TranscriptYTyoutube-transcript.io Alternative: TranscriptYT vs. youtube-transcript.io
youtube-transcript.io is a transcript web app with a Chrome extension, watchlists, chat-with-transcript, and API access on its paid plans. TranscriptYT is API-first: a REST API and MCP server built for developers and AI agents, with a free tier that includes API access.
| TranscriptYT | youtube-transcript.io | |
|---|---|---|
| Primary product | REST API + MCP server | Web app and Chrome extension, API on paid plans |
| Free tier | 100 transcripts with API access | 25 per month (per their pricing page, Oct 2026) |
| ~1,000 transcripts | $9/mo Starter includes 4,000 | $9.99/mo Plus includes 1,000 |
| Output formats | JSON, text, SRT, VTT, CSV, Markdown | Not listed on their pricing page |
| No-caption videos | AI speech-to-text fallback | Not listed on their pricing page |
| Translation | 150+ languages, timings preserved | Not listed on their pricing page |
When youtube-transcript.io is the better fit
If you mostly read transcripts yourself in a browser, want a Chrome extension, or need channel watchlists and bulk exports from a dashboard, a consumer-focused web app gives you that without writing code.
When TranscriptYT is the better fit
If transcripts feed your own product, pipeline, or AI agent, an API-first service is simpler: one endpoint, subtitle-ready SRT and VTT, a stable error contract, an OpenAPI spec, and an MCP server for Claude, Cursor, and Codex. At comparable price points the included volume is also several times higher.
The short version
Reading transcripts by hand or from a browser extension? youtube-transcript.io is built for that. Building software on top of transcripts? TranscriptYT is built for that, and the free tier includes the API.
Try TranscriptYT free