FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

We use our own proprietary infrastructure to extract transcripts from YouTube videos. We retrieve caption data and process it with advanced features like word-level timestamps, automatic paragraph formatting, and sentiment analysis. For videos without captions, our AI speech recognition handles the transcription. We support both auto-generated and manually uploaded transcripts.

No problem! When YouTube captions aren't available, we use advanced AI speech recognition (ASR) to transcribe directly from the video's audio track. This means you can get accurate transcripts for virtually any video, even those where the creator has disabled captions or YouTube hasn't generated automatic subtitles. The ASR feature supports 100+ languages and delivers high-quality results.

The free plan includes 100 transcript extractions per month. This resets on the first day of each month. If you need more extractions, you can upgrade to our Plus plan (500/month) or Pro plan (unlimited). All failed extractions (videos without transcripts) don't count toward your limit.

Yes, as long as you have access to view the video. Simply paste the full URL (including any access parameters) into YouTubeTranscript.dev. However, you must have permission to view the video - we cannot bypass YouTube's privacy restrictions.

We support multiple download formats: Plain Text (.txt), JSON (.json), SubRip (.srt), and WebVTT (.vtt). Advanced features include word-level timestamps for precise navigation, automatic paragraph formatting for better readability, and sentiment analysis to understand the emotional tone of the content. All formats and features are available on all plans including the free tier.

Yes! All plans include API access. You can find your API key in your account settings after logging in. Our API documentation includes examples in multiple programming languages and detailed endpoint descriptions. The free plan has a rate limit of 10 requests per minute, while paid plans have higher limits.

We store metadata about your extractions (video URL, title, extraction date) in your history for convenience, but we don't permanently store the actual transcript content. You can access your extraction history to re-download transcripts, which are fetched fresh from YouTube each time. You can delete items from your history at any time.

Yes! We offer bulk extraction features for playlists and channels. Simply paste a playlist or channel URL, and we'll extract transcripts from all videos. This feature uses credits based on the number of videos processed. Large batches are processed in the background, and you'll receive an email when complete.

YouTubeTranscript.dev supports all languages that YouTube provides transcripts for. This includes automatic captions in over 80 languages and manually uploaded captions in any language. If a video has multiple transcript languages available, you can select which one to extract.

Transcript accuracy depends on the source. Manually uploaded captions by the video creator are typically very accurate. Auto-generated captions vary in accuracy based on audio quality, accents, and technical terminology - they're generally 70-90% accurate. YouTubeTranscript.dev delivers the exact same transcripts YouTube provides without modification.

Yes, you can cancel your subscription at any time from your account settings. You'll continue to have access to your paid plan features until the end of your current billing period. After cancellation, you'll automatically be moved to the free plan. No questions asked, no cancellation fees.

Yes, our service is completely legal and safe to use. We access publicly available transcript data that YouTube provides through their platform, and for videos without captions, we use secure AI-powered speech recognition to transcribe from the audio. Your data is protected, and we don't store your transcript content permanently. We comply with YouTube's Terms of Service and maintain strict privacy standards. However, how you use the transcripts is your responsibility - please respect copyright and fair use laws.

YouTubeTranscript.dev is the fastest way to turn YouTube videos into searchable text. Paste a YouTube URL and get the full transcript in under 10 seconds when captions are available. For videos without captions, AI audio transcription delivers results in minutes. The text is instantly searchable, copyable, and downloadable in TXT, SRT, VTT, or JSON formats.

Yes — YouTubeTranscript.dev transcribes directly from YouTube videos without any file downloads or uploads. For videos with captions, it extracts the text instantly. For videos without captions, it uses AI speech recognition to transcribe the audio track directly, supporting 100+ languages. Just paste the URL and click Extract.

Yes. YouTubeTranscript.dev provides word-level timestamps with millisecond precision on every transcript. You can view timestamps inline, export in SRT or VTT format for subtitles, or use JSON format for structured data with per-segment timing. The Interactive Viewer lets you click any line to jump to that exact moment in the video.

With YouTubeTranscript.dev, caption-based transcripts are ready in under 10 seconds — perfect for feeding into ChatGPT, Claude, or other AI tools. Download as plain text or JSON with timestamps. The AI Summary feature can also generate a condensed overview instantly, and Chat with Transcript lets you ask questions about the video content directly.

YouTube's auto-generated captions are typically 70-90% accurate. For higher accuracy, YouTubeTranscript.dev offers AI audio transcription that often outperforms YouTube's auto-captions, especially for noisy audio, accents, and technical content. You can verify accuracy using the Interactive Viewer before using the transcript for clips or subtitles.

YouTubeTranscript.dev is designed to be the simplest transcription tool available. No account is required for basic extraction — just paste a YouTube URL and get the transcript. There are no file uploads, no format conversions, no complex settings. Non-technical teams can start extracting transcripts immediately with zero learning curve. Trusted by 3,000+ users.

Absolutely. YouTubeTranscript.dev's AI transcription works on videos without captions, making it invaluable for researchers studying uncaptioned content. Extract text from interviews, lectures, and presentations that lack subtitles. The AI Summary feature provides quick overviews, and the Mind Map visualizes topics and themes for qualitative analysis.

The most important features are: (1) Speed — how fast you get the transcript, (2) Accuracy — especially for noisy audio and accents, (3) Export formats — TXT, SRT, VTT, JSON for different workflows, (4) Videos without captions — AI transcription when YouTube captions are missing, (5) Bulk processing — handling playlists and multiple videos. YouTubeTranscript.dev excels in all five areas.