“YouTube transcripts offer many benefits, from better accessibility to content reuse.”
Picture sitting through a 2-hour lecture, hurriedly writing notes. Your hand hurts, you miss important points. Annoying, right? Now imagine having the entire lecture in text form, searchable and ready for review.
Whether you’re a student, content creator, or researcher, being able to download transcripts can greatly improve your productivity. In this article, we’ll explore seven simple methods to get YouTube transcripts, suitable for various needs and technical skills.
Built-in YouTube Features for Quick Transcript Access
Are you a casual YouTube user looking for an easy way to get transcripts? These methods are perfect for you. They need no extra software and can be done directly on the YouTube platform.
- Access transcript via video player:
- Open the YouTube video
- Click the three dots below the player
- Select “Show transcript”
- Copy and save transcript:
- Highlight the entire transcript
- Copy (Ctrl+C on Windows, Command+C on Mac)
- Paste into a text editor
- Save as a .txt file
- Language selection:
- Click the dropdown menu at the bottom of the transcript
- Choose your preferred language
- Toggle timestamps:
- Use the option to include or remove timestamps as needed
“These built-in features make it easy for anyone to access transcripts without leaving the YouTube platform.”
These methods are especially useful for quick reference or when you need to quote specific parts of a video. For more information, see Rev’s Ultimate Guide to YouTube Transcripts.
Third-Party Tools for Better Transcript Downloads
For those who need more advanced features or want to simplify the process, these third-party tools offer extra functions and ease of use.
| Tool | Features | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Tactiq.io | – Easy URL paste – .txt download – No sign-up |
Free |
| YouTubeTranscriptApi | – Multiple languages – Auto-generated & manual captions – Advanced options |
Free |
| Maestra.ai | – 80+ languages – Subtitle generation – Translation options |
Free trial |
Using YouTubeTranscriptApi (Python package):
pip install youtube-transcript-api
from youtube_transcript_api import YouTubeTranscriptApi
transcript = YouTubeTranscriptApi.get_transcript("VIDEO_ID")
These tools are ideal for users who often work with YouTube transcripts or need to process multiple videos. They offer more flexibility and can save time for frequent users.
Browser Extensions for One-Click Transcripts
For those who prefer browser-based solutions, these extensions offer quick and easy access to transcripts:
| Extension | Features | Price |
|---|---|---|
| YT Scribe | Instant transcription | $4.99/month |
| Glasp | Free for Chrome, Brave, Edge, Safari, Opera | Free |
| CakeAI | 1 free transcript per day | From $5/month |
Browser extensions are great for users who want to easily add transcript downloading to their browsing experience.
Wrapping Up
Downloading transcripts from YouTube doesn’t have to be hard. Whether you like using built-in features, third-party tools, or browser extensions, there’s a method that fits your needs. Remember to think about copyright laws when using transcripts, especially for business purposes.
“For best results, try different methods to find the one that works best for your workflow.”
Think about things like how often you’ll use it, how many videos you need to transcribe, and any specific features you need (such as translation or timestamp removal).
By learning these techniques, you’ll unlock a lot of text content from YouTube videos, improving your learning, research, or content creation process.