Free YouTube text & export

YouTube Transcript Generator

Paste a YouTube link to turn the video's captions into text you can search, copy or download, with timestamps, free and without a signup or browser extension.

No signup
Public content only
Nobody is notified

Example outputPlaceholder data, not a real account

EnglishAuto-generated8 lines

0:00Hi everyone, and welcome back to the channel.
0:04Today we are looking at three quick ways to plan your week.
0:08First, write down the one thing that has to get done.
0:12Second, block time for it before anything else.
0:16And third, leave some space for the unexpected.
0:21Let's go through each of these in a bit more detail.
0:25Starting with the first one, which is the most important.
0:29This is placeholder text so you can see the transcript layout.

What is the YouTube Transcript Generator?

The YouTube Transcript Generator turns the captions of a YouTube video into text. You paste a video link and get every caption line with its timestamp, plus the full text to copy, search or save. It reads captions the creator uploaded or YouTube generated; it does not transcribe the audio itself.

When you press Get transcript, the tool asks YouTube for the video's caption tracks as a logged-out visitor. It picks a hand-written track in the spoken language first, then YouTube's default track, then the automatic one, and lists every other language the video has. Each line keeps its start time, and clicking a time opens the video at that moment.

Copy all gives you the plain text without timestamps, ready for notes or an AI chat. The .txt download keeps a timestamp at the start of each line. The same captions can also be saved as .srt and .vtt subtitle files, which the YouTube Subtitle Downloader covers in detail.

Accuracy depends on the source. Captions typed by the creator are usually close to word for word. Automatic captions are marked as auto-generated and often get names, numbers and technical terms wrong, so check quotes against the video. Very long transcripts are cut at 20,000 characters in this free tool, and a note above the text says so; the API returns the full text.

Who uses it

Students and self-learners
Turn a lecture or tutorial into notes you can search, then jump back to the moment you need.
Writers and researchers
Quote an interview word for word and cite the exact timestamp.
AI chat users
Paste the text into ChatGPT or Claude to ask questions about a long video or get a summary.
Reading instead of watching
Follow a video with the sound off, or read it at your own pace if you are deaf or hard of hearing.

How to get the transcript of a YouTube video

Step 1
Copy the video link
In the YouTube app, tap Share, then Copy link. On a computer, copy the address bar. Shorts and finished live streams work too.
Step 2
Paste and press Get transcript
The transcript appears with a timestamp on every line and the caption language at the top.
Step 3
Pick a language
If the video has captions in more languages, choose one from the Language menu. Tracks marked (auto) were made by YouTube.
Step 4
Search, copy or save
Search for a word, press Copy all for the plain text, or download a .txt file that keeps the timestamps.

What you get

Item	Format	Details
Timestamped linesEach time opens the video at that moment	Text with start times	Each time opens the video at that moment
Full textNo timestamps, ready to paste into notes or an AI chat	Plain text (Copy all)	No timestamps, ready to paste into notes or an AI chat
Text fileOne line per caption, each with its timestamp	.txt	One line per caption, each with its timestamp
Subtitle filesThe same captions with timing, for editors and players	.srt and .vtt	The same captions with timing, for editors and players
Caption languagesEvery track the video has; YouTube's automatic tracks are marked (auto)	Language menu	Every track the video has; YouTube's automatic tracks are marked (auto)

Links it accepts

youtube.com/watch?v=<id>
youtu.be/<id>
youtube.com/shorts/<id>
youtube.com/live/<id>
<11-character video ID>

What this tool can't do

It only works when the video has captions. It does not listen to the audio, so a video without captions has no transcript.
It does not translate. You can switch only to caption languages the video already has.
Age-restricted, private and members-only videos do not work.
The free tool shows the first 20,000 characters of long transcripts, roughly 20 minutes of normal speech.
A stream that is still live has no complete transcript yet.
Up to 30 new lookups a day per visitor. For more, use the API.

If something goes wrong

This video has no captions or transcript: The creator turned captions off or YouTube has not made automatic ones yet, which is common for music-only and brand-new videos. Try again later or pick another video.
Video is age-restricted: YouTube asks viewers to sign in for these videos, so a logged-out tool cannot read their captions.
No transcript in the language I want: Only the languages in the menu exist for this video. The tool does not translate.
The transcript stops partway: Long transcripts are cut at 20,000 characters in the free tool. The API returns the full text.
Wrong link type: Use a link to one video. Playlist and channel links do not work; open a video and copy its link instead.

For developers

Run it on many at once

The same data as JSON from one request. Use it on hundreds of links from your own code, a spreadsheet or n8n.

curl -X POST https://api.scrapeeverything.com/v1/youtube/transcript \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNQXAC9IVRw"}'

Not a developer? Fill a Google Sheet or use the n8n workflow with the same API key.

YouTube Transcript Generator FAQ

How do I get the transcript of a YouTube video?

Paste the video link above and press Get transcript. You get every caption line with its timestamp and the full text to copy.

Can I get a YouTube transcript without timestamps?

Yes. Copy all copies the plain text without timestamps. The .txt download keeps them, one caption per line.

Can I download the transcript?

Yes, as a .txt file with a timestamp on each line. For subtitle files to load in a video editor, use the YouTube Subtitle Downloader. YouTube Subtitle Downloader.

Does every YouTube video have a transcript?

No. Only videos with captions, typed by the creator or generated by YouTube, have one. This tool does not transcribe audio itself.

Do Shorts and live streams have transcripts?

Shorts and finished live streams often have automatic captions, and those work here. A stream that is still live has no complete transcript yet.

Can I get the transcript in another language?

You can switch to any caption language the video already has. The tool does not machine-translate.

How accurate are YouTube transcripts?

Captions written by the creator are usually accurate. Automatic captions are marked (auto) and often get names and technical terms wrong, so check quotes against the video.

Can I use the transcript with ChatGPT or Claude?

Yes. Press Copy all and paste the text into the chat with your question, for example a request for a summary. This tool does not summarize videos itself.

Use it responsibly

The tool shows only what YouTube shows to anyone who isn't logged in. Use what you see for research, planning and your own records, and respect people's privacy. Is this your account? Request removal.

Scrape Everything is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by YouTube or Google. YouTube is named here only to describe which links this tool accepts. Scrape Everything is operated by Senyo Labs Technology, Finanskent Mah. Prof. Hasan Küçük Cad. Sinpaş Finans Şehir 9. Blok No: 5 İç Kapı No: 5, Ümraniye/İstanbul, Türkiye.

Safe to use

No pop-up ads or redirect pages
Nothing to install: no app, no browser extension
We never ask for your YouTube password
Public content only: private accounts stay private
The account owner is not notified

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Updated 27 Oct 2026 · Maintained by the Scrape Everything team