YouTube Transcript Formats Explained
TXT, SRT, VTT, JSON, CSV, and PDF each solve a different problem — here's which one to reach for.
Every transcript downloader offers a handful of export formats, and it is not always obvious which one you actually need. Here is what each one is built for.
TXT — plain text
Just the words, either as a single block or one line per caption. Best for reading, pasting into a document, searching with Ctrl-F, or feeding into another writing tool. It is the format most people want by default.
SRT — SubRip subtitles
Numbered blocks of text, each with a start and end timestamp. This is the most universally supported subtitle format — nearly every video editor and media player reads it. Use it when you are editing video and need the captions to sync to the footage.
VTT — WebVTT subtitles
Functionally similar to SRT but built for the web — it is the format the HTML5 <track> element expects, so it is the right choice when you are embedding captions on a webpage rather than in a desktop editor.
JSON — structured data
Each caption line as an object with its text and timing, ready to parse in code. Use this if you are building something with the transcript programmatically — search indexing, a custom viewer, feeding a script — rather than just reading it.
CSV — spreadsheet rows
One row per caption line, opens directly in Excel, Google Sheets, or Numbers. Useful for skimming a long transcript in a spreadsheet, filtering by timestamp, or handing the data to someone who works in spreadsheets rather than code.
PDF — a formatted document
A readable, printable document version of the transcript. Use it when the transcript needs to be shared, archived, or printed as a standalone document rather than edited or processed further.
Quick pick
- Just want to read it or search it → TXT
- Editing video → SRT
- Embedding captions on a website → VTT
- Building something with the data → JSON
- Analyzing in a spreadsheet → CSV
- Sharing or archiving as a document → PDF