To convert a podcast to text, copy the link to the specific episode and paste it into a transcription tool that reads the episode’s audio. A couple of minutes later you have the full episode as timestamped text you can copy, search, or download. If the podcast isn’t online (your own recording, or an MP3 you saved), you upload the file instead of pasting a link.
Which tool page you use depends on where the episode lives. This guide shows you which one to pick, what you get back, how to get the most accurate text, and the few cases that won’t work.
The short version
- Find the episode in the app or site where you listen to it. You need one episode, not the show’s main page.
- Copy the episode link. In most apps that’s Share → Copy link.
- Paste it into the matching tool: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube. For a file on your computer, upload it instead.
- Copy the text or download it as TXT, PDF, SRT or VTT, with or without timestamps.
Where is the podcast? Pick your method
Most “podcast to text” problems come down to using the wrong kind of link. Find your case below.
It’s a Spotify episode
Copy the episode link from Spotify (it looks like open.spotify.com/episode/…) and paste it into the Spotify podcast transcript generator. It finds the episode’s audio through the show’s public feed and transcribes the full episode, even when Spotify has no transcript of its own for it. For step-by-step help and what Spotify’s built-in transcripts can and can’t do, see how to get a transcript of a Spotify podcast.
It’s on Apple Podcasts
In Apple Podcasts, tap ⋯ → Share Episode → Copy Link. The link should contain ?i=, which is the part that points to one episode. Paste it into the Apple Podcasts transcript generator. This also works on Android, Windows, and in any browser, where Apple’s own transcript isn’t available. The full walkthrough is in how to get a transcript of an Apple podcast.
It’s a video podcast on YouTube
Many shows publish full episodes on YouTube. If yours does, paste the video link into the YouTube transcript generator. YouTube transcripts are included on every plan, including Free, and cost 1 credit per video.
If the same episode is on YouTube and in a podcast app, the YouTube link is usually the cheaper way to get the text.
It’s your own recording or a downloaded MP3
If there’s no public link, because the episode isn’t published yet or you only have the file, upload the audio file instead. MP3, M4A, WAV, AAC, FLAC, OGG and common video formats (MP4, MOV, WebM) all work, up to 6 hours and 500 MB.
It’s on another app
Most other podcast apps and players get their episodes from the same public feed that Spotify and Apple Podcasts use. Search for the show on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, open the same episode there, and copy that link.
What you get
- The full episode as text, not a summary or a preview. Podcast episodes up to 4 hours are supported, and most finish in about 1 to 3 minutes.
- Timestamps on every section, so you can jump back to the audio or quote the exact moment. You can copy with or without them.
- Downloads: copy to clipboard, or save as TXT, PDF, SRT or VTT.
- Tools on the result page: a search box to find any word, an AI summary, Ask AI to ask questions about the episode (“What did the guest say about pricing?”), translation into 40 languages, and repurposing into a blog post, newsletter, LinkedIn post, thread and more. Each AI action uses 1 credit.
If you only want the main points, the podcast summarizer puts the summary first. If you produce a show yourself, see how to write podcast show notes from a transcript.
Tips for a more accurate transcript
AI speech-to-text is very good on clear conversation. When it makes mistakes, the cause is nearly always one of these:
- Audio quality. A guest on a laptop mic or a phone line will come out less accurate than a host on a studio mic. If you’re uploading your own recording, use the cleanest version you have, such as the final master, not a copy recorded off speakers.
- Crosstalk. When two people talk over each other, the transcript may drop or merge words. Expect to fix those parts by hand.
- Music and sound effects. Intros, stings and background music under speech can cause garbled lines. Speech over silence transcribes best.
- Names and jargon. Guest names, brand names and technical terms are the most common errors. Use the search box to find each one and fix it in your copy.
Before you publish or quote anything, read through the parts you’ll use. No automatic transcript is perfect.
What won’t work
- Paywalled and exclusive episodes. Subscriber-only episodes, premium feeds and platform exclusives have no public audio, so they can’t be transcribed from a link. If you made the episode yourself, upload the file instead.
- Show links. A link to the whole podcast doesn’t say which episode you want. Copy the link to one episode.
- Episodes over 4 hours by link. For longer audio you own, uploads go up to 6 hours.
Common questions
How do I convert a podcast to text for free?
YouTube episodes are free to transcribe on any plan: your first transcript needs no signup, and a free account gets 3 a month. Spotify, Apple Podcasts and file uploads are Plus and Pro features because they transcribe full-length audio. They cost 10 credits per hour of audio, so an episode up to an hour is 10 credits and a 90-minute episode is 20. See the credits page for plans.
How long does it take?
Usually 1 to 3 minutes for a podcast episode, a little longer for very long ones. YouTube transcripts are typically faster because they read the video’s existing captions.
How accurate is it?
Clear interviews and solo shows come out very accurate. Accuracy drops on sections with crosstalk, music under speech, or poor microphones. Check names and numbers before you quote them.
Can I get the transcript in another language?
Yes. The transcript comes out in the language spoken in the episode, and you can translate it into any of 40 languages from the result page. Each translation uses 1 credit.
Does it include timestamps?
Yes. Every transcript is timestamped, and you can copy it with or without them. Timestamps are handy for show notes, chapters and finding quotes.
Can I download the transcript as a PDF or TXT file?
Yes. Download either format from the result page, or copy the full text to your clipboard. You can also save the transcript as an SRT or VTT subtitle file.
Get the text out of any episode
Converting a podcast to text takes one link: the episode link from wherever you listen. Paste a Spotify episode into the podcast transcript generator, or use the Apple Podcasts, YouTube or upload options above, and you’ll have the full episode as text in a couple of minutes.