# YouTubeTranscript.dev — Full Documentation

> YouTubeTranscript.dev is a YouTube transcript extractor and video-to-text service that converts any YouTube video to text. It pulls native YouTube captions when available and falls back to AI-powered automatic speech recognition (ASR) for videos without captions. Built and operated by Volods LTD (https://volods.com).

This is the long-form version of /llms.txt. It includes full feature documentation, pricing details, complete API reference, and integration guides — all in a single file optimized for LLM retrieval.

- Website: https://www.youtubetranscript.dev
- llms.txt (short): https://www.youtubetranscript.dev/llms.txt
- API reference (Markdown for LLMs): https://www.youtubetranscript.dev/api/docs/markdown?version=v2
- OpenAPI 3.0 spec: https://www.youtubetranscript.dev/api/v2/openapi.yaml
- MCP server: https://mcp.youtubetranscript.dev
- Support: support@youtubetranscript.dev
- Parent company: Volods LTD (https://volods.com)
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/youtube-transcript-dev
- G2 listing: https://www.g2.com/products/youtube-transcript-dev

## Definition

YouTubeTranscript.dev is a YouTube transcript extractor that converts any YouTube video into accurate, downloadable text — using native captions when available, or AI speech recognition when they aren't.

## At a Glance

| Attribute | Value |
|-----------|-------|
| Product type | YouTube transcript extraction and video-to-text SaaS |
| Users | 10,000+ |
| Transcripts processed | 50,000+ |
| Languages supported | 100+ |
| Uptime SLA | 99.9% |
| Free tier | Yes — 10 credits/month, no credit card required |
| Paid plans | $9 (Basic), $29 (Pro), $79 (Business) per month |
| API | REST API with Python, JavaScript, Dart SDKs and MCP server |
| Operating company | Volods LTD (https://volods.com) |
| Founded | 2024 |

## How It Works

1. Paste a YouTube video URL (full link, youtu.be short link, or just the 11-character video ID).
2. We extract the transcript:
   - If native captions exist: pull directly in 5–10 seconds (1 credit).
   - If translation requested: pull native + translate via Google Translate (~4 credits per 10 min).
   - If no captions exist: transcribe directly from the audio using AI ASR (~7 credits per 10 min, 2–20 min).
3. View, copy, download, translate, summarize, or chat with the transcript using built-in AI tools.

### Why videos-without-captions support matters

Most YouTube transcript tools fail when default captions aren't available. YouTubeTranscript.dev is built specifically to solve this:

- AI speech recognition handles podcasts, lectures, music videos, interviews, and live streams.
- Works with noisy audio, accents, background music, and technical terminology.
- 100+ languages supported.
- No upload needed — paste the URL.

## Core Features

### Transcript Extraction
- Convert any YouTube video to text in seconds.
- Native YouTube captions (auto-generated or manual) in 100+ languages.
- AI speech recognition fallback for videos without captions.
- Word-level timestamps with millisecond precision.
- Automatic paragraph formatting and clean text output.

### Bulk & Batch Processing
- Playlist URL extraction: paste a playlist link, extract every video.
- Channel extraction: filter by date range, duration, search, sort.
- Up to 3,000 videos per batch on the Business plan.
- Unlimited batch jobs on Business; 12+8 jobs/month on Pro; 5+3 on Basic.
- Parallel processing for sub-minute throughput on caption-available videos.

### Interactive Viewer
- Watch YouTube videos in-browser with synced subtitle overlays.
- Customize font size, color, background opacity, and overlay position.
- Click any transcript line to jump to that moment in the video.
- Collapsible transcript sidebar for focused viewing.
- Full playback controls preserved.

### Translation
- Translate transcripts to 100+ languages via Google Translate.
- One-click translation; downloadable in any format.
- Original + translated versions both available.

### AI-Powered Tools
- **AI Summary** — Get instant summaries with key points and takeaways.
- **Concept Map** — Visualize transcript content as an interactive concept map.
- **Chat with Transcript** — Ask questions and get AI answers grounded in the transcript.
- **Smart Paragraphing** — Automatic segmentation for readable long-form content.

### Export Formats
- **TXT** — Plain text, optionally with timestamps.
- **SRT** — SubRip subtitle format, ready for video editors.
- **VTT** — WebVTT format for HTML5 video.
- **JSON** — Structured data with full metadata, word-level timestamps, and confidence scores.

