YouTube to Text Converter
TranscribTxt transcribes video files you upload. To use it with a YouTube video, download the video first — then drop it here and get a precise text transcript in under a minute.
Free: 5 files/month, no card needed
Drop your file here
or click to browse files
How it works
Three steps, usually done in under two minutes.
Download from YouTube
Save the video as an MP4 or WebM file using yt-dlp or any download method you prefer. yt-dlp is a free, open-source command-line tool: yt-dlp "https://youtube.com/watch?v=…"
Upload it here
Drop the video file into the uploader above. No account required for the free plan — just pick your file and hit transcribe.
Get your transcript
Your transcript is ready in under a minute. Copy it, or download as TXT or SRT (Pro plan). Files are deleted from our servers right after.
Why not just use YouTube's built-in captions?
YouTube auto-captions are convenient, but they fall short in accuracy and flexibility.
| Feature | YouTube auto-captions | TranscribTxt |
|---|---|---|
| Accuracy | 80–95% | 97–99% (2.2% WER) |
| Accented speech | Often struggles | Handles well |
| Technical terms | Frequently wrong | High accuracy |
| Export formats | SRT only (via editor) | TXT + SRT (Pro) |
| Speaker labels | No | Yes (Business plan) |
| Speaker labels | No | Yes (Pro & Business) |
Accuracy powered by ElevenLabs Scribe v2 — currently the most accurate speech-to-text model available.
Who uses it
YouTube video transcription has a surprisingly wide range of use cases.
Research & note-taking
Turn long lecture recordings or interview videos into searchable text. Find the exact quote you need without rewatching.
Content repurposing
Convert a YouTube video into a blog post, newsletter, or social captions. Start from a transcript instead of a blank page.
Students & educators
Create study notes from video lessons or generate subtitles for class recordings. Works in 99 languages.
Accessibility
Produce accurate captions for videos that lack proper subtitles. Export as SRT (Pro) and add them back to any platform.
Frequently asked questions
Can I transcribe YouTube videos directly from a URL?
TranscribTxt works with video files you upload — not YouTube URLs directly. Download the YouTube video as an MP4 file first (using yt-dlp or a similar tool), then upload it here. The whole process takes under two minutes.
How accurate is the transcription compared to YouTube's auto-captions?
TranscribTxt uses ElevenLabs Scribe v2, which achieves 97–99% accuracy (2.2% word error rate). YouTube's built-in auto-captions range from 80–95% depending on accent, background noise, and speaking speed. The difference is especially noticeable with technical terms, accented speech, and fast talkers.
Is my YouTube video stored after transcription?
No. Your file is deleted from our servers immediately after the transcript is generated. We have a strict no-retention policy — nothing is stored, logged, or shared.
What video formats can I upload?
You can upload MP4, MOV, AVI, MKV, WebM, and most common audio formats (MP3, WAV, M4A). YouTube videos downloaded with yt-dlp are typically MP4 or WebM — both work perfectly.
Step-by-step guide
Want a full walkthrough — from downloading a YouTube video to getting a clean transcript?