YouTube transcription with editable subtitles
Turn a YouTube video file into editable SRT or VTT subtitles in 28 languages, with no watermark.
YouTube Transcription — Generate SRT & VTT Subtitles
Upload your video file, review the timed transcript in the browser, export it as SRT or VTT, and upload it back to YouTube Studio. The first 3 minutes are free, with no credit card required.
Why creators use Captain Transcribe for YouTube
Automatic captions can contain errors in names, terminology, punctuation, and timing. Captain Transcribe creates an editable timed draft that you can review in the browser before exporting to SRT or VTT. Verify the result before publishing or using it for accessibility.
Built for the YouTube workflow
- Direct SRT and VTT export, no reformatting needed
- Three subtitle segmentations: Standard, Short, and Word-by-word
- Editable timestamps right in the browser
- Custom vocabulary boost for channel-specific terms
- 28 languages with automatic detection
How to transcribe a YouTube video in 3 steps
- 1Download your video file from YouTube Studio (or upload your raw export before publishing).
- 2Drop the file into Captain Transcribe and pick your output format — SRT for YouTube, VTT for HTML5 players.
- 3Download the subtitle file and upload it back to YouTube Studio under the Subtitles tab.
YouTube transcription FAQ
Can I transcribe a YouTube video directly from a URL?
No. Upload a supported media file that you are authorised to process; for your own YouTube content, use the source export or a file obtained through YouTube Studio.
Does Captain Transcribe work for YouTube Shorts?
Yes. The Short style groups up to four words per cue. Preview line breaks, timing, safe areas, and readability on the target device before publishing.
What's the maximum video length I can transcribe?
The guest trial accepts up to 3 minutes and 5 MB. Signed-in uploads accept supported files up to 95 MB, subject to your remaining transcription minutes. Actual usable duration therefore depends on the file encoding and your balance.
Ready to transcribe your first YouTube video?
Free trial, no credit card. 3 minutes on us.