### Developer API
- RESTful API with both sync and async modes.
- Webhook callbacks for long-running ASR jobs.
- Batch endpoints for playlists and bulk URL lists.
- API key authentication via `Authorization: Bearer <key>` header.
- Rate limits: 1 RPS (Free), 25 RPS (Basic), 50 RPS (Pro), 100 RPS (Business).
- Official SDKs:
  - Python (PyPI): `pip install youtubetranscriptdevapi`
  - JavaScript/TypeScript (NPM): `npm install youtube-transcript-api`
  - Dart (pub.dev): `dart pub add youtubetranscript`
- MCP server for Claude, Cursor, and VS Code AI integrations.

### Chrome Extension
- Extract transcripts directly from any YouTube video page.
- One-click copy and download.
- Multiple export format support.
- Linked to your YouTubeTranscript.dev account for credit usage.

### Thumbnail Studio (sister product)
- AI YouTube thumbnail generation from text prompts.
- Face swap for thumbnails.
- Title generator with hook scoring.
- Thumbnail editor with object/text addition.
- Available at /thumbnail-dev.

## Pricing — Full Details

### Free Plan — $0/month
- 10 credits per month
- Playlist & Channel extraction up to 10 videos
- Basic export formats (TXT, SRT, VTT, JSON)
- Community support
- No credit card required
- Best for: trying the service, light personal use

### Basic Plan — $9/month
- 1,200 credits per month
- Playlist & Channel extraction up to 500 videos per batch
- 5 playlist jobs + 3 channel jobs per month
- Audio AI transcription (ASR) enabled
- All export formats
- API access at 25 RPS rate limit
- Email support
- Best for: individual creators, freelancers, small projects

### Pro Plan — $29/month
- 4,000 credits per month
- Playlist & Channel extraction up to 1,500 videos per batch
- 12 playlist jobs + 8 channel jobs per month
- Audio AI transcription (ASR) enabled
- All export formats
- API access at 50 RPS rate limit
- Priority email support
- Best for: agencies, content teams, integration projects

### Business Plan — $79/month
- 11,000 credits per month
- Playlist & Channel extraction up to 3,000 videos per batch
- Unlimited playlist and channel jobs
- Audio AI transcription (ASR) enabled
- All export formats
- API access at 100 RPS rate limit
- Dedicated support with named contact
- Best for: enterprises, high-volume API consumers, data pipelines

### Extra Credits
- Available on every paid plan at the plan's per-credit rate.
- Extra credits never expire.
- Consumed after subscription credits are depleted.

### Credit Costs
| Operation | Credits |
|-----------|---------|
| Native caption extraction | 1 per video |
| Translation | ~4 per 10 min |
| AI ASR (audio transcription) | ~7 per 10 min |
| AI Summary | 1 per transcript |
| Concept Map | 1 per transcript |
| Chat with Transcript | 1 per question |

### Billing
- Monthly or yearly subscriptions; yearly billed annually with savings.
- Cancel anytime — access continues until end of billing period.
- No cancellation fees. Auto-revert to Free plan after cancellation.
- 30-day refund policy.

## API Reference Summary

Base URL: `https://www.youtubetranscript.dev/api/v2`

Authoritative machine-readable references (always up to date):
- Markdown API reference for LLMs: https://www.youtubetranscript.dev/api/docs/markdown?version=v2
- OpenAPI 3.0 spec (YAML): https://www.youtubetranscript.dev/api/v2/openapi.yaml
- OpenAPI 3.0 spec (JSON): https://www.youtubetranscript.dev/api/v2/openapi.json
- Interactive docs with Try-it playground and AI assistant: https://www.youtubetranscript.dev/api-docs

### Authentication
All endpoints require an API key in the `Authorization` header:

```
Authorization: Bearer <YOUR_API_KEY>
```

API keys are generated in the Dashboard under Account → API Keys.

