YouTube Video Transcript Generator

Extract existing YouTube captions, review them in the subtitle workspace, and export readable TXT or timed SRT and VTT files. This tool does not transcribe videos without captions. Sign in with a verified account for 3 free imports per UTC calendar month.

A video’s words.
Ready to work with.

Sign in with a verified email for 3 free imports per month. A successful import uses one allowance; editing and exports are free. View plans.

Your link is sent through our server to Supadata to retrieve captions. This is not on-device processing. No audio transcription is performed.

From YouTube video to useful transcript

Paste a video link

Use a YouTube video or Shorts link with available captions. Optionally request a caption language.

Read and review

Switch between clean text and reference timecodes. Check automatic captions for transcription errors.

Copy or export

Save TXT, Word or a PDF print preview for reading. Download SRT or VTT to keep the original subtitle timing.

Turn a YouTube transcript into editable subtitles

A readable transcript is useful for reviewing a lesson or finding a quote. A timed subtitle file also records when each line appears. This tool retrieves captions that already exist on the video, so SRT and VTT exports can retain their timing instead of estimating it from plain text.

After importing, choose Edit in workspace to use the free SRT and VTT subtitle editor. Correct names and punctuation, split a long cue, or shift timestamps while reviewing your own local video. Automatic captions can contain transcription and timing errors; check important quotations against the recording before using them.

Transcript text vs. timed subtitles: an example

This fictional example shows the same words in two formats. A TXT transcript is convenient for notes. An SRT file keeps cue numbers and start/end times so a compatible player knows when to display it.

Plain-text transcript

Welcome to the lesson.
Let’s start with the first example.

SRT subtitles with timestamps

1
00:00:01,000 --> 00:00:03,500
Welcome to the lesson.

2
00:00:04,000 --> 00:00:07,000
Let’s start with the first example.

Choose your transcript download format

TXT for notes and quotations

Copy clean text or download a UTF-8 TXT file. Turn reference timecodes on when you need to find a passage in the video again.

SRT or VTT for video tools

Keep timed cues for a compatible subtitle editor or player. The text timecode switch does not remove timestamps from SRT or VTT exports.

Word or PDF for review

Download a DOCX document to annotate the transcript, or use PDF / print and choose Save as PDF. Document formatting happens in your browser.

When a YouTube video has no available transcript

Check whether the video has captions, try the default caption language, and confirm you pasted a single video or Shorts URL. Private, restricted, or caption-free videos may not work. This service does not download the audio, generate captions from speech, or translate a missing language. For temporary service limits, try again later; failed imports do not spend your allowance.

If you already have an SRT or VTT file, you can still use the local tools without a YouTube request. See free import limits and current plan availability.

Already have a subtitle file?

Convert SRT to TXT or VTT to TXT locally, with paragraph and line-break controls. To turn a script into a new subtitle draft, use Convert text to SRT. Draft timings are not synchronized to video.

Frequently asked questions

Can I download a YouTube transcript as TXT, SRT or VTT?

Yes. TXT contains readable text, with optional reference timecodes. SRT and VTT contain timed subtitle cues for compatible video tools. You can also download an editable Word document, or open a print preview and save it as a PDF in your browser.

Can I edit the transcript before exporting?

Choose Edit in workspace after retrieving captions. You can correct words, adjust timestamps, split or merge cues, and preview subtitles with a local video. Save a project backup before clearing browser data; projects are stored on this device rather than synchronized to your account.

Does it work with YouTube Shorts or whole playlists?

YouTube Shorts links are supported when captions are accessible. Import one video at a time. A playlist or channel link does not import every video, and live or restricted content may have no accessible captions.

How do I get a transcript from a YouTube video?

Paste the video link and select Get transcript. If captions are available, you can read and copy the transcript or download it. YouTube watch links, short links and Shorts links are supported.

Does this generate a transcript for videos without captions?

No. This tool retrieves existing manual or automatic captions. It does not download audio or use speech recognition to transcribe a video without captions.

Are the subtitle timestamps preserved?

Yes. SRT and VTT exports retain the timing returned with the captions. The timecode switch controls the readable text, TXT, Word and PDF output; it does not remove timing from subtitle exports.

Can I choose a language or translate the transcript?

You can request an existing caption language by entering its language code, such as en or es. A requested language may not be available. This tool does not translate captions.

Is this YouTube transcript generator free, and do I need an account?

Yes, a verified account includes 3 free imports per UTC calendar month, subject to service availability. Local editing and exports are free and use no import allowance. Failed imports do not consume your allowance. See the pricing page for current plan availability.

Is the YouTube link processed on my device?

Your link is sent to our server and then to Supadata to retrieve captions. After retrieval, copying and document export happen in your browser. Our separate Text to SRT and SRT to TXT file tools process files locally.

Why might a transcript be unavailable?

A video may have no accessible captions, be private or restricted, or use a caption language that is unavailable. Temporary service limits can also prevent retrieval. Automatic captions may contain mistakes, so review the text before use.