Use our YouTube transcript generator to preview a public video and read its available captions. Review the text beside the source, then copy it or download TXT and timed SRT.
YouTube caption items cost 0 credits. Other platforms use the audio transcription rate. Guest / Free: 1 link; paid: up to 50 per batch.
Free YouTube captionsVideos up to 120 minutes
Select an existing caption language. This does not translate the video; an unavailable language returns an error.
Example preview
Example preview
Paste a public YouTube video link. All six platforms work here.
Free YouTube captionsVideos up to 120 minutes
Select an existing caption language. This does not translate the video; an unavailable language returns an error.
Example preview
Transcript
English 00:5887 words
00:00
Hey everyone! Today I'm making a super easy garlic lemon pasta.
00:08
First, bring a pot of salted water to a boil.
00:14
Add your pasta and cook until al dente.
00:20
While that cooks, heat olive oil in a large pan.
00:26
Add minced garlic and cook for about thirty seconds, until it smells amazing.
00:33
Then add cherry tomatoes and let them soften.
00:42
Toss in the cooked pasta, a squeeze of lemon juice, parmesan, and fresh basil.
00:52
Give it a good mix, and that's it! So simple and so good.
Guest / Free: 10 caption requests per day. VIP: 100. Network and service capacity limits also apply.
1
Paste link
One public video link
2
Preview video
Check the source clip
3
Get captions · Free
0 credits. Your balance stays unchanged.
4
Get text
Copy, TXT or timed SRT
Illustrations show example workflows, not live screenshots.
FROM CAPTIONS TO READABLE TEXT
YouTube Transcript: read the words, keep the context
A YouTube transcript presents a video’s spoken content as text. Revisit an explanation, check a quotation, or keep notes without typing every sentence. Captions can contain mistakes, so the recording remains your reference.
This YouTube transcript generator retrieves accessible captions. Enter one public link, confirm the preview, and request text in the same workspace. The cooking example illustrates the layout; it is not a live result.
ONE LINK, FOUR CLEAR STEPS
How to use the YouTube transcript generator
Get a YouTube transcript without uploading a file. Choose a public clip with captions within the current duration limit. Previewing and retrieving its words are separate actions.
01
Copy a single video URL
Copy the video’s HTTPS share link or browser address. Watch URLs, youtu.be shares, Shorts, and embed links are accepted. Channels and playlists are excluded.
02
Confirm the source preview
Paste the link above. Check the title and source before requesting text. Play the embedded video when available, or open the original page. A preview does not guarantee accessible captions.
03
Request the caption text
Select Get captions after a valid preview loads. The YouTube transcript generator requests available captions. Keep the page open during processing. Missing or restricted captions produce an error, not invented dialogue.
04
Review and save the result
Review the words beside the source. Copy them for notes or save TXT. Genuine timings also support SRT. Save before refreshing: this page does not provide a persistent transcript library.
CHOOSE TEXT OR TIMED CAPTIONS
Download a YouTube transcript in the format you need
The YouTube transcript generator offers Copy, TXT, and timed SRT. Choose the output for your next task; a plain text file and a subtitle file serve different purposes.
COPY
Copy text into your notes
Copy words to your clipboard for a document or an AI conversation. Copying does not automatically summarize, translate, or rewrite the source. Keep the original URL separately for reference.
TXT
Keep a readable TXT file
Save a YouTube transcript as plain text for ordinary editors. Search your downloaded file and add annotations. TXT suits drafts and offline reading; it does not control timed playback. Files use UTF-8, preserving accents and non-English characters in compatible editors. Rename downloads to identify the source and topic.
SRT
Export genuine timed SRT
The YouTube transcript generator enables SRT when every segment has usable timings. Cues contain start and end times plus text. Proofread and test synchronization before publishing. Video files are not included.
KNOW WHICH LINKS WILL WORK
YouTube transcript generator: supported links and limits
A YouTube transcript requires accessible video information and captions. The workspace also accepts other supported social platforms. Language, duration, availability, and source restrictions can affect each request.
Public access alone does not guarantee a readable caption track. Private videos, live streams, and unsupported sites are excluded.
YouTube watch links
youtube.com/watch URLs with a valid video ID; tracking parameters are removed.
youtu.be share links
Short share URLs normalize to the same video, including playback-time links.