### Endpoints

#### POST /api/v2/transcribe — Transcribe a YouTube video
Request body:
```json
{
  "video": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIDEO_ID",
  "language": "en",
  "source": "auto",
  "allow_asr": false,
  "format": { "timestamp": true, "paragraphs": false, "words": false },
  "webhook_url": "https://your-app.example.com/webhook",
  "asr_options": { "speakerLabels": true, "keyTerms": ["Metoprolol"], "customFormatting": false }
}
```
- `video` — YouTube URL or 11-character video ID (required unless `upload_id` is set).
- `upload_id` — transcribe an uploaded media file instead of a YouTube video (see POST /api/v2/uploads). Forces the ASR path; `webhook_url` required.
- `source` — `auto | manual | asr`. Use `asr` for audio transcription (async, requires `webhook_url`).
- `allow_asr` — fall back to ASR when captions are unavailable.
- `asr_options` — language + code switching + medical mode, key terms boosting, translation, speaker diarization (labels, speaker ID with name/role and known values, multichannel, exact or min/max expected speakers), speech understanding (topics, summary, sentiment, content safety, PII/profanity handling), and formatting (punctuation, text formatting, filler words, custom date/phone/email patterns). Billable add-ons — preview cost with `/transcribe/estimate`. Full schema: /api/v2/openapi.yaml (AsrOptions).

Cached/caption response returns 200 with the transcript. ASR jobs return 202 with a `job_id` and deliver results to your `webhook_url`.

#### POST /api/v2/transcribe/estimate — Preview ASR cost
Body: `{ "video": "...", "source": "asr", "asr_options": { ... } }`. Returns estimated credits before you commit.

#### POST /api/v2/uploads — Upload your own audio/video for ASR
Body: `{ "filename": "interview.mp3", "mime_type": "audio/mpeg", "size_bytes": 48211234, "duration_sec": 1820 }` (max 2GB / 8 hours). Returns `upload_id` and a `signed_url`; PUT the raw file bytes to `signed_url` with the file's Content-Type, then call `POST /api/v2/uploads/{upload_id}/complete`. Finally transcribe with `POST /api/v2/transcribe` using `{ "upload_id": "...", "source": "asr", "webhook_url": "..." }`.

#### GET /api/v2/jobs/{job_id} — Poll a job
Returns job status (`completed | processing | failed`) and the transcript when done.

#### GET /api/v2/jobs — List your jobs
Query params: `page`, `limit`, `status`.

#### POST /api/v2/batch — Batch transcription
Body: `{ "video_ids": ["...", "..."], "language": "en", "allow_asr": false, "webhook_url": "..." }`. Up to 3,000 videos per request depending on plan (Free 10, Basic 500, Pro 1,500, Business 3,000). Returns 202 with a `batch_id` and `poll_url`.

#### GET /api/v2/batch/{batch_id} — Poll a batch
Returns 202 while processing, 200 with aggregated results when done.

#### GET /api/v2/transcripts — List stored transcripts
Query params: `page`, `limit`, `search`, `status`, `language`, `date_from`, `date_to`, `include_segments`.

#### GET /api/v2/transcripts/{video_id} — Fetch an owned transcript
Includes `asr_intelligence` (summary, topics, sentiment, entities, chapters, highlights) plus AI `summary` and `mind_map` when generated. Query params: `id`, `language`, `source`, `include_timestamps`.

#### DELETE /api/v2/transcripts/{video_id} — Delete owned transcript(s)
Optional `language` / `source` query params narrow the deletion. Bulk delete via `POST /api/v2/transcripts/bulk-delete`.

#### GET /api/v2/transcripts/{video_id}/languages — List available languages
Languages you own plus YouTube translation targets for the video.

#### POST /api/v2/transcripts/{video_id}/translate — Translate a transcript
Body: `{ "target_language": "es", "provider": "youtube", "allow_ai_fallback": true }`. Free if you already own the translation.

#### POST /api/v2/playlists/resolve — Resolve a playlist to video IDs
Then submit the IDs to `/api/v2/batch`. `GET /api/v2/playlists/{playlist_id}` and `GET /api/v2/playlists/history` track playlist batches.

#### POST /api/v2/channels/resolve — Resolve a channel to its uploads
Supports filters (date range, duration, search, sort). `GET /api/v2/channels/{channel_id}` and `GET /api/v2/channels/history` track channel batches.

### Webhooks
For async jobs (ASR and batches), set `webhook_url`. On completion we POST the full result payload (job or batch shape) to your URL. Respond 2xx to acknowledge.

