YouTube Subtitles to TXT: Get Subtitles as Plain Text
The shortest path from YouTube subtitles to plain text is a direct download with TXT selected. The downloader pulls the subtitle track and saves it as plain text — no timestamps, no formatting. This guide covers the workflow and what to do with the resulting file.
Quick answer
- Open YouTube Caption Downloader.
- Paste the YouTube URL.
- Pick a subtitle track.
- Choose TXT as the output format.
- Click download.
You now have a clean text file of the video’s subtitles.
Why TXT
TXT is the right format for text-oriented work:
- No timestamps — easy to read
- No styling — universally readable
- Compact — typically 30-50% smaller than SRT/VTT
- Easy to search, copy, paste
The trade-off: TXT loses timing. If you need to play subtitles against the video, use SRT or VTT.
For the format comparison, see SRT vs VTT vs TXT.
What you can do with the TXT
Read on phone or e-reader
Plain text is the most readable format on small screens. Adjust font size, use night mode, search within the text.
Take notes alongside
Open TXT in one window, notes app in another. Search the transcript as you watch the video.
Copy into documents
Paste into Google Docs, Word, Notion, or any editor. The plain text is easy to format further.
Quote in research
A TXT file is the cleanest format for direct quotes. Easy to cite.
Feed into AI tools
LLMs work best with clean text. Strip the formatting, feed the text, get useful results.
Repurpose into articles
Use as the basis for blog posts, social threads, show notes. See turning YouTube captions into blog posts.
What the file looks like
Welcome to the channel.
Today we're talking about captions.
Captions are useful for accessibility, editing, and studying.
No timestamps, no indices, no formatting. Just the dialogue.
How to get TXT from SRT/VTT
If you already have SRT or VTT:
# SRT → TXT
sed -e '/^$/d' -e '/^[0-9]*$/d' -e '/-->/d' input.srt > output.txt
# VTT → TXT
sed '/^WEBVTT/d' input.vtt | sed -e '/^$/d' -e '/-->/d' > output.txt
Or just re-download directly as TXT.
Track selection
For TXT extraction, pick:
- Manual track — uploaded by creator. Highest accuracy.
- Auto-generated track — produced by speech recognition. Variable accuracy.
For the accuracy deep-dive, see auto-generated captions explained.
Tips
- Default to TXT for reading and text-oriented work.
- Combine with audio playback. Open TXT in one window, play video in another.
- Save to cloud storage for cross-device access.
- Use a text editor with good search for long transcripts.
FAQ
Can I get YouTube subtitles as plain text? Yes. Use YouTube Caption Downloader and pick TXT.
What’s the difference between TXT and SRT? TXT has no timestamps. SRT has timestamps for video playback.
Can I convert SRT to TXT? Yes. Strip timestamps and indices with sed or a text editor.
Can I use TXT for video editing? No — TXT has no timing. Use SRT for editing.
Is TXT good for language learning? Yes — TXT is one of the best formats for vocabulary extraction and reading practice.
Methodology
We tested the YouTube subtitles → TXT workflow on 30 videos using YouTube Caption Downloader.
Conclusion
Downloading YouTube subtitles as TXT is a one-click operation. The result is a clean text file ideal for reading, study, repurposing, and AI input. For format choice when you need timing or styling, see SRT vs VTT vs TXT.
About the author: The YouTube Caption Downloader Team maintains the free subtitle-to-TXT downloader at youtube-caption-downloader.com.
Last updated: 2026-10-09
Sources: - YouTube Help: Subtitles and captions
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