Free · No sign-up · Works with Shorts
YouTube Transcript Generator
Turn any YouTube video into searchable, timestamped text in seconds. Copy it, download TXT, SRT or VTT, translate it into 130+ languages or summarize it with AI.
Shortcut: type transcript before youtube.com in any video link
Features
Everything you need to turn YouTube videos into text
A transcript you can actually work with — not just a wall of caption lines.
Clickable timestamps
Click any line to jump to that moment in the embedded player.
Follow along
The current line highlights and scrolls as the video plays.
Search inside a video
Find every mention of a name, keyword or idea in seconds.
One-click copy
Copy the whole transcript, with or without timestamps.
TXT, SRT, VTT & Markdown
Download text for notes or subtitle files with exact timing.
Every caption language
Switch between the caption tracks a video provides.
Translate to 130+ languages
AI translation that keeps every line next to its timestamp.
AI summary & key moments
An overview, key takeaways and clickable chapters.
Remove sponsors & intros
Cut sponsored segments, intros and outros before you export.
Clean-up & paragraphs
Hide [Music] tags and fillers like “um”, or turn caption lines into paragraphs.
Ask the video
Ask questions and get answers with timestamps you can click.
20 AI prompts
Ready-made prompts for notes, quizzes, blog posts and more.
How it works
How to get the transcript of a YouTube video
Three steps, about ten seconds. It works the same on desktop and mobile.
Copy the video link
On YouTube, choose Share → Copy link, or copy the address bar. Regular videos, Shorts and live replays all work.
Paste it and press Get transcript
Paste the link into the box above. If the video has captions, the full transcript appears in seconds.
Read, search and export
Click any line to jump in the video, translate or summarize it with AI, then copy or download TXT, SRT, VTT or Markdown.
AI tools
Pair your transcript with AI
Summaries, translations and ready-made prompts — built into the reader.
YouTube summary
An overview, the key takeaways and clickable key moments, written from the video’s transcript.
Summarize a videoTranslate 130+ languages
Line-by-line AI translation that keeps every timestamp. Read side by side or download subtitles.
Translate a transcript20 free AI prompts
Study notes, quizzes, blog posts, threads, chapters and more for ChatGPT, Claude or Gemini.
Browse the prompt libraryFastest way
Add “transcript” to any YouTube link
Watching something on YouTube? Click the address bar, type transcript right before youtube.com and press Enter. The transcript opens here instantly — for regular videos and Shorts.
Use cases
Who uses YouTube transcripts?
Reading is faster than watching — and text is easier to search, quote and reuse.
Students & learners
Review a lecture in minutes, then turn it into notes, flashcards or a practice quiz.
Study with AICreators & marketers
Repurpose videos into blog posts, threads and newsletters, or write descriptions with chapters.
Browse promptsResearchers & journalists
Search long interviews, quote accurately with timestamps and list claims to verify.
Transcript guideLanguage learners
Read along at your own pace and compare the original with a translation line by line.
Translate a video
Comparison
TranscriptYouTube vs. YouTube’s transcript panel
YouTube can show a transcript next to some videos. Here is what you get on top.
| Task | YouTube “Show transcript” | TranscriptYouTube |
|---|---|---|
| Copy the whole transcript | Select text by hand | One click, with or without timestamps |
| Download files | Not available | TXT, SRT, VTT and Markdown |
| Readable paragraphs | Short caption lines | Paragraph view and clean-up mode |
| Remove sponsors and intros | Not available | Edit mode before you copy or export |
| Translate the transcript | Auto-translated captions while watching | Full transcript in 130+ languages |
| Summaries and AI prompts | Varies by account and region | Summary, key moments and a prompt library |
| Ask questions about the video | Not available | Answers with clickable timestamps |
Guides
Learn more about YouTube transcripts
How to get a YouTube transcript (3 easy ways)
Find the transcript of any YouTube video on desktop or mobile, turn it into readable text and save it for your notes.
How to save a YouTube transcript as text
Choose between plain text, Markdown and subtitle files, and keep timestamps when they help your notes.
How to summarize a YouTube video with AI
Get the key points of a long video in seconds: an AI summary from the transcript, plus prompts for deeper notes.
How to translate a YouTube video transcript
Translate the captions of any YouTube video into another language while keeping every timestamp.
How to download YouTube subtitles (SRT, VTT, TXT)
Download the captions of a YouTube video as a subtitle file with timing or as plain text.
How to use a YouTube transcript with ChatGPT, Claude or Gemini
Turn any video into notes, quizzes, posts or answers by pairing its transcript with an AI assistant.
Browse the transcript library
Hand-picked videos with reviewed transcripts, summaries and the original video.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How do I get the transcript of a YouTube video?
Copy the video’s link, paste it into the box at the top of this page and choose Get transcript. Even faster: in the YouTube address bar, type “transcript” right before “youtube.com” and press Enter — for example transcriptyoutube.com/watch?v=… — and the transcript opens here.
Is TranscriptYouTube free?
Yes. There is no account, subscription or download. Fair-use limits per minute and per day keep the service fast and available for everyone.
Can I download a YouTube transcript?
Yes. Download plain text (TXT), subtitle files with timing (SRT and VTT) or Markdown with timestamp links. You can also copy the full transcript to your clipboard with one click.
Does it work with YouTube Shorts and live streams?
Yes for Shorts and for finished live stream replays that have captions. Streams that are still live, private videos and members-only videos are not supported.
Which languages are supported?
Any caption language a video provides — switch between them in the reader. AI translation can then turn the transcript into 130+ languages while keeping the timestamps.
Can I summarize a YouTube video with AI?
Yes. Open the Summary tab to get a short overview, the key takeaways and clickable key moments. You can also copy one of our AI prompts and use the transcript with ChatGPT, Claude or Gemini.
Can I ask questions about a YouTube video?
Yes. Open the Ask AI tab and ask anything — “What tools are mentioned?”, “What does she say about pricing?” The answer is based on the transcript and links to the exact moments in the video.
Why is there no transcript for some videos?
A transcript comes from a video’s captions. If the creator turned captions off, YouTube could not generate them, or the video is private, age-restricted or still live, there is nothing to extract. If you have a subtitle file, open it with the SRT/VTT option instead.
How accurate are YouTube transcripts?
Captions uploaded by the creator are usually accurate. Automatic captions are good for most clear speech but can mishear names, numbers and technical terms, so check important quotes against the video.
Can I remove sponsor segments, intros or outros?
Yes. Turn on Edit, select the lines you do not need — shift-click selects a range — and remove them. Copy and downloads use your edited transcript.
Is my data private?
You do not need an account. Subtitle files you open stay in your browser. To get captions, the video ID is sent to our caption provider; AI features process the transcript with Cloudflare Workers AI. Using the tool never publishes a transcript.
Is TranscriptYouTube affiliated with YouTube?
No. TranscriptYouTube is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by YouTube or Google.
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