# Scribiz

> Paste a YouTube, TikTok or podcast link, or upload a file. Get the transcript, on-screen text, summary and chapters. Export SRT, VTT, TXT, Markdown or JSON.

Scribiz returns the context of any video: a transcript with speakers and timestamps, the text and scenes on screen, a summary and chapters. Input is a link or a file. Output is SRT, VTT, TXT, Markdown, Context (Markdown with on-screen notes) or JSON. It works when a video has no captions. It runs on the web, as a command-line tool (npm install -g scribiz), as an MCP server and as an HTTP API. A Mac app is available to download.

## When to use Scribiz

Reach for Scribiz when you have a video or audio link, or a local media file, and need to know what is in it:

- The transcript of a YouTube or podcast link, a direct media link or a file, with timestamps and speakers, also when the video has no captions. TikTok, Instagram, X, Vimeo and Facebook links work on a best-effort basis.
- What was shown on screen: slides, code, interfaces and text overlays, with the time each appeared (the Watch mode).
- A summary and chapters of a long video, or answers to questions about it that cite timestamps.
- Subtitles to download: SRT or VTT.
- Notes from a local recording (a meeting, a lecture, a screen recording). The command-line tool sends the audio, and for Watch a low-resolution copy, never the original video.

It is not for editing or generating video, live captions during a call, live streams in progress, or DRM services such as Spotify and Netflix.

How to call it:

1. MCP, for Claude, Cursor, Codex and other MCP clients: connect to https://scribiz.com/mcp (Streamable HTTP). Without a key it reads captions, videos already processed and, within a small daily allowance, the link itself (never the picture). With an API key (`Authorization: Bearer sbz_live_...`) it uses the account's minutes and can read the picture (`watch: true`). Tools: get_transcript, get_video_context, ask_video, search_video, get_job.
2. Command line: `npx scribiz "<link or file>"`, after `scribiz login` (a free account) or `scribiz setup` (your own Gemini key). Add `--json` for machine-readable output.
3. HTTP API: `POST https://scribiz.com/api/v1/context` with `{"url": "..."}`, then poll `GET https://scribiz.com/api/v1/jobs/{id}` until `status` is `succeeded`. The OpenAPI document is https://scribiz.com/api/v1/openapi.json.

## For agents and developers

- [OpenAPI document](https://scribiz.com/api/v1/openapi.json): every endpoint, with operation ids, schemas and the scopes each one needs.
- [API catalog](https://scribiz.com/.well-known/api-catalog): RFC 9727 linkset pointing at the API description and docs.
- [Authentication](https://scribiz.com/auth.md): API keys (scopes read, mcp and all), the device login of the command-line tool, and what works without a key.
- [Pricing in Markdown](https://scribiz.com/pricing.md): plans, limits and what one minute costs.
- [MCP server card](https://scribiz.com/.well-known/mcp/server-card.json): name, version, endpoint and tools of the remote MCP server.
- [Public MCP repository](https://github.com/Illyism/scribiz-mcp): the MCP server's install snippets, plugin manifests for Claude and Cursor, and agent skills.
- Every docs page has a Markdown twin: add .md to its URL. The home page answers `Accept: text/markdown` with this file.

