Free · No sign-up · No plugin needed
Summarize YouTube Videos with ChatGPT
The easiest way to get a ChatGPT YouTube transcript summary: grab the transcript here, copy a prompt, and paste both into ChatGPT. No extension, no plugin, and it works on the free plan.
- Copy the transcript in one click
- Proven ChatGPT prompts
- Works with Claude and Gemini too
How to use ChatGPT to summarize a YouTube video
- Copy the YouTube video link and paste it into the box above. Press Get Free Transcript.
- Turn timestamps off for clean text, or keep them if you want the summary to reference moments in the video.
- Press Copy to copy the full transcript.
- Open ChatGPT, paste one of the prompts below, then paste the transcript after it.
- Send it, then ask follow-up questions in the same chat.
Can ChatGPT summarize a YouTube video from a link?
Sometimes. Depending on the version and the tools it has switched on, ChatGPT may try to open a link, but it often cannot read a video’s captions, and it may answer from the title or description instead. The result can sound confident while missing what was actually said.
Sending ChatGPT the YouTube transcript removes the guesswork. It sees every word, so the summary reflects the video, and you can ask it to cite timestamps to prove it.
How to send a YouTube transcript to ChatGPT
Pasting is the simplest route: copy from this page and paste into the message box. For long videos, download the transcript as a TXT file and attach it instead, if your plan supports file uploads.
If a transcript is too long for one message, paste it in parts. Start with “I will send a transcript in several parts. Reply only OK until I say DONE.”
No ChatGPT YouTube transcript extension needed
Extensions and plugins that add a ChatGPT button to YouTube do the same job: they fetch the transcript and paste it for you. This website does that step without anything to install, works in any browser, and works on phones where extensions do not.
Works the same with Claude and Gemini
Every prompt on this page works in Claude, Gemini, Copilot and other assistants. If one model’s summary is not quite right, paste the same transcript into another and compare.
Prompts to use with the transcript
-
Summarize this YouTube video transcript in 5-7 bullet points. Only use information from the transcript, and add the timestamp for each point. -
Give me a short summary of this video (under 100 words), then a detailed summary with headings for each main topic. -
You are an expert note-taker. Summarize this transcript into key ideas, supporting examples and action items. -
Summarize this video for someone with no background in the topic. Define any jargon the speaker uses. -
What are the 3 most important takeaways from this video, and why do they matter? -
Summarize this podcast episode transcript: the guest, main topics discussed, best quotes with timestamps, and any resources mentioned. -
Turn this transcript into a summary table with columns: topic, key point, timestamp. -
Summarize this video in [language], keeping technical terms in English in brackets.
Frequently asked questions
Can ChatGPT summarize a YouTube video?
Yes, very well, when you give it the transcript. Get the transcript here, paste it into ChatGPT with a summary prompt, and it summarizes exactly what was said.
Can ChatGPT summarize a YouTube video if given the link?
Not reliably. It may be unable to open the video or read its captions and can guess from the title. Pasting the transcript is the dependable method.
How do I get ChatGPT to summarize a YouTube video?
Copy the transcript from this page, paste a prompt such as “Summarize this transcript in 5 bullet points”, paste the transcript, and send.
How do I send a YouTube transcript to ChatGPT?
Copy it here and paste it into the chat, or download it as a TXT file and attach it. Split very long transcripts into parts.
Do I need a ChatGPT YouTube plugin or extension?
No. This website gets the transcript without any install, and the free version of ChatGPT can summarize it.
Does this work on my phone?
Yes. Open this site in your phone browser, copy the transcript, and paste it into the ChatGPT app.