YouTube Shorts
A single public Short with accessible captions and a duration within the site limit.
YouTube embed links
Embed URLs normalize to watch links. The source may restrict playback.
Other social platforms
Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, single-video X posts, and Twitch clips are also accepted here.
Excluded inputs
Channels, playlists, collections, private posts, live broadcasts, and caption-free YouTube videos.
PUT THE WORDS TO WORK
Use your YouTube transcript for learning, research, and content
A YouTube transcript generator supplies source material. Add your own judgment, and distinguish what the speaker said from what you conclude. These workflows help keep that distinction clear.
Outline your own content
Outline a blog post, newsletter, or follow-up from your own footage. Identify its main point, example, and closing thought. Adapt the text for your new format.
Build focused study notes
Keep a YouTube transcript from a short lesson beside your observations. Define unfamiliar terms, record questions, and retain the source link. Useful notes capture the explanation and your understanding.
Check quotations in context
Choose quotations for an article or report after reading the surrounding passage. Confirm names and numbers against the audio. Include a source link and distinguish an exact quotation from your paraphrase.
Prepare captions for your footage
Import a timed YouTube transcript into an editor for footage you can use. Review line breaks, spelling, and reading time. Existing cue times are a starting point; exporting does not grant permission to republish.
CAPTION ACCESS AND ACCURACY
What a YouTube transcript can and cannot tell you
Your YouTube transcript reflects the source’s caption track. Uploaded and automatically generated captions can differ. Accents, overlapping speech, and specialist vocabulary may introduce errors. Captions do not recover slides or visual demonstrations. The tool retrieves captions; it does not determine whether a human or an automatic system authored them. Check the source.
Find the built-in transcript on YouTube
Open a captioned video’s description and choose Show transcript when available. YouTube lets you select a caption line to reach that moment. Our YouTube transcript generator offers text exports; its displayed YouTube timestamps do not seek the embedded player.
External providers may process your link and accessible media. There is no account transcript history. Save your source with the text, and review request-data details in our Privacy policy.
Common YouTube transcript questions about caption availability, timestamps, Shorts, supported languages, downloads, limits, and how to use the example.
How do I get a YouTube transcript?
Paste one public video link, preview it, then select Get captions. Read the available captions beside the source and copy or download the text.
Does the YouTube transcript generator work without captions?
This tool requires accessible captions. It has no caption-free audio fallback. Playback does not guarantee a usable track; unavailable captions return an error.
Is the YouTube transcript generator free?
Free YouTube captions. 0 credits. Your balance stays unchanged. Guest / Free: 10 caption requests per day. VIP: 100. Network and service capacity limits also apply.
Can I download a YouTube transcript with timestamps?
Read a timed YouTube transcript here and export SRT when genuine timings are available. Copy and TXT contain plain words; toggling timestamps only changes the display.
Can I get a YouTube transcript from Shorts?
Public Shorts work with accessible captions within the duration limit. Paste the share link like a watch URL. Speech alone does not guarantee available captions.
How long can a video be?
Videos up to 120 minutes. 0 credits. Your balance stays unchanged.
Can the YouTube transcript generator translate the text?
Select an existing caption language. This does not translate the video; an unavailable language returns an error.
Why is my YouTube transcript unavailable?
Check caption availability, public access, duration, and the single-video URL. Processing failures can have other causes.
How accurate is a YouTube transcript?
A YouTube transcript is as accurate as its captions. Recheck names, numbers, and technical terms against the recording. No fixed accuracy percentage or certification is promised.
Can I summarize a YouTube transcript with AI?
Optional AI summary: click to generate. Separate allowance of 6 requests per device daily, subject to network and service capacity. Your captions remain free.
Are my YouTube transcripts saved for later?
Download your YouTube transcript before leaving; there is no account library. Retain its source URL and review our privacy policy.
Is the example a real YouTube transcript?
The cooking image and timed text are illustrative, not a playable clip. Your link replaces them; example exports are labeled.
Ready to get your YouTube transcript?
Paste a public clip into the YouTube transcript generator above. Preview first, then request available captions. Up to 10 free daily requests per device, subject to capacity. Save before leaving.