## Tools

- [YouTube transcript](https://scribiz.com/youtube-transcript): Get existing YouTube captions with source timestamps. Start with 30 free caption credits. Copy or export SRT, VTT, TXT, Markdown or JSON.
- [YouTube transcript MCP](https://scribiz.com/youtube-transcript-mcp): Source captions in your AI assistant
- [Bulk transcripts](https://scribiz.com/bulk-youtube-transcripts): Choose videos and export a ZIP
- [Playlist transcripts](https://scribiz.com/youtube-playlist-transcript): Keep the playlist order
- [Channel transcripts](https://scribiz.com/youtube-channel-transcript): Captions from a channel
- [Transcribe a YouTube video](https://scribiz.com/transcribe-youtube-video): Turn a YouTube video into text, with or without captions. Speech-to-text from the audio, with timestamps. Free to try, no sign-up.
- [Download transcript](https://scribiz.com/youtube-transcript-download): Download a YouTube transcript as TXT, SRT, VTT, Markdown or JSON, or save it as a PDF. Paste a link, no extension needed.
- [Subtitle downloader](https://scribiz.com/youtube-subtitle-downloader): Download existing YouTube subtitles as SRT or VTT with source cue times. Start with 30 free caption credits. No extension needed.
- [YouTube summarizer](https://scribiz.com/youtube-video-summarizer): Summarize a YouTube video with key points, chapters and clickable timestamps. Works when captions are off. Free to try, no sign-up.
- [TikTok transcript](https://scribiz.com/tiktok-transcript): Paste a TikTok link, get the transcript and the on-screen text. Works on videos with no captions. Free, no sign-up.
- [Instagram transcript](https://scribiz.com/instagram-transcript): Get a timestamped transcript of an Instagram Reel from the saved file. A pasted link is usually refused, because Instagram wants a login.
- [Podcast transcript](https://scribiz.com/podcast-transcript): Turn a podcast episode into a transcript with speakers, timestamps, a summary and chapters. Drop the audio file or paste its link. Free to try.
- [Audio to text](https://scribiz.com/audio-to-text): Convert audio to text with speakers and timestamps. MP3, M4A, WAV, OGG and more. Export SRT, VTT or TXT. Free to try.
- [MP3 to text](https://scribiz.com/mp3-to-text): Convert MP3 to text online with speakers and timestamps. Export SRT, VTT or TXT. Free to try, no sign-up.
- [M4A to text](https://scribiz.com/m4a-to-text): Convert M4A to text with timestamps. Voice memos, Zoom audio and recordings. Export SRT, VTT or TXT. Free to try, no sign-up.
- [Video to text](https://scribiz.com/video-to-text): Convert video to text: speech with timestamps from a file or a link, and the words shown on screen from a link. MP4, MOV, WebM. Free to try.
- [MP4 to text](https://scribiz.com/mp4-to-text): Convert MP4 to text with timestamps. Only the audio leaves your browser. Export SRT, VTT, TXT or Markdown. Free to try.
- [SRT generator](https://scribiz.com/srt-generator): Generate an SRT or VTT subtitle file from a video, audio file or link. Caption-length cues and speaker labels for your editor.
- [Video summarizer](https://scribiz.com/video-summarizer): Summarize a video from a link or a file. Key points and chapters, plus the screen for links. YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, MP4, MP3. Free to try.
- [Video analyzer](https://scribiz.com/video-analyzer): Analyze any video: scene-by-scene notes, on-screen text, transcript and summary. Works on silent videos. Free to try.
- [Video OCR](https://scribiz.com/video-ocr): Video OCR: extract the text shown in a video, with a timestamp for each scene. Slides, code, captions drawn on the picture. Free to try.

## YouTube captions

Existing YouTube caption retrieval is separate from media processing. Use the bulk tool for videos, playlists and channels, up to 1,000 selected videos per batch. An account starts with 30 free caption credits. One new successful transcript costs one caption credit regardless of video length. Purchased caption credits never expire. Stored reads, failures and re-exports cost no extra credits. Private batch results last 30 days. This route never downloads media or calls a model. Listen and Watch are separate actions that use minutes.

- [Caption docs](https://scribiz.com/docs/youtube-captions): the captions CLI command, private batch API routes, MCP tools, cancellation, retries and exports.
- [Bulk transcripts](https://scribiz.com/bulk-youtube-transcripts): select videos and export a ZIP or one combined Markdown or TXT file.

## Product

- [Pricing](https://scribiz.com/pricing): Free, Pro and Mac Lifetime. Caption credits and separate media minutes. Pro is on sale. Mac Lifetime is not on sale yet.
- [Download for Mac](https://scribiz.com/download): the command-line tool installs with npm install -g scribiz. It needs Node 24 or newer, runs with a free Scribiz account (scribiz login) or your own Gemini API key (scribiz setup), and has been tested on macOS only. The Mac app (beta) is available to download.
- [MCP server](https://scribiz.com/video-mcp): give Claude, Cursor or Codex the video. Install snippets, tools and token sizes. The endpoint is https://scribiz.com/mcp. It needs no key: captions, videos already processed, and a read of the link within a small daily limit. A local server comes with the command-line tool: claude mcp add scribiz -- scribiz mcp. It runs on your machine with your Scribiz account or your own Gemini key.
- [Status](https://scribiz.com/status): which sources are working right now.
- [About](https://scribiz.com/about): who makes Scribiz and where it came from.
- [Changelog](https://scribiz.com/changelog): what changed, by date.

