Transcribe Video and Audio with AI Free (SRT/VTT/TXT Subtitles)
To transcribe video or audio to text for free, open the Transcribe tool, drop your file and click transcribe. The AI returns the text in a few minutes and you download the subtitle as SRT, VTT or TXT. It's 100% free, with no sign-up and no watermark.
If you create content, teach, run meetings, or you're just tired of listening to 5-minute voice notes, transcribing has become a daily task. The good news: you can do it fast, for free, and without handing over your data. Let's get to it.
What you can do with Transcribe
Transcribe takes what was said in a video or audio file and turns it into text. From there, it's up to you:
- Generate subtitles for Reels, Shorts, TikTok and YouTube
- Transcribe meetings, interviews, classes and podcasts
- Turn a WhatsApp voice note into text to read on the go
- Pull a script or a summary out of what was said
It works with video and audio. You don't need to convert anything first.
How to transcribe a video or audio: step by step
It's this simple:
- Open Transcribe
- Drop your video or audio file (or click to choose one)
- Wait for the AI to process it
- Edit what you need and download as SRT, VTT or TXT
No sign-up, no software to install, no watermark.
Supported video and audio formats
We accept the most common formats, so you won't run into trouble here.
| Type | Formats |
|---|---|
| Video | MP4, MOV, AVI, WebM, MKV |
| Audio | MP3, M4A, WAV, AAC, OGG |
The limit is 1 GB per file. That's enough for a long video, a full podcast or a complete meeting recording.
Automatic language detection
You don't need to say which language the audio is in. The AI detects it on its own and works in dozens of languages, which helps anyone working with content in more than one language. If you prefer, you can pick the language manually before you start.
Synced subtitles vs. text only
These are two different things, and it's worth understanding before you download:
- Synced subtitles (SRT and VTT): the text comes with timestamps, so each line appears at the right moment in the video.
- Text only (TXT): the plain content, with no timing, and it processes faster. Good for summarizing, turning into a script or pasting into a document.
SRT, VTT or TXT: which subtitle format to use
| Format | When to use |
|---|---|
| SRT | YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and video editors. The most universal. |
| VTT | Websites and HTML5 players. Allows text styling and position. |
| TXT | Plain text, no timing. For a summary, script or document. |
When in doubt, go with SRT. It's the format almost everything accepts.
Word-by-word editing without breaking the sync
No AI is 100% accurate, especially with proper names or technical terms. That's why you can edit the text word by word right in the browser, and the subtitle's sync stays correct. You fix it, save and download. No rework.
Subtitle format: Reels vs. YouTube
You choose the format based on where the video is headed:
- Vertical: for Reels, Shorts and TikTok (9:16), one short line at a time
- Horizontal: for YouTube and TV (16:9), with up to two lines
When you switch formats, the subtitle is regrouped on the spot from each word's timing, so the sync stays perfect.
Do more with AI (summary, script, post and translation)
After transcribing, there's a "Do more with AI" section that opens ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok or Perplexity with a ready-made prompt to:
- Summarize the content
- Turn it into a script
- Generate a post for Instagram or LinkedIn
- Create a YouTube description (with timestamped chapters)
- Translate it
- Fix the subtitle (it returns a revised SRT or VTT with the same timings)
It runs on the server (and that's good for you)
The transcription runs on the platform's servers, not on your device. That means it won't freeze your phone or heat up your laptop, and large files process fast even on a modest computer.
And because the work happens on the server, you can minimize the tab or even lock your phone screen and it keeps going. When it's done, we notify you, and the result is saved under "My jobs" so you can come back whenever you want.
What about privacy?
The file is deleted from the server after processing, and the subtitle is generated right in your own browser. Your data isn't stored.
Transcribing long files
The limit is 1 GB per file, so a long video, a class, a podcast or a meeting recording all fit. Just keep an eye on the time: transcription runs on the CPU and has a processing limit. If the file is too long, we let you know before it starts and suggest splitting it into smaller parts. Just use Cut to slice it and transcribe each piece.
What to use transcription for
- Creators: caption Reels, Shorts and YouTube in minutes
- Students: transcribe classes and lectures to study from text
- Professionals: turn meetings into minutes and organize interviews
- Everyone: read a WhatsApp voice note instead of listening to it
There you go: just drop the file and let the AI do the heavy lifting.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about the topic of this post.
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