DownSub is a subtitle downloader. Paste a video URL, pick a language and a format, and download the subtitles as SRT, VTT or TXT. YouTubeScribe does the same job for YouTube alone, with cleaned TXT, a PDF and timestamps you can switch off. Both are free for a single video. We make YouTubeScribe, and we checked DownSub's public site on 17 October 2026.
Checked 17 October 2026. We make YouTubeScribe.
Pick DownSub if you need subtitles from other video sites, or you want VTT straight from the download page. Pick YouTubeScribe if the video is on YouTube and you want cleaned TXT or a PDF as well as SRT, timestamps you can toggle, and playlist export on Pro.
| Point | YouTubeScribe | DownSub |
|---|---|---|
| Main job | YouTube caption extraction, plus YouTube metadata tools | Subtitle downloader for YouTube and other video sites |
| Account | No account needed to start | Its home page says paste the URL and click Download; it does not mention a sign-up |
| Formats | TXT, SRT and PDF free; VTT, Markdown and JSON on Pro | SRT, VTT and TXT |
| VTT | On Pro, or convert SRT to VTT free in your browser with the Caption Format Converter | Offered on the download page |
| Language | Every language the video has a track in | You pick a subtitle language for each download; the list is not shown on the home page |
| Timestamps in TXT | Yes, toggle on or off before copying | Not described on its home page |
| Cleaned text | Repeated words and broken cues are cleaned in the TXT output | Not described on its home page |
| Other video sites | No, YouTube only | Yes. Its page names Viki, Viu, WeTV, iQiyi, Hotstar and Dailymotion among others |
| Playlists and bulk | Bulk playlist and channel export on Pro | Not mentioned on its home page |
| Videos with no captions | Clear "no track" message; we don't invent speech | Downloads existing subtitles; no speech recognition is described |
| API | REST API and MCP server. A transcript call costs 1 credit | Links to an API at app.downsub.com; details are not on the home page |
| Paid plans (checked 17 Oct 2026) | Pro $49.99/year, Studio $129.99/year | The download tool is free; a separate Pro app is linked, with no prices on the home page |
Prices and limits change. Confirm on each vendor's pricing page before you buy. See YouTubeScribe pricing.
DownSub gives you the subtitle file as SRT, VTT or TXT. That is the right output when you are loading it into an editor or a player.
YouTubeScribe returns SRT too. Its TXT is shaped for reading: repeated words from auto-captions are cleaned and you can drop the timestamps. There is also a PDF for sharing.
If you are unsure which file you need, our guide to SRT, VTT and TXT covers what each is for.
DownSub lists VTT on its download page. On YouTubeScribe, VTT is part of Pro, alongside Markdown and JSON.
You do not have to pay to get WebVTT from us. Download the SRT and convert it in your browser with the free Caption Format Converter. It uploads nothing.
For the format itself, see WebVTT in the glossary. For a free SRT, the subtitle downloader is the direct route.
DownSub's home page names YouTube and several other services, including Viki, Viu, WeTV, iQiyi, Hotstar and Dailymotion. If your source is not YouTube, that settles it.
YouTubeScribe is built only around YouTube. We would rather be clear about that than imply support we do not have.
DownSub links to a Pro app and an API at app.downsub.com. The home page gives no plan details, so we do not compare prices.
YouTubeScribe has a public REST API and an MCP server on the same credit balance as the site. A transcript call costs 1 credit. Pro adds bulk playlist and channel export, which a single-URL downloader does not do.
If the video has no subtitles at all, a speech-to-text tool is the only route. See YouTubeScribe vs TurboScribe, or the best YouTube transcript tools roundup.
This comparison is published by Deeporax AI LTD, the company that makes YouTubeScribe. DownSub's public home page was checked on 17 October 2026. It lists little about limits or plans, so where its page is silent we say it is not described rather than guess. Confirm on downsub.com before you rely on it.
DownSub presents its subtitle download as free. It also links to a Pro app and an API at app.downsub.com, with no prices on the home page. Check that site for current terms.
Its home page says to paste the video URL and click Download. It does not mention signing up.
For YouTube subtitles, yes. You get SRT, TXT and PDF free with no account. For subtitles from other video sites, no.
Not directly. Free exports are TXT, SRT and PDF, and VTT is on Pro. You can convert a free SRT to VTT in your browser with the Caption Format Converter, which uploads nothing.
Either gives you an SRT. If your platform insists on VTT and you want it in one step, DownSub is more direct. If you also want cleaned text or a PDF, use YouTubeScribe.
Neither is described as doing speech recognition. If a video has no track, YouTubeScribe says so. A speech-to-text service such as TurboScribe is the route for those videos.
Vendor site: DownSub
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