## Guides

- [All guides](https://scribiz.com/blog): short guides on transcripts, missing captions and what ChatGPT and Claude can do with a video link.
- [How to Take Notes From a YouTube Video](https://scribiz.com/blog/take-notes-from-youtube-video): Turn a YouTube video into notes: get the transcript, pull the key points with timestamps and keep what was on screen. By hand, with an assistant or a tool.
- [How to Transcribe Video on a Mac](https://scribiz.com/blog/how-to-transcribe-video-on-mac): Transcribe a video on a Mac: a local speech model for private files, or Scribiz for the speech and the on-screen text. Export SRT, VTT or Markdown.
- [YouTube MCP Server for Claude, Cursor and ChatGPT](https://scribiz.com/blog/youtube-mcp-server): What a YouTube MCP server does, how a model reads a video from a link, and the install line for Claude Code, Claude and Cursor. No key needed to start.
- [How to Get a TikTok Transcript](https://scribiz.com/blog/how-to-get-tiktok-transcript): TikTok shows captions but gives you no transcript to copy. Get the words of a TikTok with timestamps, or export SRT, even with music or no captions.
- [Get a YouTube Transcript With No Captions](https://scribiz.com/blog/youtube-transcript-no-captions): No captions on a YouTube video? Check that the transcript is missing, then turn the audio into text. Steps for any public video, and for your own.
- [How to Open the Transcript on YouTube](https://scribiz.com/blog/open-transcript-on-youtube): Open the transcript on YouTube from a computer or a phone, and see what to do when the Show transcript button is missing.
- [Can ChatGPT or Claude Watch a YouTube Video?](https://scribiz.com/blog/can-chatgpt-or-claude-watch-youtube-videos): What ChatGPT and Claude can do with a YouTube link today, what they accept instead, and how to give either one the whole video.

## Comparisons

- [Transcript tool alternatives](https://scribiz.com/alternatives): We only compare what Scribiz does today. Each page says what the other tool does better.
- [Tactiq alternative](https://scribiz.com/alternatives/tactiq): Tactiq is built for live meetings and also takes uploaded meeting files. Scribiz reads a video link or file: transcript, on-screen text, summary and chapters.
- [NoteGPT alternative](https://scribiz.com/alternatives/notegpt): NoteGPT is a wide study and work suite. Scribiz does one job: the transcript, on-screen text, summary and chapters of a video link or file.
- [TurboScribe alternative](https://scribiz.com/alternatives/turboscribe): TurboScribe transcribes audio and video files in bulk. Scribiz reads a video link or file: transcript, on-screen text, summary and chapters.
- [Otter alternative](https://scribiz.com/alternatives/otter): Otter is an AI notetaker for live meetings. Scribiz reads a video link or file: transcript, on-screen text, summary and chapters.
- [Superwhisper alternative](https://scribiz.com/alternatives/superwhisper): Superwhisper turns your voice into text in any app. Scribiz turns a video link or file into a transcript, on-screen text, a summary and chapters.
- [MacWhisper alternative](https://scribiz.com/alternatives/macwhisper): MacWhisper transcribes files, calls and dictation on your Mac with local models. Scribiz returns a video's transcript, on-screen text, summary and chapters.
- [Scribiz vs BulkTranscripts](https://scribiz.com/compare/bulktranscripts): current bulk caption packs, exports, source fidelity and the limits behind speed observations.

## Docs

- [Docs index](https://scribiz.com/docs/index.md): Use Scribiz from the web, a command-line tool on npm, an MCP server or an HTTP API. The Mac app is a download for Apple silicon Macs. Every page is also raw Markdown: add .md to the path.
- [All docs in one file](https://scribiz.com/docs/llms-full.txt): every page as Markdown, concatenated.

### Start

- [Overview](https://scribiz.com/docs/overview.md): What a Context is, the four layers it holds, and how Auto, Listen, Watch and Both decide what runs.
- [Quickstart](https://scribiz.com/docs/quickstart.md): Run your first Context in about a minute, from the web, an MCP client, the command line or the API.
- [Authentication](https://scribiz.com/docs/authentication.md): Sign in on the web or from the CLI, create API keys, and use your own Gemini key. Which credential wins, and what logout does.
- [Minutes and billing](https://scribiz.com/docs/minutes-and-billing.md): How YouTube caption credits and media minutes are counted, what the full proofread adds, what each plan includes, and where to see usage.
- [Speech models](https://scribiz.com/docs/models.md): Pick what reads your audio: Scribiz, your own Gemini or OpenRouter key, or Whisper on your own computer for free, offline and with no account.
- [Bulk YouTube captions](https://scribiz.com/docs/youtube-captions.md): Retrieve existing YouTube captions through the web, CLI, API or MCP, with flat caption credits and source timestamps.
- [Sources and limits](https://scribiz.com/docs/sources-and-limits.md): Which links and files work where, why Instagram and sites that block servers work best from your own machine, and the size and length limits.
- [Privacy and data handling](https://scribiz.com/docs/privacy-and-data.md): What leaves your device, what Scribiz keeps and for how long, what Google sees, and how to delete a result.

