Free browser extensions to generate transcripts in-player

Here are some of the best free browser extensions to generate transcripts directly in the video player for YouTube and other online platforms:

1. Live Transcript Extension (Chrome)

• Provides real-time transcription for YouTube, Google Meet, Zoom, and other platforms.
• Transcription occurs locally for privacy, with no limits on word count or duration.
• Allows downloading transcripts and integration with Google Drive.
• English language only.
• Completely free with no sign-up required.

2. Tactiq (Chrome)

• Real-time transcription on YouTube and video meetings.
• Easy transcript sharing and one-click AI summaries.
• Allows downloading transcript files.

3. CakeAI (Chrome)

• Specifically for YouTube, generates accurate time-stamped transcripts.
• Free for one transcript per day, with options to download in TXT, CSV, or SRT formats.
• Fast, lightweight, and secure.

4. YT Scribe (Chrome)

• Real-time, time-stamped YouTube transcript generator, with skip-ahead features and light/dark modes.
• Paid after free trial, but known for quick transcription.

5. TubeOnAI (Chrome)

• Generates highly accurate transcripts even when no captions exist on YouTube videos.
• Supports transcription from multiple platforms and export to various formats.
• Free tier with browser and mobile support.

6. Glasp (Chrome, Safari)

• Displays full transcripts with timestamps in-browser.
• Allows highlighting, note-taking, and created summarized notes exportable to knowledge tools like Notion or Obsidian.

7. Video to Text (Chrome)

• Instant transcript generation with timestamps and easy copy.
• Free, ad-free, and privacy-focused extension.

Limitations to note: Some extensions only work if the YouTube video already has captions, and accuracy depends on audio quality and speech recognition capability. While most cover English well, language support varies.

For easy, direct in-player transcription with no cost and minimal setup, Live Transcript Extension and Tactiq stand out. For YouTube-specific needs with some free usage limits, CakeAI, TubeOnAI, and Glasp are excellent options.

This list covers the top free browser extensions for generating transcripts directly as you watch videos in 2025.