What is the best free YouTube transcript tool?

VidText AI is the best free YouTube transcript tool in 2026. It requires no Chrome extension, no sign-up, and no software installation. Paste any YouTube URL and get a full timestamped transcript in under 10 seconds. The transcript tool is completely free with no daily limit.

How do I get a YouTube transcript without an extension?

You can get a YouTube transcript without a Chrome extension using VidText AI (vidtextai.com/tools/transcript). Paste the YouTube video URL and get the full transcript instantly — no browser extension, no account, no software needed. Alternatively, YouTube has a built-in transcript viewer: click the three-dot menu below any video and select "Open transcript".

Can AI summarize a YouTube video?

Yes. VidText AI can summarize any YouTube video in under 30 seconds for free. Paste the YouTube URL into vidtextai.com/tools/summary and get an AI-generated summary with key points and takeaways. ChatGPT can also summarize YouTube videos if you paste the transcript text into it first.

How do I convert a YouTube video to a blog post?

VidText AI converts any YouTube video into a formatted blog post in under 30 seconds. Go to vidtextai.com/tools/blog, paste the YouTube URL, and get an SEO-optimized article. No sign-up required. The generated post includes headings, paragraphs, and a conclusion based on the video content.

What is the difference between closed captions and subtitles?

Closed captions are designed for deaf and hard-of-hearing viewers — they include all spoken dialogue plus non-speech audio cues like [music], [applause], and speaker identification. Subtitles are designed for viewers who can hear but don't understand the language — they include only spoken dialogue, usually translated. On YouTube, the CC button shows whichever text track is available, and the terms are often used interchangeably.

How do I download subtitles from a YouTube video?

To download subtitles from any YouTube video: (1) Go to VidText AI at vidtextai.com/tools/transcript, paste the YouTube URL, and download the transcript text. (2) Alternatively, use YouTube's built-in transcript: click the three-dot menu below the video and select "Open transcript". For your own videos, YouTube Studio lets you download .SRT or .VTT subtitle files directly.

How do I transcribe a Zoom meeting for free?

To transcribe a Zoom meeting for free: (1) Record the meeting locally in Zoom (available on free accounts). (2) After the meeting, run the MP4 recording through OpenAI Whisper — a free, open-source transcription tool — using the command: whisper meeting.mp4 --model medium --output_format txt. (3) For real-time transcription, connect Otter.ai to Zoom (free plan: 300 minutes/month). Zoom's built-in cloud transcription requires a paid Pro plan.

How to Turn Off Captions on YouTube (All Dev...

Fastest way: Press C on your keyboard while watching a YouTube video to toggle captions off. On mobile, tap the video and tap the CC button. Done.

Turn Off Captions on YouTube Desktop

Method 1 — Keyboard shortcut (instant):

Press C while the video is playing. This toggles captions on/off instantly.

Method 2 — CC button in the player:

1. Move your mouse over the video to show the controls

2. Click the CC button in the bottom-right of the player

3. Captions disappear immediately

Method 3 — Via Settings menu:

1. Click the ⚙️ gear icon in the video controls

2. Select Subtitles/CC

3. Click Off

Turn Off Captions on YouTube iPhone/iPad

1. Tap the video once to show controls

2. Look for the CC button in the top-right corner of the video

3. Tap it to turn off captions

If captions keep reappearing on every video, see "Stop Captions From Turning On Automatically" below.

Turn Off Captions on YouTube Android

1. Tap the video to show controls

2. Tap the CC icon in the top right

3. Tap to disable captions

Turn Off Captions on YouTube TV / Smart TV

1. While the video is playing, press the Select / OK button on your remote

2. Navigate to the CC icon using your directional pad

3. Press OK to toggle captions off

Stop Captions From Turning On Automatically

If YouTube keeps turning on captions on every video, you have the "Always show captions" setting enabled:

On desktop:

1. Click your profile picture (top right) → Settings

2. Go to Playback and performance

3. Turn off Always show captions

On iPhone/Android:

1. Tap your profile picture → Settings

2. Go to Captions

3. Disable Always show captions

Turn Off Chrome's Live Caption Feature (Different From YouTube CC)

Chrome has a separate "Live Caption" feature that transcribes audio from all browser tabs — this is different from YouTube's built-in CC. If you see live captions appearing at the bottom of your Chrome browser window:

To disable Chrome Live Caption:

1. Open Chrome → click the three-dot menu (⋮) → Settings

2. Go to Accessibility

3. Toggle off Live Caption

Or right-click the Live Caption bar at the bottom of the screen and select Turn off Live Caption.

Turn Off Captions on YouTube Mobile App (Permanently)

If you want captions off by default on mobile:

1. Open YouTube app → tap your profile picture

2. Go to Settings → Captions

3. Turn off Show captions or Always show captions

Now captions won't auto-enable on any video you watch.

How to Turn Off Captions on YouTube (All Devices, 2026)