A DownSub Alternative for YouTube Subtitles and Transcripts
Both tools download YouTube subtitles for free without an account. DownSub covers dozens of video sites and adds auto-translation and dual subtitles in its Premium plan. GetYouTubeTranscript focuses on YouTube: an ad-free tool, AI summary and chat with the video, and an API with batch jobs and an MCP server for developers and AI agents.
| Feature | GetYouTubeTranscript | DownSub |
|---|---|---|
| Free YouTube subtitle download, no sign-up | ||
| Formats | TXT, SRT, VTT | SRT, VTT, TXT, raw |
| Ads on the free tool | No ads | Ads (Premium removes them) |
| Video sites | YouTube only | YouTube plus 35+ sites (Viki, Viu, WeTV, Dailymotion, TikTok, Vimeo and more) |
| Languages | Any caption language the video has | Any caption language, plus auto-translate (Premium) |
| Dual-language subtitles | ||
| AI summary and chat with the video | Both | Summaries (Premium); chat not listed |
| Public REST API | Yes (Premium) | |
| MCP server for AI agents | Not listed | |
| Batch jobs with webhooks, failed videos free | Playlist downloads (Premium) | |
| Chrome extension | ||
| Pricing | Free tool; 100 free API credits on signup, then $5/mo for 1,000 credits | Free tier with ads; Premium $5/mo with a 3-day trial (500 credits), then 5,000 API credits/mo |
Feature availability sourced directly from each product's own site. A question-mark icon means the feature isn't offered, or not published.
Verdict
Pick DownSub if you need subtitles from sites other than YouTube, dual-language subtitles, or auto-translation. Pick GetYouTubeTranscript if you work with YouTube and want an ad-free tool, AI summary and chat with the video, or an API built for agents, with an MCP server and batch jobs where failed videos cost nothing.
Want to try it yourself? Get a free transcript or see pricing and credits.
DownSub vs GetYouTubeTranscript FAQs
Is DownSub free?
Yes. DownSub's subtitle downloader is free without an account, with ads. Its Premium plan ($5/month after a 3-day trial) removes ads and adds features like auto-translation, playlist downloads and API access.
Can DownSub download subtitles from sites other than YouTube?
Yes, that's its main strength: Viki, Viu, WeTV, Dailymotion, TikTok, Vimeo and more. GetYouTubeTranscript only works with YouTube.
Does DownSub have an API?
Yes, as part of Premium. GetYouTubeTranscript's API also has an MCP server for Claude, ChatGPT and Cursor, and batch jobs with signed webhooks where videos that fail are not charged. New accounts get 100 free credits.
Do I need an account to download YouTube subtitles here?
No. Downloading a transcript or subtitles as TXT, SRT or VTT is free with no sign-up and no ads. An account is only needed for AI summary and chat, or the API.
Not affiliated with DownSub. Comparison is based on publicly available information as of October 2026; features change over time. Visit DownSub.