YouTube transcript generator
Any YouTube video, as text, free.
Paste a link to a video, a Short or a live replay. The transcript appears in seconds, in readable paragraphs with timestamps. No account, nothing to install.
Any public video, Short or live replay. Captions appear in seconds.
Sign in free: 2 hours per file
And every transcript saved to your library.
By the makers of Recordd, the voice recorder app for iPhone, Mac & Apple Watch · Privacy
How to get the transcript of a YouTube video
Paste a link. That's it.
Copy the video's link.
From the address bar, or Share → Copy link in the YouTube app. Normal videos, Shorts and finished live streams all work.
Paste it here.
The video's captions show up in a few seconds, as readable paragraphs with timestamps. Switch the caption language if the video has several.
Copy it or download it.
Copy the whole transcript in one click, or download it as plain text or Markdown with timestamps. Earlier transcripts stay listed on this device.
Transcribe YouTube videos, Shorts, podcasts and lectures
Anything public on YouTube.
- youtube.com/watch
- Regular videos, from the browser or a shared link
- youtu.be
- Short share links from the YouTube app
- Shorts
- youtube.com/shorts links work as they are
- Live replays
- Once a stream has ended and the replay is up
- Lectures · podcasts
- Long talks and interviews, in readable paragraphs
- Music videos
- Lyrics come through captions when the video has them
Private, members-only and age-restricted videos can't be transcribed. Have the file on your computer instead? Use the video to text converter.
Free YouTube transcript tools in 2026, compared
What each one actually gives you.
Most YouTube transcript generators read the video's captions, as this one does. Here is what each one publishes. Checked 2026-10-05.
| Tool | Free limit | Account | Speaker labels |
|---|---|---|---|
| YouTube “Show transcript” | Free, only on videos with captions | None | No |
| Tactiq | Free, captions only | None | No |
| Recordd (this tool) | Free, no stated limit | None | Not yet |
| TurboScribe | 3 files a day, 30 min each | Required | Yes |
| NoteGPT | Free, no stated limit | None | Option offered |
Limits change. If one of these is out of date, tell us and we’ll fix it. Have the video file? Use the video to text converter. Comparing apps: Recordd vs Otter.
Transcribe what you hear, not just what's on YouTube
The tool transcribes a video.
The app records your life.
Lectures, meetings, calls
Record on iPhone, Mac or Apple Watch and the transcript is waiting when you stop. No time limit on Pro.
Speakers with names
Name someone once and their voice is recognized in every recording. On Mac, you are tagged as you.
Summary, action items, chat
Every recording gets a title, a summary, and action items. Ask it a question and jump to the moment.
One library, four devices
iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch. Record on one, search on another. Works offline, syncs later.
Watching a webinar on a Mac? Recordd records your Mac's audio and your microphone as two tracks. Recordd for Mac
YouTube transcripts: questions
The fine print, plainly.
Is this YouTube transcript generator free?+
Yes. Paste as many links as you like, with no account, no email and no credit card.
How do I get the transcript of a YouTube video?+
Copy the video's link, paste it into the box at the top of this page, and the transcript appears in a few seconds. You can copy it or download it as text or Markdown. YouTube also has a built-in Show transcript button under many videos, but it shows the text in small pieces and can't be downloaded in one go.
What if the video has no captions?+
Then YouTube has no transcript for it yet. If you have the video file, our video to text converter transcribes the audio itself, with every speaker labeled.
Do you download the video?+
No. We read the video's captions and turn them into a clean transcript; the video itself is never downloaded or stored. Finished transcripts stay in your browser for 24 hours, or in your Recordd library if you sign in and save them; delete them any time.
Can I transcribe YouTube Shorts and live streams?+
Shorts, yes, paste the link as it is. Live streams work once they have ended and the replay is available; a stream that is still live can't be transcribed yet.
Which languages are supported?+
Whatever languages the video's captions come in, including auto-generated ones. When a video has several, switch between them above the transcript.
Can I transcribe private or members-only videos?+
No. Only public and unlisted videos can be transcribed. Private, members-only and age-restricted videos aren't reachable without signing in, and we never ask for your YouTube account.
Can I get the transcript as subtitles (SRT)?+
Not yet. You get plain text or Markdown with timestamps. Subtitle files are on our list.
Something wrong, or a video you think shouldn't be here?+
Write to support@recordd.co. We read everything, and we respond to rights holders the same day.
Free transcription tools, no account
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Free audio transcription online, no sign-up. Record or upload mp3, m4a, wav or video and get AI audio to text with speaker labels in 26 languages.
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