Video Summarizer

Turn any video into a text summary in under 3 minutes. Free for YouTube, Vimeo, TikTok, Instagram videos.

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Loved by over 3 million people

Video Summarizer - Turn Videos into Text Summaries

Transform any video into a text summary in under 3 minutes. Upload an MP4 file or paste a URL from YouTube, Vimeo, Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok. The AI extracts key points, creates timestamped chapters, and identifies speakers automatically.

ChatGPT cannot watch or process video files. This tool handles video URLs and uploaded files that AI assistants can’t access, providing summaries that would otherwise require manual watching.

Why use this tool:

  • Processes 2-hour videos in under 3 minutes
  • 99% transcription accuracy with speaker detection
  • Auto-generates timestamped chapters
  • Highlights key points and quotes automatically
  • Free tier: 3 videos monthly (up to 45 min each, no account needed)
  • Supports 100+ languages with automatic detection

Perfect for students summarizing lectures, professionals processing meeting recordings, or researchers extracting key points from interviews and presentations.

How the Video Summary AI Works

Converting videos to text summaries takes three simple steps:

  1. Upload video or paste URL - The tool accepts MP4, MOV, AVI, MKV, or WebM files up to 2GB. For URL import, paste links from YouTube, Vimeo, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, or any platform. Supports videos up to 4 hours long.

  2. AI transcribes and analyzes - Speech recognition transcribes audio with 99% accuracy. The system identifies speakers, timestamps key moments, and detects main topics automatically. Processing completes in 2-3 minutes regardless of video length.

  3. Download your summary - Get timestamped chapters, key point highlights, speaker-attributed quotes, and action items. Export as text, PDF, or Word document for easy sharing.

Unlike basic transcription, the AI organizes content into scannable sections. It identifies main arguments, conclusions, and takeaways - not just converting speech to text word-for-word.

Video Summarizer vs Other Tools

FeatureScreenAppEightifyNoteGPTSummarize.techTubeOnAI
Upload video filesYesNoNoNoNo
YouTube summarizerYesYesYesYesYes
Facebook/Instagram/TikTokYesNoNoNoNo
Speaker identificationYesNoNoNoNo
Timestamped chaptersYesYesYesLimitedYes
100+ languagesYesYes50+Limited60+
Free tier3 videos (45 min)7-day trial onlyBasic freeSubscription only10 min/day
Mobile appYesYesNoNoYes
Paid pricing$19/mo$4.99/mo$9/moVaries$9.99/mo

Key differences:

  • vs Eightify: Eightify is a Chrome extension for YouTube only - no file uploads, no Instagram or TikTok support. Free trial lasts 7 days, then requires payment. ScreenApp works in browser with any video source and includes file uploads.
  • vs NoteGPT: NoteGPT offers YouTube summarization with a basic free tier, but cannot process uploaded files or videos from social platforms. ScreenApp handles direct uploads and all major platforms with speaker identification.
  • vs Summarize.tech: Summarize.tech requires a subscription with no free tier. This tool offers 3 free videos monthly (45 minutes each) to try before upgrading, plus supports file uploads that Summarize.tech cannot process.
  • vs TubeOnAI: TubeOnAI limits free users to 10 minutes of video per day (YouTube only). ScreenApp provides 45 minutes per video, 3 videos monthly, with support for uploaded files and multiple platforms beyond YouTube.

Who Needs a Video Summary Tool

Students

Create study notes from lecture recordings in minutes instead of hours. The AI extracts key concepts, definitions, and examples with timestamps for review. Perfect for exam prep - quickly find specific topics within long recordings without rewatching entire videos.

Business Professionals

Process meetings, webinars, and training videos efficiently. Get action items and decisions extracted automatically. Save hours of rewatching recorded calls - read the summary first, then jump to relevant timestamps when needed. For live meetings, try the meeting recorder or meeting note taker.

Researchers

Summarize interviews, presentations, and conference talks. Create citable transcripts with timestamps and speaker attribution. Extract key quotes for papers without manual transcription. Process dozens of research videos weekly at scale.

Content Creators

Repurpose long-form content into multiple formats. Turn YouTube videos into blog posts, newsletters, and social clips. Extract the best moments for highlights and promotional content. The AI identifies compelling quotes and key segments automatically.

FAQ

What is a video summarizer?

It’s an AI tool that converts videos into text summaries. Upload a file or paste a URL, and it transcribes the audio, identifies key points, and creates a structured summary with timestamps. Unlike basic transcription which captures every word, a summarizer extracts main ideas and organizes them into scannable sections.

How does the AI create summaries?

The AI uses speech recognition to transcribe audio with 99% accuracy. Then natural language processing identifies important sentences, main arguments, conclusions, and action items by analyzing context. The result is a structured summary that captures essential information without word-for-word transcription.

Can I summarize YouTube videos for free?

Yes. The free tier includes 3 videos (up to 45 minutes each) monthly. Paste any public YouTube URL and receive a summary within minutes. The free tier includes timestamps, chapters, and text export - full features with no trial limitations.

What makes this different from other video summarizers?

This tool works with any video source, not just YouTube. Upload files directly or use URLs from Vimeo, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. It identifies speakers, creates chapters, and supports 100+ languages - features most free tools lack.

