Download YouTube Subtitles
A free YouTube subtitle and caption downloader: paste a link, then download the subtitles or auto-generated captions as .srt, .vtt, or plain .txt. Free account, no card.
Works with watch links, youtu.be links, Shorts, live replays and bare 11-character video IDs.
SRT and VTT need real timestamps, available for most videos - a video without them still downloads as plain text.
How to download YouTube subtitles
- Paste the video's URL above and press "Get Free Transcript".
- On the transcript page, press "Download" next to the transcript.
- Pick a format: .srt and .vtt for video editors and players, .txt for reading.
What each format is for
.srt for editors
The subtitle format nearly every video editor and player accepts - drop it straight into your timeline.
.vtt for the web
The subtitle format browsers and web video players expect, for captions on a site or app.
.txt for reading
No timestamps, just the words - for notes, articles, or feeding to an AI.
Tools
Show all 33 toolsShow fewer
Need it in an app or workflow?
The website downloads one video at a time. For bulk or automated pulls, use the API or the MCP tool.
Downloading YouTube Subtitles FAQs
Is downloading YouTube subtitles free?
Yes. Downloading in any format is free with a free account. You can read and copy any transcript without signing in.
Why are .srt and .vtt sometimes greyed out?
Those formats need real per-line timestamps. A video processed a while ago may only have plain text cached - pasting its link again refreshes it with timestamps included.
What's the difference between .srt and .vtt?
Both carry the same timestamped lines. SRT is the older, near-universal format for video editors; VTT is the web standard, used by browsers and HTML5 video players.
Can I download subtitles in a language other than English?
Yes, in any language the video has captions for. Auto-detect finds the best match, or a specific caption language can be requested.
Do the downloaded subtitles include auto-generated captions?
Yes. Whatever caption track the video has, manual or auto-generated, is what downloads - a video with neither has no subtitles to download.
Do I need to sign in to download?
No. Signing in is only needed for AI features (summaries and chat about the video), which use account credits. Downloading the transcript itself never requires it.
Is this a YouTube subtitle downloader or a caption downloader?
Both. On YouTube, subtitles and closed captions are the same caption tracks, so this tool downloads either one: creator-uploaded captions or YouTube's auto-generated ones, as .srt, .vtt, or .txt.
