Free YouTube Transcript Generator
Paste any YouTube link and get a clean, timestamped transcript in seconds. Copy it, search it, or download TXT and SRT — no sign-up required.
From link to transcript in three steps
Paste the video URL
Copy any public YouTube link and paste it into the box above.
Generate the transcript
We pull the video's native captions and format them with timestamps instantly.
Copy, search, or download
Read it on screen, search for a phrase, or export to TXT or SRT.
Supported formats
Plain text (.txt) · SubRip subtitles (.srt)
100+ languages
Transcripts are returned in the video's available caption language. Many YouTube videos publish captions in 100+ languages.
AI fallback
This free tool reads native captions only. For videos without captions, the ScriptBase API adds AI transcription (Deepgram/Whisper-grade) so you always get a result.
What people build with it
Content repurposing
Turn a video into a blog post, newsletter, or social thread in minutes.
Research & notes
Skim long talks and lectures by reading instead of watching.
Accessibility
Provide readable transcripts for viewers who prefer or need text.
Subtitles & captions
Export SRT to add or fix subtitles in your editor.
How the free tool stacks up
| Method | Speed | Accuracy | Bulk | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ScriptBase free tool | Seconds | Native captions | One at a time | Free |
| ScriptBase API | Seconds | Captions + AI fallback | Yes | From 1 credit |
| Manual copy/paste | Minutes | Error-prone | No | Free |
Need transcripts at scale?
The ScriptBase API gives you native captions plus AI fallback, bulk processing, and word-level timestamps across every major platform.
- Free API key — no credit card
- YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, X, and more
- AI fallback for videos without captions
- Word-level timestamps in 100+ languages
Questions, answered
Yes. Paste a URL and get the transcript at no cost, with no account required.
No sign-up is needed for the free tool. The ScriptBase API requires a free API key.
Plain text (.txt) and SubRip subtitles (.srt), generated in your browser.
Some videos don't publish captions. The free tool reads native captions only — the ScriptBase API can transcribe those videos with AI.
Yes. Toggle timestamps on or off and download SRT with timing preserved.
The free tool handles one video at a time. Use the ScriptBase API for bulk and automated workflows.
Whatever caption languages the video publishes — often 100+ across YouTube.
Native captions reflect what the creator or YouTube generated. Accuracy depends on the source captions.
You are responsible for how you use transcript content. Respect the original creator's rights and YouTube's terms.
Yes — the ScriptBase API returns transcripts and metadata for YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and more.
The free tool works best on standard-length videos; very long videos may time out. The API handles long content reliably.
We cache public transcripts to speed up repeat requests. The free tool does not require any personal data.