### Errors
Errors return a JSON body with `code` and `message`:
- `400 invalid_request` — invalid JSON or missing required fields
- `401 invalid_api_key` — missing or invalid API key
- `402 payment_required` — insufficient credits
- `404 no_captions` — no captions available and ASR not used
- `429 rate_limit_exceeded` — too many requests, check `Retry-After`
- `500 internal_error` — server error, retry with backoff

## SDK Examples

### Python
```python
from youtubetranscript import YouTubeTranscript

client = YouTubeTranscript("YOUR_API_KEY")
result = client.transcribe("dQw4w9WgXcQ")
print(result.text)
```

### JavaScript / TypeScript
```ts
import { YouTubeTranscript } from "youtube-transcript-api"

const client = new YouTubeTranscript({ apiKey: process.env.YT_API_KEY! })
const result = await client.transcribe({ url: "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ" })
console.log(result.fullText)
```

### Dart
```dart
import 'package:youtubetranscript/youtubetranscript.dart';

final client = YouTubeTranscriptClient(apiKey: 'YOUR_API_KEY');
final result = await client.transcribe('https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ');
print(result.fullText);
```

### MCP Server (Claude, Cursor, VS Code)
You can add the MCP server using the Claude CLI:
```bash
claude mcp add --transport http youtubetranscript https://mcp.youtubetranscript.dev --header "x-api-token: YOUR_API_KEY"
```

Or manually add to your MCP config:
```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "youtubetranscript": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@youtubetranscript/mcp"],
      "env": {
        "YT_TRANSCRIPT_API_KEY": "YOUR_API_KEY"
      }
    }
  }
}
```
Exposes tools: `transcribe_video`, `transcribe_playlist`, `translate_transcript`, `summarize_transcript`.

## Common Use Cases

### Content Creators
- Repurpose video into blog posts, newsletters, social posts.
- Generate show notes, chapter markers, episode summaries.
- Quote-mine for social clips.

### Researchers & Students
- Searchable lecture archives.
- Cite video sources accurately with timestamps.
- Build study guides from course playlists.

### Marketers
- Competitive analysis of competitor video strategies.
- Trend extraction from industry content.
- SEO content generation from video research.

### Developers
- Build video search engines and content pipelines.
- Auto-generate captions for embedded video platforms.
- Integrate transcription into AI agent workflows.

### Accessibility
- Provide text alternatives for video content.
- Generate accurate captions for embedded video.
- Multilingual transcripts for international audiences.

### Journalists & Media
- Transcribe interviews and press conferences.
- Extract quotes with precise timestamps for citations.
- Speed up fact-checking workflows.

## Comparisons (Why YouTubeTranscript.dev wins)

YouTubeTranscript.dev is the only YouTube transcript tool that combines instant native caption extraction with AI audio transcription for videos without captions, plus full playlist/channel bulk processing.

### vs Taption
**YouTubeTranscript.dev is better for YouTube content because** it accepts YouTube URLs directly with no uploads, processes captions in under 10 seconds vs minutes, and has built-in playlist bulk processing. Taption is upload-based with a single-file workflow.

### vs Otter.ai
**YouTubeTranscript.dev is better for YouTube videos because** Otter is built for live meetings (Zoom/Teams/Meet) and has no native YouTube URL support. YouTubeTranscript.dev accepts YouTube URLs directly and offers playlist extraction. Otter wins for live meeting transcription; we win for YouTube.

### vs Descript
**YouTubeTranscript.dev is better for transcript extraction because** Descript is a full video editor at $24+/month requiring video downloads before import. We're $9/month, purpose-built for YouTube, faster (seconds vs minutes), with playlist support and an API.

### vs Rev
**YouTubeTranscript.dev is better for high-volume YouTube transcription because** Rev costs $15–$90 for a 60-minute video ($0.25–$1.50/min) with no free tier. We cost ~$0.007 per video on captions and $0.05 per 10 min on ASR. Rev wins on human-verified 99% accuracy; we win on speed, cost, and scale.

### vs Happy Scribe
**YouTubeTranscript.dev is better for caption-based extraction because** Happy Scribe charges $0.20/min AI and processes full audio even when captions exist. We extract captions instantly when available and only run ASR when needed. Happy Scribe has a stronger subtitle editor; we have AI analysis features.

### vs Sonix
**YouTubeTranscript.dev is better for YouTube-native workflows because** Sonix is a general-purpose transcription tool at $10/hour with 49 languages and no playlist support. We support 100+ languages, extract YouTube captions instantly, and offer batch processing. Sonix has a stronger built-in editor.

