How do I get a transcript from a YouTube video?

Copy the video's URL from YouTube, paste it into the box at the top of this page, and click 'Get Transcript.' Our free YouTube transcript generator fetches the video's captions and displays the full transcript in seconds. You can then copy it as plain text, switch on timestamps, or download it as a .txt file.

Is this YouTube transcript generator free?

Yes. The tool is completely free to use — there's no software to install and no account or credit card required. You only enter your email once to unlock results, and then you can generate as many transcripts as you like.

Can I download the transcript?

Absolutely. Every transcript can be downloaded as a plain .txt file with one click, or copied straight to your clipboard. You can download it with or without timestamps depending on which view you have toggled on.

What if a video has no captions?

If a video doesn't have captions available — or it's private, unlisted, or unavailable — we'll show a clear message letting you know we couldn't find a transcript. Most public videos have either creator-uploaded or auto-generated captions, which the tool can extract.

Does it work with YouTube Shorts and share links?

Yes. You can paste a standard watch URL, a youtu.be share link, a YouTube Shorts URL, an embed link, or even just the 11-character video ID. The tool automatically detects the video ID from whatever you paste.

Can I get YouTube transcripts via API, MCP, or AI agents?

Yes. This tool is powered by the OutlierKit transcript API. If you want transcripts programmatically, you can call the OutlierKit API directly or connect it over MCP, and use it inside AI agents like Hermes and OpenClaw to fetch transcripts as part of an automated workflow. See the OutlierKit API docs to get started.

Free YouTube Transcript Generator — Extract Any Video Transcript

How to Use

Copy the link of the YouTube video you want to transcribe
Paste the URL (or a youtu.be link or video ID) into the box above
Click Get Transcript and wait a moment while we fetch the captions
Toggle 'Include timestamps' if you want time-coded lines
Copy the transcript to your clipboard or download it as a .txt file

Watch UTubeKit in Action

See how UTubeKit helps YouTube creators generate optimized titles, descriptions, thumbnails, and more — completely free.

What Is the YouTube Transcript Generator?

Our free YouTube transcript generator turns any YouTube video into clean, readable text in seconds. Paste a video link — a full URL, a youtu.be share link, or even a bare video ID — and the tool pulls the video's captions and displays the full transcript in a scrollable panel you can copy or download as a .txt file. No software to install, no account to create, and no cost. It works for tutorials, podcasts, interviews, lectures, product reviews, and any other video that has captions available.

Creators use it to repurpose long videos into blog posts, show notes, newsletters, and social captions. Students and researchers use it to search, quote, and reference spoken content without rewatching. Editors use the optional timestamps to jump straight to the moment that matters. Once you have the transcript, turn it into your next video with our Video Script Writer, polish your metadata with the Video Optimizer, or mine it for ranking terms with the Keyword Generator.

Who It's For

Content repurposers turning one video into blogs, threads, and newsletters.
Researchers & students who need a searchable, quotable text version of a talk or lecture.
Creators studying a competitor's hook, structure, and pacing word for word.
Editors & VAs who need timestamps to locate exact moments fast.

Plain Text or Timestamped

Toggle Include timestamps to switch between a clean paragraph view — perfect for repurposing into articles — and a timestamped view like [0:00] Hidden in this mountain… that maps every line back to the exact second in the video. Whatever view you choose is exactly what gets copied or downloaded.

For Developers & AI Agents

This tool is powered by the OutlierKit transcript API. If you need YouTube transcripts programmatically, you can call the OutlierKit API directly or connect it over MCP — and pull transcripts inside AI agents like Hermes and OpenClaw as part of an automated workflow. The same endpoint that powers this page is available for your own apps and agents.