YouTube Transcript to PDF

📄 Turn YouTube videos into readable PDFs

YouTube to PDF is for students, researchers, creators, and teams that need a video transcript they can read or share. Add public YouTube videos with captions to get a PDF and a structured dataset row for each successful video.

• Make a PDF with YouTube transcript to PDF for reading, study, or research.
• Use the YouTube video to PDF converter to save a video transcript as a document.
• Extract text from YouTube video and keep timed passages in JSON.
• Run the YouTube transcript generator for a public video with captions.
• Get a YouTube transcript with video details and a PDF download link.

📦 What you get

Each successful video creates one dataset row and one PDF in Apify storage. The row contains the full transcript as timed passages, the caption language used, video details when available, transcript size, and a PDF URL. If the same video appears more than once, the Actor saves its first result and skips later copies. One failed video does not stop the rest of the list.

The Actor uses accessible manual or auto-generated YouTube captions. It does not make new captions with speech-to-text, translate or summarize text, discover videos, or process private and login-only videos.

▶️ Running the Actor

1. Add one or more public YouTube URLs or video IDs.
2. Choose a caption language and PDF layout.
3. Choose whether to remove non-speech notes.
4. Click Start.
5. Open Video documents for the dataset rows and PDF links.

You can submit standard watch URLs, youtu.be links, embed URLs, Shorts URLs, or bare video IDs. The Actor uses the best available caption track if the requested language is not available.

📥 Input

Field	Type	What it does
videoReferences	string array	Adds one or more public YouTube video URLs or video IDs. Standard, short, embed, and Shorts URLs work.
captionLanguage	string	Sets a preferred caption language code, such as en or es. The best available track is used if it is not available.
transcriptLayout	string	Chooses clean paragraphs or a timestamp-focused PDF layout.
removeAnnotations	boolean	Removes non-speech caption notes such as music, applause, and laughter markers.

This is the public input from the successful default-input beta run:

{
  "videoReferences": [
    "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ"
  ],
  "captionLanguage": "en",
  "transcriptLayout": "paragraphs",
  "removeAnnotations": false
}

📤 Output

Each successful video has this shape:

Field	Type	What it does
videoId	string	YouTube video ID.
videoUrl	URL	Source YouTube video URL.
title	string	Video title.
channelName	string	Channel name, when available.
description	string	Video description, when available.
durationSeconds	number	Video length in seconds, when available.
publishedAt	date-time	Video publish time, when available.
thumbnailUrl	URL	Video thumbnail URL, when available.
viewCount	integer	View count, when available.
likeCount	integer	Like count, when available.
commentCount	integer	Comment count, when available.
requestedCaptionLanguage	string	Caption language code you requested.
captionLanguage	string	Caption language code that was used.
captionsAutoGenerated	boolean	Says whether YouTube made the captions automatically.
transcriptCharacterCount	integer	Number of characters in the cleaned transcript.
transcriptWordCount	integer	Number of words in the cleaned transcript.
transcriptPassages	object array	Full transcript split into timed passages.
transcriptPassages.startSeconds	number	Passage start time in seconds.
transcriptPassages.durationSeconds	number	Passage length in seconds, when available.
transcriptPassages.text	string	Caption text for the passage.
pdfUrl	URL	Apify storage URL for the PDF.

This full row comes from the matching successful beta run:

