SRT or VTT?
| SRT | VTT | |
|---|---|---|
| Timestamp style | 00:01:02,500 | 00:01:02.500 |
| Video editors | Everywhere | Most |
| VLC and desktop players | Yes | Yes |
| Web players / HTML5 <track> | Some | Standard |
| Re-upload to YouTube | Yes | Yes |
Pick SRT unless you are putting the subtitles on a web page.
Subtitles in another language
Many videos carry several caption tracks — the creator's own plus automatic ones. Pick the track you want before downloading. If your language isn't there, choose it under Translate (24 languages, free for videos up to 20 minutes) and the SRT is written in that language with the original timing.
Subtitles for your own recordings
No YouTube link? Upload the MP4, MOV or audio file on Video to text and export SRT from the finished transcript, with speaker names if you set them. 120 minutes a month are free.
Frequently asked questions
Is the YouTube subtitle downloader free?
Yes, for any public video with captions, with no account and no limit.
Can I download auto-generated subtitles?
Yes. Automatic tracks are listed next to creator-written ones and labelled, so you know which you are getting.
Will the subtitles be in sync?
Yes — the SRT and VTT files use YouTube's own caption timing.
Does it download the video too?
No. ScribeCue is not a video downloader; it only saves the caption text.