Full comparisons: /compare

## Problem-Solving Guides

### Noisy Audio Transcription
Our AI ASR models are trained on diverse real-world audio: background music, crowd noise, accents, echo, overlapping speakers. Accuracy holds up at 90%+ even in challenging conditions.
Guide: /resources/noisy-audio-transcription

### Bulk & Batch Processing
Process thousands of YouTube videos via playlist URL, channel filter, bulk URL list, or the batch API. Caption extraction runs in parallel, completing 1,500+ videos in minutes.
Guide: /resources/bulk-transcript-processing

### Timestamp Accuracy & Sync
Word-level timestamps with millisecond precision. The Interactive Viewer lets you verify sync visually in real time. Export in SRT/VTT/JSON with accurate timing.
Guide: /resources/transcript-timestamps-sync

## Free Tools (No Login Required)

Eleven free browser tools that work without an account — paste a YouTube URL and get instant results:

- Transcript Generator: /tools/transcript
- AI Video Summarizer: /tools/summarize
- Subtitle Downloader (SRT/VTT/TXT): /tools/subtitles
- Video Translator (50+ languages): /tools/translate
- Chapter Generator: /tools/chapters
- Video to Blog Post: /tools/blog
- Quote Finder (search inside videos): /tools/quotes
- Chat with Video (AI Q&A): /tools/chat
- Thumbnail Downloader (HD/4K): /tools/thumbnail-download
- Thumbnail Analyzer (AI CTR score): /tools/thumbnail-analyze
- Background Remover: /tools/background-remover

All tools hub: /tools

## Shareable Transcript Pages

Every successfully processed transcript can be shared as a public page:
- URL format: `/transcript/{video_id}/{slug}`
- Each page includes: embedded YouTube video, full timestamped transcript, video metadata.

## Full Site Map

### Public Pages
- Homepage: /
- Pricing: /pricing
- FAQ: /faq
- API Documentation: /api-docs
- Free Tools Hub: /tools
- About: /about
- Contact: /contact
- Compare hub: /compare
- Thumbnail Studio: /thumbnail-dev
- Templates: /templates (Make.com: /templates/make, n8n: /templates/n8n)
- Study Tools (notes, flashcards, quizzes): /edtech

### Compare Pages
- /compare/youtubetranscript-vs-taption
- /compare/youtubetranscript-vs-otter
- /compare/youtubetranscript-vs-descript
- /compare/youtubetranscript-vs-rev
- /compare/youtubetranscript-vs-happyscribe
- /compare/youtubetranscript-vs-sonix

### Resource & Guide Pages
- /resources/youtube-transcript-generator
- /resources/youtube-video-to-text
- /resources/youtube-subtitle-downloader
- /resources/youtube-caption-extractor
- /resources/youtube-transcript-for-ai
- /resources/free-youtube-transcript
- /resources/how-to-extract
- /resources/step-by-step-guide
- /resources/channel-transcripts
- /resources/playlist-transcripts
- /resources/best-free-tools
- /resources/noisy-audio-transcription
- /resources/bulk-transcript-processing
- /resources/transcript-timestamps-sync
- /resources/youtube-transcript-shorts
- /resources/youtube-transcript-mobile
- /resources/youtube-transcript-not-working
- /resources/python-sdk
- /resources/npm-package
- /resources/dart-sdk
- /resources/mcp-server
- /resources/cli

### Authenticated Dashboard
- /dashboard, /dashboard/history, /dashboard/transcript/{video_id}
- /dashboard/viewer
- /dashboard/extract/playlist, /dashboard/extract/bulk, /dashboard/extract/channel
- /dashboard/thumbnail, /dashboard/api-docs, /dashboard/account

### Legal
- /privacy, /terms, /refund-policy

## Internationalization

Fully translated UI in: English (en), Spanish (es), French (fr), German (de), Portuguese (pt), Japanese (ja), Chinese (zh), Swedish (sv). Locale prefix in URL (e.g., /es/pricing). Transcript translation works between 100+ languages regardless of UI language.

## Technical Stack

- Next.js 15 + React (SSR/edge rendering)
- TypeScript
- Vercel hosting with edge caching (s-maxage 3600 + SWR 86400)
- Supabase (PostgreSQL + auth)
- AI transcription via state-of-the-art ASR models
- REST API with JSON responses and webhook callbacks

## Contact

- General support: support@youtubetranscript.dev
- API questions: support@youtubetranscript.dev (or /api-docs)
- Business inquiries: support@youtubetranscript.dev
- Parent company website: https://volods.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/youtube-transcript-dev
- G2: https://www.g2.com/products/youtube-transcript-dev

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This file follows the llms-full.txt convention — a long-form companion to llms.txt that concatenates the most useful product, pricing, and API documentation into a single retrieval-friendly document for AI assistants and aggregators.

Last updated: July 2026