{
  "videoId": "dQw4w9WgXcQ",
  "videoUrl": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ",
  "title": "Rick Astley - Never Gonna Give You Up (Official Video) (4K Remaster)",
  "channelName": "Rick Astley",
  "description": "The official video for “Never Gonna Give You Up” by Rick Astley. \n\nNever: The Autobiography 📚 OUT NOW! \nFollow this link to get your copy and listen to Rick’s ‘Never’ playlist ❤️ #RickAstleyNever\nhttps://linktr.ee/rickastleynever\n\n“Never Gonna Give You Up” was a global smash on its release in July 1987, topping the charts in 25 countries including Rick’s native UK and the US Billboard Hot 100.  It also won the Brit Award for Best single in 1988. Stock Aitken and Waterman wrote and produced the track which was the lead-off single and lead track from Rick’s debut LP “Whenever You Need Somebody”.  The album was itself a UK number one and would go on to sell over 15 million copies worldwide.\n\nThe legendary video was directed by Simon West – who later went on to make Hollywood blockbusters such as Con Air, Lara Croft – Tomb Raider and The Expendables 2.  The video passed the 1bn YouTube views milestone on 28 July 2021.\n\nSubscribe to the official Rick Astley YouTube channel: https://RickAstley.lnk.to/YTSubID\n\nFollow Rick Astley:\nFacebook: https://RickAstley.lnk.to/FBFollowID \nTwitter: https://RickAstley.lnk.to/TwitterID \nInstagram: https://RickAstley.lnk.to/InstagramID \nWebsite: https://RickAstley.lnk.to/storeID \nTikTok: https://RickAstley.lnk.to/TikTokID\n\nListen to Rick Astley:\nSpotify: https://RickAstley.lnk.to/SpotifyID \nApple Music: https://RickAstley.lnk.to/AppleMusicID \nAmazon Music: https://RickAstley.lnk.to/AmazonMusicID \nDeezer: https://RickAstley.lnk.to/DeezerID \n\nLyrics:\nWe’re no strangers to love\nYou know the rules and so do I\nA full commitment’s what I’m thinking of\nYou wouldn’t get this from any other guy\n\nI just wanna tell you how I’m feeling\nGotta make you understand\n\nNever gonna give you up\nNever gonna let you down\nNever gonna run around and desert you\nNever gonna make you cry\nNever gonna say goodbye\nNever gonna tell a lie and hurt you\n\nWe’ve known each other for so long\nYour heart’s been aching but you’re too shy to say it\nInside we both know what’s been going on\nWe know the game and we’re gonna play it\n\nAnd if you ask me how I’m feeling\nDon’t tell me you’re too blind to see\n\nNever gonna give you up\nNever gonna let you down\nNever gonna run around and desert you\nNever gonna make you cry\nNever gonna say goodbye\nNever gonna tell a lie and hurt you\n\n#RickAstley #NeverGonnaGiveYouUp #WheneverYouNeedSomebody #OfficialMusicVideo",
  "durationSeconds": 213,
  "publishedAt": "2009-10-25T06:57:33.000Z",
  "thumbnailUrl": "https://i.ytimg.com/vi/dQw4w9WgXcQ/sddefault.jpg",
  "viewCount": 1798755225,
  "requestedCaptionLanguage": "en",
  "captionLanguage": "en",
  "captionsAutoGenerated": false,
  "transcriptPassages": [
    {
      "startSeconds": 1.36,
      "durationSeconds": 1.68,
      "text": "[♪♪♪]"
    },
    {
      "startSeconds": 18.64,
      "durationSeconds": 3.24,
      "text": "♪ We're no strangers to love ♪"
    },
    {
      "startSeconds": 22.64,
      "durationSeconds": 4.32,
      "text": "♪ You know the rules\nand so do I ♪"
    },
    {
      "startSeconds": 27.04,
      "durationSeconds": 4,
      "text": "♪ A full commitment's\nwhat I'm thinking of ♪"
    },
    {
      "startSeconds": 31.12,
      "durationSeconds": 3.96,
      "text": "♪ You wouldn't get this\nfrom any other guy ♪"
    },
    {
      "startSeconds": 35.16,
      "durationSeconds": 4.36,
      "text": "♪ I just wanna tell you\nhow I'm feeling ♪"
    },
    {
      "startSeconds": 40.52,
      "durationSeconds": 2.4,
      "text": "♪ Gotta make you understand ♪"
    },
    {
      "startSeconds": 43,
      "durationSeconds": 2.12,
      "text": "♪ Never gonna give you up ♪"
    },
    {
      "startSeconds": 45.2,
      "durationSeconds": 1.88,
      "text": "♪ Never gonna let you down ♪"
    },
    {
      "startSeconds": 47.32,
      "durationSeconds": 3.8,
      "text": "♪ Never gonna run around\nand desert you ♪"
    },
    {
      "startSeconds": 51.48,
      "durationSeconds": 2,
      "text": "♪ Never gonna make you cry ♪"
    },
    {
      "startSeconds": 53.6,
      "durationSeconds": 1.92,
      "text": "♪ Never gonna say goodbye ♪"
    },
    {
      "startSeconds": 55.72,
      "durationSeconds": 3.64,
      "text": "♪ Never gonna tell a lie\nand hurt you ♪"
    },
    {
      "startSeconds": 60.8,
      "durationSeconds": 4,
      "text": "♪ We've known each other\nfor so long ♪"
    },
    {
      "startSeconds": 64.88,
      "durationSeconds": 4.16,
      "text": "♪ Your heart's been aching\nbut you're too shy to say it ♪"
    },
    {
      "startSeconds": 69.12,
      "durationSeconds": 3.84,
      "text": "♪ Inside we both know\nwhat's been going ♪"
    },
    {
      "startSeconds": 73.36,
      "durationSeconds": 3.84,
      "text": "♪ We know the game\nand we're gonna play it ♪"
    },
    {
      "startSeconds": 77.4,
      "durationSeconds": 4.64,
      "text": "♪ And if you ask me\nhow I'm feeling ♪"
    },
    {
      "startSeconds": 82.4,
      "durationSeconds": 2.84,
      "text": "♪ Don't tell me\nyou're too blind to see ♪"
    },
    {
