01
Paste the link
Copy a public YouTube video, Short, embed, or live replay URL.
Free caption extraction tool
Free YouTube Transcript Generator
Use this free transcript tool to turn any public YouTube video with captions into clean, searchable text. Keep the timestamps, copy what matters, or download it in seconds.
Multiple languages TXT, SRT & VTT Nothing to install
Paste a link to begin
Generate a YouTube transcript
Paste a public video link. We'll find its available YouTube captions and create a clean, searchable video transcript.
✓ No sign-up✓ Free to use✓ Nothing stored
How it works
How to get a YouTube transcript
Paste the video link, choose an available caption track, then search, copy, or download the text.
02
Choose captions
We discover the available caption tracks and load the best match.
03
Use the text
Search, copy, or download the transcript in the format you need.
Made for real work
Everything a transcript should do
A focused reading experience for research, study, writing, accessibility, and content production.
Clickable timestamps
Jump from any transcript line to the exact moment in the video.
Instant search
Find a quote, topic, or name without scrubbing through the timeline.
Available languages
See every accessible caption track and switch without pasting the link again.
Clean copy
Copy readable text with timestamps switched on or off in one click.
Useful exports
Download TXT for notes or SRT and VTT for subtitle workflows.
Private by default
No account, no transcript history, and no user database in the current version.
Transcript formats
Get a YouTube transcript with timestamps
A practical transcript should be easy to read now and easy to reuse later.
Extract a YouTube video transcript: paste a public URL or ID and the generator loads an accessible caption track. Switch languages when the video provides more than one option, then search the transcript for a quote, topic, or name.
Download the transcript: save clean text as TXT, or keep subtitle timing in SRT and VTT files. You can also copy the full transcript with timestamps included or removed.
One video, many uses
Watch less. Understand more.
Turn spoken content into text you can scan, quote, translate, annotate, and reuse.
Try it free✓
Students
Turn lectures and tutorials into searchable study notes.
✓
Researchers
Find claims and quotations with precise source timestamps.
✓
Creators
Repurpose interviews and long videos into scripts and captions.
✓
Teams
Share readable meeting, demo, and webinar content.
Frequently asked questions
Transcript questions, answered
Is this YouTube transcript generator free?
Yes. You can generate, search, copy, and download transcripts without creating an account.
Which videos are supported?
TranscriptWave works with public YouTube videos, Shorts, embeds, and finished live replays when YouTube exposes an accessible caption track.
Can it transcribe a video with no captions?
Not yet. The first version reads caption tracks already available for a video. Videos without accessible captions will show a clear error instead of an inaccurate result.
How can I download a YouTube transcript?
Generate the transcript, then download clean text as TXT or timed subtitles as SRT and WebVTT. Timestamps can also be included or removed when copying plain text.
Do you store my transcripts?
No. The current version has no user database and does not save your submitted links or generated transcript in an account history.
Why are multiple languages available for some videos?
Creators and YouTube may publish several caption tracks. When they are available, use the language selector above the transcript to switch between them.
Generate a transcript in seconds
Paste a YouTube link and turn captions into text you can actually use.
Generate a free transcript