Containers and codecs
MP4, MOV, AVI, MKV, and WebM containers are accepted. Common AAC, MP3, Opus, and PCM audio tracks are supported through FFmpeg. An MP4 with no audio track has nothing to transcribe.
✳LESS FILE FRICTION. MORE USEFUL TEXT.
MP4 to Transcript: Turn a Video File Into Text
MP4 to transcript, without the guesswork. Upload your MP4 and get a clean text draft with timestamps and subtitle exports.
Sign in for a free trial
60 seconds free after signing in
Works with
YouTube
InstagramAudio & video files
YouTubeInstagramAudio & video filesFROM LINK TO LIGHTBULB
MP4 to transcript in three steps
A simple workflow that gets out of your way.
01
Bring your recording
Paste a video URL or upload a file that you own, that is authorized or publicly accessible.
02
Let the words appear
We read available captions or transcribe the spoken audio of authorized or publicly accessible recordings only.
03
Make something of it
Review, copy, or export text and subtitles from your authorized or publicly accessible recording.
MORE THAN A WALL OF TEXTThe whole thought.
The whole thought.
Ready to work with.
Readable words. Useful timestamps. A starting point for whatever comes next.
- Find the moment
Search the words and keep their timestamps.
- Take it anywhere
Copy text, or export TXT, SRT, and VTT.
- Make it yours
Review and edit the draft before you use it.
What your MP4 needs to contain
Size and duration are separate
The file limit is 100 MB. The one-time free trial provides 60 seconds; credit recordings up to 60 minutes. A high-resolution five-minute video may still exceed the upload size limit.
No extra cost for sample rate
Audio is normalized to mono 16 kHz for recognition. Credits are based on decoded audio duration, rounded up to the next minute, not file size, sample rate, or video resolution.
Supported files: MP4, MOV, AVI, MKV, WebM, MP3, WAV, M4A, FLAC, OGG, AAC · 100 MB maximum. Free trial: 60 seconds total; credits: up to 60 minutes. Original-language transcription, with automatic language detection. Accuracy varies by language and recording.
THE BOUNDARIES, UP FRONT
What You Can Submit
- Containers: MP4, MOV, AVI, MKV, and WebM with AAC, MP3, Opus, or PCM audio tracks.
- File size: 100 MB maximum. Duration: 60 seconds on the free trial, up to 60 minutes with credits.
- Your uploaded MP4 is deleted as soon as processing completes. We keep no copy of the original file.
- Encrypted, DRM-protected, or silent MP4 files cannot be transcribed.
Text and subtitle files only — no media downloads. Read the acceptable use policy.
START SMALL. GO FURTHER.
Try it free. Top up when you need more.
No subscription to keep track of. Try one minute free, then add minutes when you need them.
| What’s included | Free trial To see the quality | Prepaid minutes For longer recordings |
|---|---|---|
| Allowance | One-time 60 seconds per user | Pay once for the minutes you use |
| Recording length | Up to 1 minute | Up to 60 minutes |
| Timestamps & exports | TXT, SRT, VTT | TXT, SRT, VTT |
| Sign-in | Required | Required |
| If a task fails | Allowance returned | No minutes used |
PAY ONCE · NO SUBSCRIPTION
Need more minutes? Top up once.
One credit covers one started minute of audio. Buy a pack once and use it whenever you like for 12 months.
100 minutesAbout 1.5 hours, or up to 100 short clips
$4.90one-time · 4.9¢ per minute
1,000 minutesAbout 16 hours of recordings
Best value for most$19.90one-time · 2.0¢ per minute
3,000 minutesAbout 50 hours of recordings
$39.90one-time · 1.3¢ per minute
- Recordings up to 60 minutes
- Timestamps, TXT, SRT and VTT
- Speaker labels when speech recognition runs
- Valid 12 months; a new top-up extends it
- Failed jobs never use minutes
Transcription output only. No media downloads. Prices in USD · Secure checkout with Stripe · Any applicable tax is shown at checkout before you pay. Sign in to buy. Manage wallet
THE LITTLE THINGS, EXPLAINED
A few good questions.
Clear answers before you press transcribe.
What kind of video links can I submit?+
Public, directly accessible links to videos you own, that are publicly accessible, or that you are authorized to process. We don't support links that require a login.
Do you keep or redistribute the original video?+
No. To transcribe a link or upload, we fetch the audio and process it temporarily. The media is queued for deletion when processing finishes; cleanup may take a few minutes, and we never offer it for download or redistribute it. You receive transcript text and subtitle files only.
Can I process private or login-protected videos?+
No. Private, login-protected, deleted, restricted, or otherwise inaccessible content is not supported.
Are you affiliated with Instagram or YouTube?+
No. textfromlink is an independent tool. Platform names are used only to describe compatible input types.
Why does an MP4 to transcript upload get rejected?+
The file may exceed 100 MB, contain an unsupported or damaged audio track, or be encrypted. Check that it plays with sound locally. Export the audio as MP3 or M4A if the video file is too large.
What is included in the free allowance?+
Sign in for a one-time 1-minute trial. Each user receives a cumulative 60-second allowance that does not reset each day, on another device, or after account deletion. Failed jobs release unused reservations.
How much do longer transcripts cost?+
Credit packs start at $4.90 for 100 credits. One credit covers one started minute of a completed recording, up to 60 minutes per recording. Failed tasks never cost credits.
How accurate is the transcript?+
Accuracy depends on audio quality, accents, and overlapping voices. Copy the text or export TXT, SRT, or VTT with timestamps, then review names, numbers, and timing before publishing.