      "startSeconds": 85.32,
      "durationSeconds": 1.96,
      "text": "♪ Never gonna give you up ♪"
    },
    {
      "startSeconds": 87.36,
      "durationSeconds": 1.96,
      "text": "♪ Never gonna let you down ♪"
    },
    {
      "startSeconds": 89.44,
      "durationSeconds": 4.28,
      "text": "♪ Never gonna run around\nand desert you ♪"
    },
    {
      "startSeconds": 93.8,
      "durationSeconds": 1.8,
      "text": "♪ Never gonna make you cry ♪"
    },
    {
      "startSeconds": 95.76,
      "durationSeconds": 2.24,
      "text": "♪ Never gonna say goodbye ♪"
    },
    {
      "startSeconds": 98.08,
      "durationSeconds": 3.96,
      "text": "♪ Never gonna tell a lie\nand hurt you ♪"
    },
    {
      "startSeconds": 102.2,
      "durationSeconds": 1.92,
      "text": "♪ Never gonna give you up ♪"
    },
    {
      "startSeconds": 104.28,
      "durationSeconds": 2.08,
      "text": "♪ Never gonna let you down ♪"
    },
    {
      "startSeconds": 106.48,
      "durationSeconds": 3.6,
      "text": "♪ Never gonna run around\nand desert you ♪"
    },
    {
      "startSeconds": 110.76,
      "durationSeconds": 1.96,
      "text": "♪ Never gonna make you cry ♪"
    },
    {
      "startSeconds": 112.8,
      "durationSeconds": 1.88,
      "text": "♪ Never gonna say goodbye ♪"
    },
    {
      "startSeconds": 114.96,
      "durationSeconds": 3.8,
      "text": "♪ Never gonna tell a lie\nand hurt you ♪"
    },
    {
      "startSeconds": 119.84,
      "durationSeconds": 3.12,
      "text": "♪ (Ooh, give you up) ♪"
    },
    {
      "startSeconds": 123.72,
      "durationSeconds": 3.64,
      "text": "♪ (Ooh, give you up) ♪"
    },
    {
      "startSeconds": 128.48,
      "durationSeconds": 1.64,
      "text": "♪ Never gonna give,\nnever gonna give ♪"
    },
    {
      "startSeconds": 130.24,
      "durationSeconds": 1.32,
      "text": "♪ (Give you up) ♪"
    },
    {
      "startSeconds": 132.48,
      "durationSeconds": 1.76,
      "text": "♪ Never gonna give,\nnever gonna give ♪"
    },
    {
      "startSeconds": 134.36,
      "durationSeconds": 1.56,
      "text": "♪ (Give you up) ♪"
    },
    {
      "startSeconds": 136.76,
      "durationSeconds": 4.32,
      "text": "♪ We've known each other\nfor so long ♪"
    },
    {
      "startSeconds": 141.2,
      "durationSeconds": 4,
      "text": "♪ Your heart's been aching\nbut you're too shy to say it ♪"
    },
    {
      "startSeconds": 145.28,
      "durationSeconds": 3.84,
      "text": "♪ Inside we both know\nwhat's been going ♪"
    },
    {
      "startSeconds": 149.52,
      "durationSeconds": 3.68,
      "text": "♪ We know the game\nand we're gonna play it ♪"
    },
    {
      "startSeconds": 153.36,
      "durationSeconds": 4.68,
      "text": "♪ I just wanna tell you\nhow I'm feeling ♪"
    },
    {
      "startSeconds": 158.64,
      "durationSeconds": 2.68,
      "text": "♪ Gotta make you understand ♪"
    },
    {
      "startSeconds": 161.4,
      "durationSeconds": 1.96,
      "text": "♪ Never gonna give you up ♪"
    },
    {
      "startSeconds": 163.44,
      "durationSeconds": 2.2,
      "text": "♪ Never gonna let you down ♪"
    },
    {
      "startSeconds": 165.72,
      "durationSeconds": 4,
      "text": "♪ Never gonna run around\nand desert you ♪"
    },
    {
      "startSeconds": 169.8,
      "durationSeconds": 1.84,
      "text": "♪ Never gonna make you cry ♪"
    },
    {
      "startSeconds": 171.8,
      "durationSeconds": 2.16,
      "text": "♪ Never gonna say goodbye ♪"
    },
    {
      "startSeconds": 174.04,
      "durationSeconds": 3.56,
      "text": "♪ Never gonna tell a lie\nand hurt you ♪"
    },
    {
      "startSeconds": 178.2,
      "durationSeconds": 2.04,
      "text": "♪ Never gonna give you up ♪"
    },
    {
      "startSeconds": 180.32,
      "durationSeconds": 2.12,
      "text": "♪ Never gonna let you down ♪"
    },
    {
      "startSeconds": 182.52,
      "durationSeconds": 4.12,
      "text": "♪ Never gonna run around\nand desert you ♪"
    },
    {
      "startSeconds": 186.72,
      "durationSeconds": 2,
      "text": "♪ Never gonna make you cry ♪"
    },
    {
      "startSeconds": 188.84,
      "durationSeconds": 1.88,
      "text": "♪ Never gonna say goodbye ♪"
    },
    {
      "startSeconds": 190.84,
      "durationSeconds": 4.36,
      "text": "♪ Never gonna tell a lie\nand hurt you ♪"
    },
    {
      "startSeconds": 195.28,
      "durationSeconds": 1.84,
      "text": "♪ Never gonna give you up ♪"
    },
    {
      "startSeconds": 197.2,
      "durationSeconds": 2.04,
      "text": "♪ Never gonna let you down ♪"
    },
    {
      "startSeconds": 199.4,
      "durationSeconds": 3.72,
      "text": "♪ Never gonna run around\nand desert you ♪"
    },
    {
      "startSeconds": 203.36,
      "durationSeconds": 2.24,
      "text": "♪ Never gonna make you cry ♪"
    },
    {
      "startSeconds": 205.68,
      "durationSeconds": 2.16,
      "text": "♪ Never gonna say goodbye ♪"
    },
    {
      "startSeconds": 207.92,
      "durationSeconds": 3.4,
      "text": "♪ Never gonna tell a lie\nand hurt you ♪"
    }
  ],
  "transcriptCharacterCount": 2165,
  "transcriptWordCount": 487,
  "pdfUrl": "https://api.apify.com/v2/key-value-stores/UljKqhtBllP1H8Nam/records/dQw4w9WgXcQ.pdf?signature=GXDZBJOoIjWyuneyUcoI"
}

