Link transcriber: paste a URL, get the transcript
AnyScribe is a link transcriber for iPhone. Paste or share a public video or audio link from YouTube, Shorts, TikTok, Instagram Reels, X, Facebook, Twitch, Vimeo, SoundCloud, Reddit or any podcast app, and the app fetches the media, transcribes it with timestamps in 50+ languages and adds an AI summary. No screen recording, no copying captions by hand. The first 30 minutes are free, then you buy non-expiring credits by the hour.
Step by step
From link to transcript
- 1
Copy or share the link
Tap Share in YouTube, TikTok, Instagram or any app and pick AnyScribe, or copy the link and paste it into the app.
- 2
The app fetches the audio
AnyScribe downloads the public media, so it works whether or not the video has captions.
- 3
Get transcript and summary
Timestamped text with an AI summary on top. Copy, search, translate or share it as a web page.
What you get
Built for any public links
- The widest list of sources
- YouTube, Shorts, Instagram Reels, TikTok, X, Facebook, Twitch, Vimeo, SoundCloud, Reddit, VK, BiliBili and podcast episodes.
- Works without captions
- Caption-based tools fail on videos without subtitles. AnyScribe transcribes the audio itself.
- Share sheet, not copy and paste
- Send a link straight from the app you are in. The transcript is waiting when you come back.
- Pay only for what you transcribe
- 30 free minutes, then credits from $1.99 per hour that never expire. No monthly plan.
Compared honestly
How the options stack up
Summary of our Best Apps to Transcribe a Video or Podcast From a Link comparison. Competitor tiers and pricing change; check their sites for current details.
| App | Pricing model | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| AnyScribeThis app | 30 free minutes, then non-expiring credits from $1.99/hour. | YouTube, Shorts, Reels, TikTok, X, podcasts, SoundCloud, and more — pasted or shared from the iOS share sheet. | iOS app (with a web try-out); no Android. |
| Notta | Free tier with per-conversation cap; subscription for full use. | YouTube links on web and mobile, plus meeting transcription for cross-platform teams. | Social links (TikTok, Reels, X) not supported; quotas don't roll over. |
| Transkriptor | Subscription with monthly allowance. | YouTube and cloud-storage links on web, iOS, and Android. | Allowance model; narrower social-link coverage. |
| Otter | Free monthly allowance; subscription for real use. | Meetings and voice recordings — not link transcription. | Does not accept pasted YouTube or social URLs. |
| TurboScribe | 3 free transcripts/day; unlimited subscription. | Uploading files in bulk when you already have the media. | File-first workflow; you do the downloading. |
What works
YouTube videos and Shorts, including unlisted links
Instagram Reels, TikTok, X, Facebook, Twitch and Vimeo videos
SoundCloud tracks, Reddit videos, VK and BiliBili
Podcast episode links from Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts, Castbox, Overcast
Good to know
Links must be public; private, login-only and DRM-protected media cannot be fetched
Music-heavy clips with little speech produce short transcripts
Live streams are transcribed after they end and the recording is available
The full app is iPhone and iPad only; this website can start a transcription and hand it to the app
Simple, Honest Pricing
No subscription. No account. Buy credits when you need them — they never expire.
Free
$0
30 minutes included with the app. No strings attached.
1 Hour
$1.99
Perfect for occasional use. Credits never expire.
4 Hours
Best value$5.99
Best value for regular transcription needs.
12 Hours
$14.99
For power users and professionals. Credits never expire.
FAQ
Common questions
- Does it download the video?
- Only the audio track, and only to transcribe it. The media is not stored after the transcript is returned.
- Which links do not work?
- Private videos, content behind a login or paywall, DRM-protected streams and view-once media. If the link opens in a browser without signing in, it should work.
- Can I transcribe a link from my Mac?
- Paste the link on this page. You will get a QR code that opens the transcription in AnyScribe on your iPhone.
- Is there an Android version?
- Not yet. AnyScribe is an iPhone and iPad app.
Go deeper
Guides and comparisons
Start Transcribing for Free
30 minutes of free transcription. No account needed. No subscription ever.
Download for iOS