Free tool · No sign-up

YouTube transcript generator

Clean paragraphs with timestamps — even for videos that have no captions.

First 2 minutes free, any lengthLanguage detected automaticallyPublic and unlisted videos
Longer than 2 minutes?You get the first 2 minutes here. Kalpa transcribes the rest — free to start on iPhone Get the app ›

How do you get the transcript of a YouTube video?

This YouTube transcript generator works from a link: copy the video link from the address bar or tap Share → Copy link, paste it above and press Transcribe. Kalpa transcribes the audio itself, so it works even without captions. The first 2 minutes of any YouTube video are free here; the rest is in Kalpa.

Short ones here, long ones in Kalpa

First 2 min · free hereYouTube video1:52English · detected
0:00
In this video we build a bookshelf from a single board.
0:19
First, measure twice. The board is two metres long.
0:52
Mark the cuts at forty centimetres, that gives us five shelves.
1:34
Okay, let us get the saw.
Keep it, search it, ask about it laterSave to Kalpa ›

How to get a YouTube transcript

  1. Copy the link

    From the address bar, or Share → Copy link. youtu.be links work.

  2. Paste it above

    Public and unlisted videos both work.

  3. Press Transcribe

    You get paragraphs with timestamps, not caption fragments.

  4. Keep it

    Download a .txt or keep it in Kalpa.

Faster in the app

Turn YouTube lectures into notes you can search

Keep the transcripts of the lectures, tutorials and talks you watch in Kalpa, so you can find the exact line again without scrubbing through the video.

Download on the App Store

Good to know

  • YouTube’s own Show transcript only appears when a video has captions; Kalpa doesn’t need them.
  • Private videos and members-only videos can’t be opened by link.
  • Most videos run longer than 2 minutes: you get the first 2 here, see how much is left, and read the rest in Kalpa.

What people use YouTube transcripts for

Learning

Turn lectures and tutorials into notes you can search.

Content

Repurpose your videos into blog posts, newsletters and show notes.

Research

Quote talks and interviews accurately, with timestamps.

When the free tool is enough — and when you need Kalpa

Free web toolKalpa app
LengthFirst 2 minutes of any recordingThe whole recording, no limit
Summary, quotes and topics—Yes
Search everything you saved—Ask in chat, jump to the moment
Your own recordingsUpload a fileRecord on iPhone or Apple Watch, transcribed on device
Languages25, detected automatically25, detected automatically

Questions and answers

Does YouTube have transcripts already?

YouTube shows a transcript only for videos with captions, in short fragments, while Kalpa transcribes the audio of any public video.

How long can the YouTube video be?

A YouTube video can be any length: the first 2 minutes are free here, and the rest of the transcript is in Kalpa.

Do unlisted YouTube videos work?

Unlisted YouTube videos work with their full link, while private and members-only videos can’t be opened.

Can I transcribe a YouTube playlist?

The YouTube transcript generator takes one video at a time, so paste each video link separately.

Can I download the YouTube transcript?

You can copy the YouTube transcript or download it as a .txt file with timestamps; .srt subtitle export is not available.

YouTube Shorts to text Podcast to text Lecture to text Webinar to text Vimeo transcript Video to text
See all free tools

Everything you hear and say, remembered

Kalpa keeps what you watch, say and think in one place you can talk to. Free to start on iPhone and Apple Watch.

Download on the App Store
No 2-minute limit in KalpaGet the app