How accurate is the summarization?

Transcription achieves 99% accuracy on clear audio. The AI handles accents, technical terms, and multiple speakers reliably using advanced speech recognition. Confidence indicators mark unclear segments so you know which parts may need manual review.

How long does processing take?

Most videos process in 2-3 minutes regardless of length. A 2-hour lecture takes the same time as a 10-minute clip because processing runs in parallel. Speed depends on audio complexity (number of speakers, background noise), not video duration.

Does this work with private YouTube videos?

YouTube videos must be publicly accessible or unlisted with a shareable link. Private videos cannot be processed via URL. For private content, download the file and upload directly to the summarizer instead.

Can I summarize videos in other languages?

Yes. The tool supports 100+ languages including Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, Chinese, Japanese, and Arabic. Auto-detection identifies the language automatically, or you can specify manually. Summaries maintain the original language or can be translated.

What video formats are supported?

The summarizer accepts MP4, MOV, AVI, MKV, WebM, and most common formats. Maximum file size is 2GB. For larger files, use URL import - YouTube and Vimeo videos work regardless of length with no file size restrictions.

Is there a free tier?

Yes. The free tier includes 3 video summaries (up to 45 minutes each) monthly with no credit card required. Free users get full features: timestamps, chapters, speaker identification, and export options. The Growth plan at $19/month (annual) offers unlimited processing.

FAQ

What is a video summarizer?

It's an AI tool that converts videos into text summaries. Upload a file or paste a URL, and it transcribes the audio, identifies key points, and creates a structured summary with timestamps. Unlike basic transcription which captures every word, a summarizer extracts main ideas and organizes them into scannable sections.

How does the AI create summaries?

The AI uses speech recognition to transcribe audio with 99% accuracy. Then natural language processing identifies important sentences, main arguments, conclusions, and action items by analyzing context. The result is a structured summary that captures essential information without word-for-word transcription.

Can I summarize YouTube videos for free?

Yes. The free tier includes 3 videos (up to 45 minutes each) monthly. Paste any public YouTube URL and receive a summary within minutes. The free tier includes timestamps, chapters, and text export - full features with no trial limitations.

What makes this different from other video summarizers?

This tool works with any video source, not just YouTube. Upload files directly or use URLs from Vimeo, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. It identifies speakers, creates chapters, and supports 100+ languages - features most free tools lack.

How accurate is the summarization?

Transcription achieves 99% accuracy on clear audio. The AI handles accents, technical terms, and multiple speakers reliably using advanced speech recognition. Confidence indicators mark unclear segments so you know which parts may need manual review.

How long does processing take?

Most videos process in 2-3 minutes regardless of length. A 2-hour lecture takes the same time as a 10-minute clip because processing runs in parallel. Speed depends on audio complexity (number of speakers, background noise), not video duration.

Does this work with private YouTube videos?

YouTube videos must be publicly accessible or unlisted with a shareable link. Private videos cannot be processed via URL. For private content, download the file and upload directly to the summarizer instead.

Can I summarize videos in other languages?

Yes. The tool supports 100+ languages including Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, Chinese, Japanese, and Arabic. Auto-detection identifies the language automatically, or you can specify manually. Summaries maintain the original language or can be translated.

What video formats are supported?

The summarizer accepts MP4, MOV, AVI, MKV, WebM, and most common formats. Maximum file size is 2GB. For larger files, use URL import - YouTube and Vimeo videos work regardless of length with no file size restrictions.

Is there a free tier?

Yes. The free tier includes 3 video summaries (up to 45 minutes each) monthly with no credit card required. Free users get full features: timestamps, chapters, speaker identification, and export options. The Growth plan at $19/month (annual) offers unlimited processing.

Real Results from Real Users

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Aaron

Project Manager

★★★★★

Our overall experience with ScreenApp has been nothing but pleasant! Their support is terrific, and ScreenApp is a great recording system.

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JP

Operations Manager

★★★★★

Finally, a screen recorder that doesn't slap watermarks on everything. The free plan gives me 45 minutes of AI processing monthly - that's enough for most of my training videos.

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Trina

Founder

★★★★★

I was skeptical about another AI notetaker, but ScreenApp's generous free tier completely won me over. The quality is professional-grade, and the AI features actually work as advertised. Now I use it for all my client presentations and team demos.

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Kelvin

Software Engineer

★★★★★

The desktop and mobile apps are fantastic. Recording meetings while I'm mobile has never been easier, and the dictation feature is a huge time-saver.

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Millie

Director

★★★★★

Our team was drowning in client feedback until we found ScreenApp. Now we record every presentation and client call, and the AI summaries are spot-on.

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Tanmay

Marketing Guru

★★★★★

Makes recording and sharing guides effortless. I love how I can capture my screen and instantly turn it into step-by-step guides in any format I need. Smart, simple, and a brilliant use of AI.

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Sav

Project Manager

★★★★★

Users consistently praise our web-based platform that requires no installation. Start recording in seconds, not minutes.

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Nate

Video Creator

★★★★★

The ability to automatically transcribe and summarize recordings is a major time-saver, turning video content into searchable, useful data.

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