Free MP4 to Transcript Converter
Turn an MP4 (or MOV, WebM, MP3, WAV) into text with timestamps — copy, TXT, SRT or VTT. Free, no sign-up, private: the file never leaves your device.
Need captions on the video itself? Import the SRT into CapCut, Premiere or YouTube Studio. More tools: video background remover, MP3 to MP4, voice changer.
Only transcribe content you have the right to use. The speech model (OpenAI Whisper) downloads once from Hugging Face and runs on your device; your file is never uploaded.
Tips for an accurate MP4 transcript
- Choose the language if you know it — auto-detect works, but a fixed language is more reliable for short clips.
- Keep Accurate quality for interviews and lectures; use Fast for quick notes.
- For captions, download SRT (CapCut, Premiere, YouTube Studio) or VTT (web players).
- Long files: a 60-minute recording takes a few minutes with WebGPU and longer on phones — keep the tab open.
Hold Frame's MP4 to transcript converter turns a video or audio file into text in your browser. Drop an MP4, MOV, WebM, MP3, WAV or M4A file up to 60 minutes, choose a language or auto-detect, and OpenAI's Whisper model transcribes it on your device with a timestamp for every phrase. Copy the transcript, or download TXT, SRT or VTT for captions. It's free with no sign-up and no limit on files, and private: unlike most video-to-text services, the file is never uploaded. It doesn't do speaker labels or human proofreading.
Facts checked October 10, 2026.
What you get
| Price | Free. No credits, no sign-up, no daily limit. |
|---|---|
| Input | MP4, MOV, WebM, MP3, WAV or M4A, up to 60 minutes per file. |
| Output | Text with timestamps (on or off), copy in one click, download TXT, SRT or VTT. |
| Model | OpenAI Whisper base or tiny (MIT license) running in your browser via transformers.js — WebGPU when available. |
| Privacy | The file is decoded and transcribed on your device and never uploaded to any server. |
| Not the right tool for | Speaker labels, live captions, or videos you don't have as a file (we don't download other people's videos from links). |
How it works
1. Add your file
Choose or drop the video or audio. Nothing is uploaded.
2. Transcribe on your device
Whisper turns speech into text with a timestamp for every phrase.
3. Copy or download
Copy the text, or save TXT for notes and SRT / VTT for captions.
How this MP4 to transcript converter compares
| Hold Frame | Typical MP4-to-text services | |
|---|---|---|
| Where it runs | In your browser — the MP4 is never uploaded | Uploaded to their servers |
| Price | Free, no limit on files | A 10-minute trial, a 7-day trial or a character cap, then paid plans |
| Sign-up | None | Usually required |
| Exports | Copy, TXT, SRT, VTT | TXT, DOCX, PDF, SRT, VTT |
| Speaker labels / human review | No | Often available (paid) |
| Large files | Up to 60 minutes; long files are slower on phones | Up to several GB, any length |
Compared with HappyScribe, Speak AI and Async's MP4-to-text pages on October 14, 2026.
FAQ
How do I convert an MP4 to a transcript?
Drop the MP4 into the box, pick the language (or Auto-detect) and click Transcribe. Then copy the text or download TXT, SRT or VTT.
Is it really free?
Yes. Whisper runs in your browser, so there are no server costs to pass on: no sign-up, no credits, no file limit.
Is my video uploaded?
No. The audio is decoded and transcribed on your device; nothing is sent to a server.
Which formats work?
MP4, MOV, WebM, MP3, WAV and M4A — anything your browser can play — up to 60 minutes per file.
Can I get subtitles (SRT or VTT)?
Yes. SRT works in CapCut, Premiere, DaVinci Resolve and YouTube Studio; VTT works in web video players.
Does it label speakers?
No. You get one transcript with timestamps. For speaker labels or human review, a paid service such as HappyScribe or Speak AI is the better fit.
How long does it take?
Usually a few minutes for an hour of audio with WebGPU (recent Chrome or Edge on a laptop); longer on phones or CPU-only devices.