### CLI

- [Install the CLI](https://scribiz.com/docs/cli.md): Install the scribiz command with npm, sign in to a free account or add your own Gemini key, check it with scribiz doctor, and find its files.
- [CLI commands](https://scribiz.com/docs/cli/commands.md): Every scribiz command, what it prints and where it writes, and the exit codes a script can rely on.
- [CLI flags](https://scribiz.com/docs/cli/flags.md): Every scribiz flag with its values and defaults, grouped by what it does.
- [Output formats](https://scribiz.com/docs/cli/formats.md): SRT, VTT, TXT, Markdown, Context and JSON, with a real sample of each and what the options change.
- [The JSON protocol](https://scribiz.com/docs/cli/json-protocol.md): The newline-delimited JSON the CLI prints with --json, so you can run it from your own tool.
- [Config and env](https://scribiz.com/docs/cli/config.md): The config file, the environment variables, the cache, and which setting wins.
- [CLI recipes](https://scribiz.com/docs/cli/recipes.md): Subtitles for an editor, a folder of recordings, chapters, a pipe into an LLM, screen recordings and CI.
- [CLI troubleshooting](https://scribiz.com/docs/cli/troubleshooting.md): What to do when a tool is missing, a link is blocked, sign-in fails, a key is rejected, minutes run out or a result looks incomplete.

### MCP

- [MCP overview](https://scribiz.com/docs/mcp.md): Give Claude, Cursor, Codex or any MCP client the context of a video, so it can search it, read parts of it and answer questions with timestamps.
- [MCP install per client](https://scribiz.com/docs/mcp/install.md): Add the Scribiz MCP server to Claude Code, Cursor, VS Code, Codex, Claude Desktop and claude.ai. No key to start, or run it locally with your account.
- [MCP connection modes](https://scribiz.com/docs/mcp/connection-modes.md): Remote without a key, remote with an API key, the local server with your account or Gemini key, and OAuth coming later. What each can do and which to pick.
- [MCP tools reference](https://scribiz.com/docs/mcp/tools.md): get_video_context, get_transcript, ask_video, search_video and get_job. Parameters, output shapes, detail levels, token budgets and citation links.
- [MCP recipes](https://scribiz.com/docs/mcp/recipes.md): Summarize a talk and find where a topic comes up, compare two videos, pull the steps out of a tutorial, and work on a local recording.
- [MCP limits and cost](https://scribiz.com/docs/mcp/limits.md): What each tool call costs in minutes, how long a call can take, the limits on the remote server, and what the errors mean.
- [MCP security](https://scribiz.com/docs/mcp/security.md): Transcripts are untrusted text. What the server sends and receives, how to protect your keys, and how to revoke access.

### API

- [API overview](https://scribiz.com/docs/api.md): The base URL, how jobs work, versioning, idempotency and where to find each endpoint. Everything the web tool does, over HTTP.
- [API authentication](https://scribiz.com/docs/api/authentication.md): Send an API key as a bearer token. How keys look, what scopes they have, how to rotate one, and what is not allowed.
- [API quickstart](https://scribiz.com/docs/api/quickstart.md): Create a job, wait for it, and read the Context, in curl, TypeScript and Python. Then stream progress and upload a file.
- [API endpoints](https://scribiz.com/docs/api/endpoints.md): Every route with its parameters, responses and status codes. Create jobs, follow them, upload files, ask questions, read your account and your keys.
- [The Context object](https://scribiz.com/docs/api/context-object.md): Every field of the Context: metadata, transcript, on-screen notes, summary, chapters, coverage, warnings and usage.
- [API errors and limits](https://scribiz.com/docs/api/errors.md): The error object, HTTP statuses, every error code with its CLI exit code, rate limits, quotas, upload limits and how to retry safely.

### Apps

- [Mac app](https://scribiz.com/docs/apps/mac.md): The Mac app: drop in a file or a link, pick a mode, sign in or add your own key, and export. Apple silicon, macOS 14 or later. License and scribiz:// links.

## Supported sources

Reliable: YouTube, public videos, Direct audio and video links, Podcast episodes, Files you upload. Best effort on the web, reliable in the Mac app: TikTok, Instagram, X, Vimeo, Facebook. Not supported: Spotify, Netflix and other DRM services, Private, age-restricted and login-walled videos, Live streams in progress.

## Policies

- [Privacy](https://scribiz.com/privacy): what is collected, what is sent to Google, how long results are kept.
- [Terms](https://scribiz.com/terms): the terms for using Scribiz.
- [Copyright and takedowns](https://scribiz.com/dmca): how to report a copyright problem. Notices go through the contact form at https://scribiz.com/contact.

## Notes

- Results are private links (/r/...) and are not indexed.
- Not affiliated with YouTube, TikTok or Instagram.