," "Warm Female," or "Energetic Young Adult." Click the play button next to each voice to preview how it sounds before committing to one.
Pick your aspect ratio based on where you’ll share the video: 16:9 for YouTube, 9:16 for TikTok and Instagram Reels, or 1:1 for Facebook and LinkedIn feeds. The system automatically adjusts your video dimensions to match this selection.
Free accounts generate videos at 720p resolution, while Pro users access 1080p quality.
Select your preferred subtitle style from options ranging from bold yellow captions to minimal white text. Your subtitles appear automatically synced to the voiceover timing.
Generate Your Video
Click the blue "Generate Video" button at the bottom of the settings panel. A progress bar appears showing the AI’s work, which typically takes 30 to 90 seconds depending on script length. The system downloads stock footage, generates your voiceover, creates subtitles, and assembles everything into a complete video during this time.
Wait for the generation to complete without closing your browser tab. Once finished, your video loads directly into Kapwing’s editor where you can preview the result and make adjustments in the next step.
Step 3. Edit, brand, and optimize your video
Your generated video loads into Kapwing’s editing workspace immediately after creation. The timeline at the bottom shows all video clips, audio tracks, and subtitle layers arranged in sequence. Every element remains fully editable, so you can adjust timing, swap footage, add branding, and refine the output before downloading your final version.
Trim and Adjust Timeline
Click anywhere on the timeline ruler at the bottom of the screen to select specific clips or segments. Each piece of stock footage appears as a separate block you can click and drag to reposition. Hover over the edge of any clip until your cursor changes to a double-sided arrow, then drag left or right to shorten or extend that segment’s duration.
Remove unwanted clips by clicking them and pressing the Delete key on your keyboard. The kapwing text to video generator sometimes selects footage that doesn’t perfectly match your message, so replacing or removing clips improves your final quality. Use the spacebar to play and pause your preview as you work through each edit.
Replace Stock Footage and Media
Select any clip in your timeline and click the "Replace" button that appears in the toolbar above. Upload your own photos, videos, or graphics from your computer, or search Kapwing’s stock library for better alternatives. Your uploaded media automatically adjusts to match the original clip’s duration, though you can modify this timing afterward.
Custom footage and brand-specific visuals make your video stand out from generic AI-generated content.
Drag files directly from your desktop into the editor to add them to your media library panel on the left side. This creates a collection of assets you can insert anywhere in your timeline without repeatedly uploading the same files.
Add Branding Elements
Click "Elements" in the left sidebar to access shapes, logos, and graphics you can overlay on your video. Upload your company logo and position it in a corner where it remains visible throughout the entire clip. Resize the logo by dragging its corner handles, and adjust opacity using the slider that appears when you select the element.
Customize your subtitle colors by selecting the text layer in your timeline. The right panel shows options for font family, size, color, background, and animation style. Match these settings to your brand guidelines for consistent visual identity across all your content.
Fine-Tune Audio and Pacing
Adjust your voiceover volume by clicking the audio waveform in the timeline and dragging the volume slider that appears. Layer background music by clicking "Audio" in the left sidebar, searching for tracks, and adding them beneath your voiceover. Keep music volume between 10% and 20% so it enhances without overpowering your narration.
Step 4. Export, download, and handle watermarks
Your edited video sits ready in the Kapwing workspace. The final step involves exporting your creation and addressing the watermark that appears on free accounts. Click the blue "Export Video" button in the top right corner to begin the rendering process, which converts your project into a downloadable MP4 file.
Export Your Finished Video
The export panel opens showing format options and quality settings. Select "1080p HD" if you have a Pro account, or accept the 720p default for free users. Choose MP4 as your format since it plays on virtually every device and platform. Name your file something descriptive like "product-demo-jan-2025.mp4" instead of leaving the generic timestamp Kapwing assigns.
Click "Export as MP4" and wait 30 to 90 seconds while the system processes your video. A download link appears once rendering completes, and your file saves directly to your browser’s default download folder.
Remove the Watermark
Free accounts add a small Kapwing logo in the bottom right corner of every exported video. Upgrade to a Pro plan ($16 monthly) to remove this watermark permanently from all future kapwing text to video projects.
Pro subscribers also unlock higher resolution exports and increased text-to-speech minutes for creating longer videos.
Alternatively, use free video editing software to crop the watermarked area if your content allows for adjusted framing without losing important visuals.
Wrap up and next steps
You now know how to access Kapwing’s text to video generator, input your script, customize settings, edit the output, and export your finished video. The process takes under five minutes from start to download, eliminating the need for expensive video editing software or professional production teams.
Start by creating two or three short videos this week to practice the workflow. Test different voices, aspect ratios, and subtitle styles to discover what works best for your audience. Track which videos generate the most engagement on your chosen platforms, then refine your approach based on those results.
Kapwing text to video works well for social media content, product demos, and educational clips. However, exploring other AI tools for video creation can help you find specialized solutions for specific needs like advanced editing, different animation styles, or longer-form content. Each platform offers unique strengths worth comparing.
