How to summarize a YouTube video

The fastest way to get the key points of any video — for free, in seconds, without watching the whole thing.*

Add to Chrome — Free

The easy way: a one-click AI summarizer

There are a few ways to summarize a YouTube video. You can copy the transcript and paste it into ChatGPT, but that means switching tabs, finding the transcript, and copying it manually every time. The faster way is a browser extension that does it all in one click, right on the video page.

Here's how to summarize any YouTube video in three steps with the free YouTube Summary extension:

1

Install the extension

Add YouTube Summary to Chrome. It's free and takes a few seconds — no account needed to start.

2

Open the video

Go to any YouTube video you want to summarize. A small widget appears on the page.

3

Click Summary

The AI reads the transcript and gives you the key points with clickable timestamps in seconds.

* Summaries are generated from video transcripts. Some YouTube videos may not have transcripts available.

Frequently asked questions

Can I summarize a YouTube video for free?

Yes. The YouTube Summary extension gives you 2 free summaries to start with no payment. Paid plans start at $3.25/month if you need more.

Do I need to watch the video first?

No. The summary is generated from the video's transcript, so you get the key points without watching it.

Can I summarize a video in another language?

Yes. It works with videos in 15+ languages and can translate the summary into your own language with one click.

Does it work on long videos?

Yes. It works on long lectures, podcasts and tutorials. Longer videos simply get more detailed summaries.