What the download contains
| File | What it is for |
|---|---|
| txt/001-video-title.txt … | One plain-text transcript per video, numbered in playlist order — timestamps on or off |
| srt/001-video-title.srt … | The same transcript as subtitles with the original timing, for editors and players |
| all-transcripts.txt | Every transcript in one file, each under its title and link — ready for ChatGPT, NotebookLM or a search |
| index.csv | Number, video id, title, length, link and status for every video, for a spreadsheet |
Prefer a single file? Press One .txt instead of Download ZIP.
How to download all transcripts from a YouTube playlist
- Copy the playlist link. Open the playlist on YouTube and copy the address — it contains list=. A watch link that is playing inside the playlist works too.
- Paste it above and press List videos. Every video appears with its length, in playlist order; the first 50 are ticked.
- Tick the videos you want and press Get transcripts. Transcripts are fetched two at a time; each row turns green when its text is ready.
- Download. Download ZIP gives a TXT and an SRT per video, one combined TXT and a CSV index. One .txt gives just the combined file.
What people use playlist transcripts for
| Playlist | What the transcripts are for |
|---|---|
| A course or lecture series | Searchable notes for the whole course; paste all-transcripts.txt into ChatGPT or NotebookLM and ask questions across lectures |
| A podcast's episode list | Find every episode where a guest or topic comes up; quote it with the timestamp |
| Your own channel's series | Blog posts, show notes and captions files for every episode in one go |
| Research on a creator or topic | A text corpus with titles and links, plus a CSV index for a spreadsheet |
ScribeCue vs. BulkTranscripts, youtube-transcript.io and NoteGPT for playlists
The tools people are most often pointed to for whole playlists and channels, checked logged out on 4 November 2026:
| ScribeCue | BulkTranscripts | youtube-transcript.io | NoteGPT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paste a playlist link | Yes | Yes | Yes (Extract From Playlist) | Yes (YouTube Playlist tab) |
| Paste a channel link | Yes — @handle, /channel/, /c/ or /user/ | Yes | Yes (Channel) | Not offered on the transcript page |
| Account needed | No | Not checked; no card needed for the free 30 | Yes for bulk; free plan is 25 tokens a month | Sign-in for longer use |
| Videos per list / price | Up to 200 per list, free | Up to 1,000 per job; first 30 transcripts free, then one-time credits | Plus $9.99/month (1,000 transcripts) or Pro $24.99/month | Free basic mode; premium is paid |
| Pick which videos | Checkbox per video, select all | Not checked | Whole list | Whole list |
| Download | One ZIP: TXT + SRT per video, all-in-one TXT, CSV index | TXT, Markdown, SRT, VTT, CSV, JSON or one combined file | Per video or bulk export on paid plans | Per video |
| Ads | None | None seen | None seen | None seen |
For single videos, our longer test of five tools: Best YouTube transcript tools.
Limits, honestly
- Up to 200 videos are listed per playlist or channel — the newest 200 for a channel. Paste a smaller playlist to reach older uploads.
- Transcripts come from each video's captions through the same free tool as a single link, two at a time. Most lectures, talks and podcasts have captions; videos without them are marked No captions.
- If YouTube slows our server down or the day's free backup transcripts run out, the batch stops cleanly. Everything already fetched stays ready to download; press Get transcripts again later to finish the rest.
- Only public and unlisted playlists can be read. Private playlists, Watch Later and YouTube Mixes can't.
- For a video with no captions, upload your own copy on Video to text: AI transcription with speaker labels, 120 minutes free each month.
Related guides
- YouTube channel transcripts — every recent upload of a channel at once.
- YouTube to transcript — one video, with a player that follows along.
- Download a YouTube transcript — TXT, SRT, VTT or Word for one video.
- YouTube summarizer — TL;DR, key points and chapters for a long video.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get the transcript of an entire YouTube playlist?
Paste the playlist link on this page, press List videos, then Get transcripts. When the rows turn green, press Download ZIP for a TXT and SRT per video and one combined file.
Is it free?
Yes. Listing a playlist and fetching transcripts is free with no account. If YouTube limits our server for the day, the batch pauses and what is done stays downloadable.
How many videos can I download at once?
Up to 200 per playlist. You can tick any subset; the first 50 are ticked by default so a long list doesn't start by accident.
Can I get all transcripts as one text file?
Yes. The ZIP includes all-transcripts.txt, and the One .txt button downloads just that file — each transcript under its video title and link.
Does it keep timestamps?
Each video's SRT keeps the exact caption timing. For the TXT files, tick Timestamps in .txt to put a time on every paragraph.
What about videos without captions?
They are marked No captions in the list and listed in index.csv. Upload your own copy of such a video on Video to text for an AI transcript.
Does it work with private playlists or Watch Later?
No. Only public and unlisted playlists can be read from a link. YouTube Mixes (auto-generated radio lists) aren't supported either.