Free YouTube Transcript Extractor & Subtitle Downloader
Copy or download YouTube transcript with timestamped chapters or subtitle files. No daily limits, no signup. Paste a URL or video ID below. Supported formats: TXT, MD, SRT, WebVTT.
Paste the YouTube video link below.
Works on videos with captions enabled, including YouTube's auto-generated captions. Videos with captions disabled or restricted might return no results. Use in line with YouTube's Terms of Service.
How to get a YouTube transcript
Using YouTube's built-in option
On desktop, use More button in the video description, then click Show transcript. You get a timestamped panel, but no easy way to copy everything or save to file.
Using this page
Paste any YouTube URL or video ID above and run the tool, then copy or download the transcript or subtitle in any of the supported formats: TXT, MD, SRT, WebVTT.
Using the SkipBait Chrome extension
Want to copy or download the transcript directly on YouTube with one click? Simply install the SkipBait Chrome extension and click the transcribe video button without leaving YouTube.
How to download subtitles and captions (SRT & VTT)
YouTube shows captions on screen but does not let you save them as a file. To extract timed subtitles from a video:
- Paste the YouTube URL or video ID into the tool above
- Pick the caption language from the tracks available for that video
- Choose a format: plain text, Markdown, SRT, or WebVTT (SRT/VTT keep timing for editors and players)
- Copy to the clipboard or download a file
After you paste a URL, you see every caption and subtitle track YouTube exposes for that video—auto-generated and creator-uploaded, across supported languages—then select the one you need before exporting.
Chapters, timestamps & chaptered transcripts
When a video has YouTube chapters, you can read chapter titles and timestamps in one place and, if captions exist, export the transcript grouped under each chapter heading—handy for long interviews, courses, and podcasts.
- Paste a YouTube URL or video ID into the tool above
- Load the video to fetch chapters (when present) and captions
- Copy the chapter list or, under Copy / Download, choose Chaptered transcript for plain text or Markdown split by those headings
Not every video has chapters—only when the creator adds them or YouTube surfaces them. If there are no chapters, you still get the full transcript whenever captions are available.
With or without timestamps
Copy or download with timestamps when you need timing context; turn timestamps off for clean running text—better for notes, quotes, or pasting elsewhere.
On mobile
The Chrome extension is desktop-only. On mobile, open this page in your browser, paste the URL or ID, then use Copy or Download—the same options apply.
Who uses this tool?
- Students and researchers turn lectures and documentaries into searchable text
- Journalists and writers quote and verify from verbatim captions
- Language learners study with downloaded subs in their target language
- Editors and creators export SRT or VTT into timelines and other tools
- Accessibility and ops teams reuse caption files where timed text is required
Frequently asked questions
- How do I get a transcript, subtitles, or chapters from a YouTube video?
- Paste a YouTube URL or video ID into the tool above. Pick a caption language if several tracks exist. Copy or download as plain text or Markdown, export SRT or WebVTT for timed files, or use chaptered transcript when the video has chapters.
- Is this free?
- Yes. No daily limits and no signup for this web tool, as long as the video has captions YouTube exposes.
- Does every YouTube video have captions or subtitles?
- Most videos have auto-generated captions in at least one language. Creator-uploaded tracks may add more languages. If captions are turned off or restricted, this tool may return no text—try another video or check what's available on YouTube.
- What formats can I copy or download?
- Plain text and Markdown for reading and notes; SRT and WebVTT include timing for editors, players, and accessibility workflows. Chaptered transcript groups plain text or Markdown under each chapter title when chapters exist.
- Can I get the transcript with timestamps?
- Yes. Timestamps are included by default where timing exists, so you can follow along with timing in plain text, Markdown, SRT, or WebVTT exports.
- Can I copy a YouTube transcript without timestamps?
- Yes. Use the "copy without timestamps" option for plain text with no timing markers. Download paths that include timing (SRT, WebVTT) always keep timestamps by design.
- Can I get the transcript grouped by YouTube chapter?
- Yes, when the video has chapters and captions. Choose Chaptered transcript under Copy or Download. If there are no chapters, you get one full transcript.
- Does every YouTube video have chapters?
- No. Chapters appear only when the creator adds them or YouTube shows chapter data. Without chapters, you can still use captions for a normal transcript.
- Does this work on mobile?
- The Chrome extension is desktop only. On mobile, open this page in your browser and paste the URL—the same export options apply.
- What is the difference between subtitles and captions?
- Roughly: captions are same-language timed text for people who can't hear the audio; subtitles often mean translation. On YouTube the lines blur—this tool uses whatever timed text tracks exist on the video you paste.