Convert an MP4 File into Text
Upload an MP4 video and ScreenApp returns a transcript, no separate audio extraction step first. MP4 is one of the formats ScreenApp accepts for upload (MP4, M4V, MOV, AVI, WEBM, MKV, FLV, TS, MTS, M2TS, 3GP, 3GPP, 3G2, WMV, ASF, VOB, OGV, RM, RMVB, MPG, MPEG, M2V, F4V, MXF), with no set file size limit.
You can also paste a link instead of uploading a file: ScreenApp imports from YouTube, Vimeo, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and most other public video links (Twitch, Loom, Dropbox, Google Drive, Pinterest, X, Threads, Douyin, Kuaishou, Bilibili) through a generic importer and transcribes the video the same way.
What you get:
- A transcript in 100+ languages
- speaker identification, useful when a video has more than one speaker
- Export as PDF, DOCX, TXT, SRT and VTT
- AI chat with any recording, so you can ask a question about the video instead of rewatching it
- Free plan: 2 transcriptions of recordings up to 45 minutes each
How to Convert MP4 to Text
- Upload your MP4 file: Drag it into ScreenApp or select it from your computer, or paste a link from YouTube, Vimeo, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and most other public video links (Twitch, Loom, Dropbox, Google Drive, Pinterest, X, Threads, Douyin, Kuaishou, Bilibili) through a generic importer.
- Let the AI transcribe it: ScreenApp processes the video and returns a transcript with speaker labels and timestamps.
- Review and export: Check the transcript against the video in the online editor, then export it as PDF, DOCX, TXT, SRT and VTT.
Accuracy depends on the audio in the video, not the container format. A close-mic recording with a single speaker transcribes more cleanly than a video with background noise, music, or several people talking over each other. See how we measure accuracy.
MP4 to Text vs Other Tools
| Feature | ScreenApp | ElevenLabs | Ticnote | Sonix |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free tier | 2 transcriptions, up to 45 min each | 10,000 credits/month | Max 50 MB per file, no account | 30 min trial |
| Transcription pricing | Included in the plan | Included in credits, paid from $5/month annual | Not stated | $10/hour pay as you go, or $25/month |
| Export formats | PDF, DOCX, TXT, SRT and VTT | TXT, DOCX, PDF, JSON, SRT, VTT, HTML and AVID | Not stated | DOCX, PDF, TXT, SRT, VTT |
| Languages | 100+ | 90+ | 120+ | 54+ |
| Speaker identification | Yes | up to 32 speakers | Not stated | Yes |
| Paid plan | $19/month annual | $5/month annual | Not stated | $25/month |
Sources, checked 2026-09-28: screenapp.io/accuracy#languages, ScreenApp pricing, elevenlabs.io/pricing, ticnote.com/en/tools/video-to-pdf, sonix.ai/pricing, elevenlabs.io/mp4-to-text
- vs ElevenLabs: ElevenLabs’ MP4 to text tool gives 10,000 credits a month on the free plan and supports 90+ languages with up to 32 speakers, but the free plan has no commercial license. ScreenApp’s free plan covers 2 transcriptions of recordings up to 45 minutes each with no separate license restriction.
- vs Ticnote: Ticnote caps unregistered uploads at 50 MB and transcribes 120+ languages, but its pricing and export formats are not stated on the tool page. ScreenApp publishes its plan price and export formats up front.
- vs Sonix: Sonix offers a 30-minute one-time trial, then charges $10 an hour pay as you go or $25 a month for the Core plan. ScreenApp’s free plan is not time-limited: it covers 2 transcriptions of recordings up to 45 minutes each and 3 uploads to try.
Who Converts MP4 to Text
Content creators convert MP4 recordings into transcripts to pull quotes for blog posts, captions, and show notes without rewatching the footage.
Students turn recorded lectures and seminars into a searchable transcript they can review alongside their notes.
Businesses archive meeting and training recordings as text so the content is searchable and easy to reference later.
Podcasters who record video episodes convert the MP4 into a transcript for show notes, captions, and repurposed clips.
Researchers transcribe interview footage recorded on video for qualitative analysis, working from the written record instead of replaying the file.
Video editors pull a transcript from a rough cut to find a specific line or moment before scrubbing through the timeline.