Subtitle converter
Convert between SRT, VTT and SBV, or strip the timestamps entirely to get a clean transcript. Runs in your browser.
Parsed entirely in your browser. Nothing is uploaded.
Load the SRT or VTT file above and choose plain text as the output. The sequence numbers, timestamps and formatting tags are removed, leaving only the spoken words. Everything is parsed in your browser, so the file is never uploaded.
Subtitle formats
| Format | Used by | Distinguishing feature |
|---|---|---|
.srt | Desktop players, most editors | Numbered cues; comma before milliseconds |
.vtt | HTML5 video, the web standard | WEBVTT header; full stop before milliseconds; supports styling |
.sbv | YouTube's own legacy export | No cue numbers; times separated by a comma |
To get the caption file for one of your own videos, open it in YouTube Studio, go to Subtitles, and use the three-dot menu beside a track to download it. That is the supported route, and it gives you the exact track YouTube is serving.
Once you have a transcript, it is genuinely useful for search: publishing it alongside an embedded video gives crawlers and language models text to work with where otherwise there is none.
Common questions
How do I convert an SRT file to plain text?
Load the file above and choose plain text as the output. The tool strips the sequence numbers, timestamps and formatting tags, leaving only the spoken words — which is what you want for a transcript, a summary or a blog post draft.
What is the difference between SRT and VTT?
They carry the same information in slightly different syntax. SRT uses a comma before milliseconds and numbers each cue; WebVTT uses a full stop, starts with a WEBVTT header and supports styling. VTT is the web standard; SRT is more widely supported by desktop players.
Where do I get the subtitle file for my own video?
In YouTube Studio, open the video, go to Subtitles, and use the three-dot menu beside a track to download it as SRT or VTT. That is the supported route for captions on your own videos.
Are my subtitle files uploaded?
No. Parsing and conversion happen entirely in your browser using JavaScript. The file is read from disk into the tab and never sent anywhere.