Video Summarizer Free - Turn Videos Into Text Summaries
Updated February 2026 with the latest AI summarization technology, competitive pricing analysis, and expanded platform support.
ChatGPT cannot process video files or access video URLs because it only accepts text and image input. This free video summarizer handles uploaded MP4, MOV, and AVI files plus URLs from YouTube, Vimeo, TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook - capabilities that text-based AI chatbots don’t have.
Transform any video into a text summary in under 3 minutes. Upload a file or paste a URL and the AI extracts key points, creates timestamped chapters, and identifies speakers automatically. Processing takes 2-3 minutes regardless of video length.
Why use this free video summarizer:
- Free tier: 3 videos monthly (up to 45 min each, no signup required)
- Processes 2-hour videos in under 3 minutes
- 99% transcription accuracy with speaker detection
- Auto-generates timestamped chapters
- Highlights key points and quotes automatically
- Supports 100+ languages with automatic detection
- Upload files directly (MP4, MOV, AVI, MKV, WebM)
- Works with YouTube, Vimeo, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook URLs
Students use it to summarize lectures, professionals process meeting recordings, and researchers extract key points from interviews.
How the Free Video Summarizer Works
Converting videos to text summaries takes three steps:
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Upload video or paste URL - Upload MP4, MOV, AVI, MKV, or WebM files up to 2GB. Or paste URLs from YouTube, Vimeo, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok. Supports videos up to 4 hours long.
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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.
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Download your summary - Get timestamped chapters, key point highlights, speaker-attributed quotes, and action items. Export as text, PDF, or Word document.
The AI organizes content into scannable sections instead of converting speech to text word-for-word. It identifies main arguments, conclusions, and takeaways automatically.
Free Video Summarizer vs Other Tools
| Feature | ScreenApp | Eightify | NoteGPT | Summarize.tech | TubeOnAI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Upload video files | Yes | No | Yes (2GB max) | No | No |
| YouTube summarizer | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Facebook/Instagram/TikTok | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Speaker identification | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Timestamped chapters | Yes | Yes | Yes | Limited | Yes |
| Language support | 100+ | 40+ | 40+ | Limited | 60+ |
| Free tier | 3 videos (45 min each) | 3-day trial only | 15 quotas/month | No free tier | 10 min/day |
| File size limit | 2GB | N/A | 2GB | N/A | N/A |
| Paid pricing | $19/mo annual | $5/mo ($60/year) | $9.99/mo | $29/mo | $9.99/mo |
Key differences:
- vs Eightify: Eightify costs $60/year ($5/month equivalent) but only works as a Chrome extension for YouTube - no file uploads, no Instagram or TikTok support. ScreenApp offers true free tier with 3 videos monthly and handles file uploads plus all major platforms.
- vs NoteGPT: NoteGPT costs $9.99/month and supports file uploads up to 2GB but lacks speaker identification. ScreenApp costs $19/month annual and includes speaker detection, making it better for meetings and interviews where identifying who said what matters.
- vs Summarize.tech: Summarize.tech costs $29/month with no free tier and no file upload capability. ScreenApp provides 3 free videos monthly (45 minutes each) plus file upload support that Summarize.tech cannot process.
- vs TubeOnAI: TubeOnAI costs $9.99/month but limits free users to 10 minutes per day (YouTube only). ScreenApp provides 45 minutes per video, 3 videos monthly, with file uploads and multi-platform support beyond YouTube.
Who Needs a Free Video Summarizer
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 free video summarizer?
A free video summarizer is an AI tool that converts videos into text summaries at no cost. Upload a file or paste a URL, and it transcribes the audio, identifies key points, and creates a structured summary with timestamps. A summarizer extracts main ideas and organizes them into scannable sections instead of capturing every word like basic transcription.
Is there a truly free video summarizer?
Yes. This tool offers a genuinely free tier with 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. No trial limitations or forced upgrades.
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 free video summarizer different from other tools?
This free video summarizer works with any video source, not just YouTube. Upload files directly (up to 2GB) or use URLs from Vimeo, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. It identifies speakers, creates chapters, and supports 100+ languages. Most free video summarizers limit you to YouTube-only or 10 minutes per day - this tool provides 45 minutes per video, 3 videos monthly, with full platform support.
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.
How does AI video summarizer work compared to ChatGPT?
AI video summarizers process actual video files and URLs, while ChatGPT only accepts text input. ChatGPT cannot watch videos, access YouTube links, or analyze uploaded MP4 files. This AI summarizer transcribes audio from videos, identifies speakers, and creates timestamped summaries - capabilities ChatGPT doesn’t have for video content.
Is this video summarizer really free?
Yes. The free tier includes 3 video summaries (up to 45 minutes each) monthly with no credit card required and no signup. Free users get full features: timestamps, chapters, speaker identification, and export options. The Growth plan at $19/month (billed annually) offers unlimited processing.
