The exact captions, not a guess
We read the caption track YouTube itself serves: creator-uploaded subtitles first, auto-generated captions as the fallback. The words match what you see on YouTube, line for line.
Free, no sign-up, no monthly limit
YouTube Transcript Generator
This free YouTube transcript generator turns any video into clean, readable text in seconds. Get the exact captions grouped under each chapter, with clickable timestamps that play the video, instant search, translation and one-click export to TXT, SRT, VTT, Markdown or CSV.
- Split by chapter
- Click-to-play timestamps
- 100+ languages
- 5 export formats
Get the transcript of a YouTube video
Transcript
Built to fix what other tools get wrong
Why this YouTube transcript generator is different
Most transcript tools dump one long wall of caption fragments. This one gives you the structure of the video, so a 90-minute lecture reads like a document.
Organised by chapter
Every line is placed under the right chapter title, taken from YouTube's chapter markers or the timestamps in the description. Long videos without chapters get tidy timed sections.
Timestamps that play the video
Click any timestamp to jump the built-in player to that moment. The current line lights up and the transcript follows along as the video plays.
Readable paragraphs
Choppy three-second caption lines are merged into sentence-aware paragraphs. One switch strips [Music], [Applause], um and uh, so the text is ready to quote.
Every language, plus translation
Switch between all caption languages a video has, and translate the transcript into 100+ languages when the creator allows YouTube translation.
Five formats, zero limits
Copy or download as TXT, SRT, VTT, Markdown or CSV. No account, no credits, no monthly cap and no watermark on your files.
Step by step
How to get the transcript of a YouTube video
Copy the video link
In the YouTube app tap Share, then Copy link. On desktop copy the address bar. Shorts and youtu.be links work too.
Paste it and press Get transcript
The tool finds the caption track, the chapters and the video details, then builds the transcript.
Choose a layout
Read by Chapters, as clean Paragraphs, or as the original timed Lines. Search with the box to highlight every match.
Pick a language
Use the Captions menu for another track, or Translate to read it in your own language.
Copy or download
Export TXT for notes, SRT or VTT for subtitles, Markdown for docs, or CSV for spreadsheets.
Copy a transcript straight from YouTube
YouTube also has a built-in transcript panel on desktop. Open the video, click ...more under the title to expand the description, then click Show transcript. The panel lists every caption line with its timestamp, but it cannot be downloaded, searched across chapters or exported as subtitles.
If you have already copied text from that panel, or you have an SRT or VTT file, switch to the Paste a transcript tab above. Add the video link and the tool will sort your text under the correct chapters, rebuild clean paragraphs and give you every export format.
Export formats
Which transcript format should you download?
Each download keeps the cleaning and chapter structure you chose on screen. Here is when to use each one.
| Format | Best for | Timestamps | Chapters |
|---|---|---|---|
| TXT | Reading, study notes, pasting into documents or an AI assistant | Optional | Yes, as headings |
| SRT | Subtitles in Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, CapCut, VLC and most editors | Yes, to the millisecond | No |
| VTT | HTML5 video players and web captions | Yes, to the millisecond | No |
| Markdown | Notion, Obsidian, GitHub, blog drafts | Yes, as links to the moment | Yes, as H2 headings |
| CSV | Excel, Google Sheets, research coding and analysis | Yes, start and end | Yes, own column |
Use cases
What you can do with a YouTube transcript
Reading is up to four times faster than watching. A clean transcript lets you skim, quote and reuse a video in minutes.
Study lectures faster
Turn a course or tutorial into chapter-by-chapter notes, search for the term you missed, and jump straight to the explanation.
Repurpose your own videos
Creators can turn a video into a blog post, newsletter or show notes. Chapter headings become your article structure.
Quote interviews accurately
Journalists and researchers can pull exact quotes with the timestamp to cite, and export CSV to code themes.
Learn a language
Read along in the original language, switch to a translation, and replay any line with one click.
Make video accessible
Give deaf and hard-of-hearing viewers a full text version, or add SRT captions to a site or course.
Summarise with AI
Paste the chaptered TXT into your favourite AI assistant. The chapter headings help it produce far better summaries.
Accuracy
Creator captions vs auto-generated: how accurate is a YouTube transcript?
A transcript is only as accurate as the captions behind it. When a creator uploads their own subtitles, the text is usually near-perfect and properly punctuated. When they do not, YouTube creates automatic captions with speech recognition, which are very good for clear speech but can miss names, jargon and heavy accents.
The Captions menu shows which tracks a video has. Tracks marked auto-generated come from speech recognition; all others were added by the creator or the community. This tool always picks the creator track in the spoken language first, because it is the most accurate version available.
Why some videos have no transcript
Captions can be missing when the creator turned them off, the video is very new or very short, the audio is mostly music, or the language is not supported for automatic captions. Private videos and members-only content cannot be read by any public tool.
FAQ
YouTube transcript questions, answered
Is this YouTube transcript generator free?
Yes. It is completely free with no sign-up, no credits and no monthly cap. You can copy and download as many transcripts as you need in every format.
How do I get a YouTube transcript by chapter?
Paste the video link and keep the Chapters layout selected. The tool reads the video's chapter markers, or the timestamps listed in its description, and places every caption line under the correct chapter title. Click a chapter in the side list to jump to it.
Can I get a YouTube transcript with timestamps?
Yes. Timestamps are on by default and each one plays the video from that moment. Turn the Timestamps switch off for plain text. SRT, VTT and CSV downloads always include precise start and end times.
Why does it say a video has no transcript?
Some videos simply have no captions: the creator disabled them, or YouTube could not auto-caption the audio. If YouTube is temporarily limiting automatic requests, the tool shows you how to copy the transcript from YouTube's own panel and paste it here, and it still sorts the text by chapter.
Does it work with YouTube Shorts and live streams?
Yes. Paste a Shorts link, a youtu.be link or a finished live stream replay. Live streams that are still running usually do not have a complete caption track until they end.
Can I translate a YouTube transcript into another language?
When a video allows it, a Translate menu appears above the transcript with 100+ languages. Translations use YouTube's own machine translation, so they are good for understanding but may need a light edit before publishing.
How do I download YouTube subtitles as an SRT file?
Get the transcript, then click SRT. The file uses standard numbered cues with millisecond timing, so it opens in Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, CapCut, VLC and most video players. Choose VTT for web players.
Can I get a YouTube transcript on my phone?
Yes. Copy the link from the YouTube app with Share, then Copy link, and paste it here. The layout is built for small screens, and downloads save straight to your phone's files.
Is it allowed to download a YouTube transcript?
Reading and saving a transcript for personal study, research or accessibility is generally fine. The words still belong to the creator, so if you republish large parts, ask permission or quote briefly with credit and a link to the video.
Keep going
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Reading Time CalculatorEstimate how long the text takes to read
YouTube Thumbnail DownloaderSave the video thumbnail in HD
Speech to TextTranscribe your own voice for free
Case ConverterFix capitalisation in caption text
Turn any YouTube video into text in seconds
Paste a link, read it by chapter, search it, translate it and download it in the format you need. Free, private and built to save you time.
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