Free YouTube tool
Summarize a YouTube Video
Paste a supported link for free caption text, or use the extension to summarize supported captioned videos on YouTube.
Free · No sign-up · Requires retrievable captions
Three ways to summarize a YouTube video
The manual route: open YouTube's transcript panel, copy the text, paste it into ChatGPT with a prompt. It works, but it is tedious and the copied text loses its timestamps.
The middle route: get a clean transcript here for free, then paste that into whichever AI assistant you prefer. Better input, same flexibility.
The direct route: install the free JumpWatch extension and summarize on the YouTube page itself, with timestamps preserved and the option to ask follow-up questions.
No copy-paste dance
Skip the loop of opening the transcript panel, selecting text, and pasting it elsewhere.
Follow-up questions
A summary can omit details. Chat with the video to ask about something it did not cover.
Works on the page
The summary appears in the YouTube sidebar, so you never lose your place in the video.
How to summarize a YouTube video
- 1
Get the transcript
Paste the video link above for the full timestamped transcript, free and without an account.
- 2
Summarize it
Either paste the transcript into your own AI tool, or install the extension and sign in to summarize on YouTube subject to plan limits.
- 3
Dig into what matters
Use the timestamps to jump to the relevant section, or ask a follow-up question about it.
When people summarize
Triage
Review a summary before deciding whether a long video deserves your full attention.
Students
Turn a long lecture into text you can search, quote, and revise from without scrubbing the video for one definition.
Professionals
Catch up on webinars, earnings calls, and industry talks by searching or skimming their transcripts before deciding what to watch.
Researchers
Pull the actual argument out of a conference talk or interview, with timestamps you can cite, without watching the whole recording.
Summarizing YouTube videos
What is a direct way to summarize a YouTube video?
Install the JumpWatch extension, sign in, and summarize a supported captioned video on its YouTube page. If you would rather not install anything, retrieve the caption text here and paste it into an AI assistant.
Can ChatGPT summarize a YouTube video directly?
A link alone does not reliably provide ChatGPT with the video's contents. Supplying the retrievable caption text gives the model source material it can actually analyze.
Is it free?
The public transcript tool is free with no sign-up and subject to rate and capacity limits. The extension is free to install; AI use requires sign-in and follows account plan limits.
Do I need an account or an extension?
No account or extension is required for the public transcript tool, which is free and subject to rate and capacity limits. The JumpWatch Chrome extension is free to install; its AI summaries and chat require sign-in and follow your account's plan limits.
Keep the context
Take transcripts, summaries, and Ask onto YouTube.
Add the free extension for transcript search and assistant handoffs. Premium adds server-powered Brief and Ask on the video page.
Add to Chrome — FreeOr browse recent transcripts.