The Run summary output gives the processed, successful, and failed video counts.

💳 Pricing

This Actor uses pay-per-event pricing. You are charged for each video that is successfully turned into a downloadable transcript PDF. Failed videos do not trigger that event. Apify platform usage may also apply under your plan.

🔌 Integrations

Send results to Google Drive, Slack, Zapier, Make, webhooks, or another Apify integration. You can also use the Apify API, schedules, and dataset exports such as JSON, CSV, and Excel.

❓ FAQ

What happens when a video has no accessible captions?

That video fails, but the Actor keeps working on the rest of the list. It does not use speech-to-text to make new captions.

Can I use auto-generated YouTube captions?

Yes. The Actor can use manual or auto-generated captions and tells you which kind it used.

What if my chosen caption language is missing?

The Actor uses the best caption track it can access and reports the language it used.

Can it process playlists, channels, or keyword searches?

No. Add individual video URLs or IDs. Use a separate YouTube discovery Actor first if you need to find videos.

Does it translate or summarize transcripts?

No. It keeps the caption text as a transcript and makes a PDF plus structured results.

📝 Changelog

0.0: Initial release

• Convert public YouTube captions into readable PDFs and structured transcript results, with language, layout, and annotation controls.

🆘 Support

For issues, questions, or feature requests, file a ticket and I'll fix or implement it in less than 24h 🫡

🔗 Related Actors

• TikTok Transcript Scraper — get transcripts, timed segments, and subtitles from public TikTok videos.
• YouTube Description Extractor — collect full descriptions and links from YouTube videos.
• YouTube Tags Extractor — get hidden tags and video details for content research.
• YouTube Region Restriction Checker — check where a YouTube video can be viewed.
• YouTube Music Downloader — save audio from public YouTube videos in common formats.

Made with ❤️ by Maxime Dupré