No browser permissions
Extensions often ask to read and change data on the sites you visit. A web page needs none of that: it only sees the link you paste.
Free · No extension · Any browser
A YouTube Transcript Extension Without the Install
Everything you would want from a YouTube transcript extension, without adding one to your browser. Paste a link and get the full transcript in any browser, on any device.
- No install, no permissions
- Any browser, any device
- Copy, search, download
Works where extensions cannot
Use it on iPhone, Android, a work laptop that blocks extensions, a Chromebook or a shared computer.
The same features
One-click copy, timestamps on or off, transcript search, translation into 100+ languages and downloads in TXT, SRT, VTT, Word and PDF.
How to get a YouTube transcript without an extension
Bookmark this page and it is one click away, just like an extension button, without the install.
- Copy the YouTube video link.
- Paste it into the box above and press Get Free Transcript.
- Copy, search, translate or download the transcript.
Why choose a website over a YouTube transcript Chrome extension
- Nothing to install, update or remove later.
- No access to your browsing on other sites.
- Works in Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Safari and Brave alike.
- Works on phones and tablets, where most browsers cannot run extensions.
- Works on managed work or school computers that block the Chrome Web Store.
How to open the transcript on YouTube without any tool
On desktop, open the video, click “…more” under the title to expand the description, then scroll down and click “Show transcript”. A panel opens beside the video. In the YouTube app, tap the title to open the description and look for the same option.
If the option is missing, the video usually has no captions, or YouTube is not offering it for that format. Our troubleshooting page explains the common causes.
What an extension does that this does not
To be straightforward: an extension can add a button directly to the YouTube page, and this site cannot. Here you paste the link instead. Like any caption-based tool, it also cannot produce a transcript for a video that has no captions at all.
Using the transcript with ChatGPT
Many people install an extension just to send transcripts to ChatGPT. Instead, copy the transcript here, pick one of our ready-made prompts, and paste both into ChatGPT, Claude or Gemini. Nothing on this site connects to your AI account.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get a YouTube transcript without an extension?
Paste the video link into the box on this page and press Get Free Transcript. Nothing needs to be installed.
Is this a free alternative to a YouTube transcript Chrome extension?
Yes. It is free, runs in any browser and offers copy, search, translation and downloads.
Does it work in Firefox and Safari?
Yes. It is a normal web page, so it works in every modern browser, including mobile browsers.
How do I open the transcript on a YouTube video?
On desktop, expand the description with “…more” and click “Show transcript”. If it is missing, the video may have no captions.
Can I download the transcript without an extension?
Yes, as TXT, SRT, VTT, Markdown, Word or PDF.
Is it safe compared with installing an extension?
This page cannot see your other tabs or sites. It only receives the video link you paste.