Topic guide
Output Formats
Different consumers want different file types. Pick the format that matches what you'll do next.
TL;DR
Transcripts come out as TXT (plain text), DOCX (Microsoft Word with formatting), SRT (subtitles), VTT (web captions), or PDF. Free users get TXT; Premium users get all five. Pick by destination: text editing → DOCX, video subtitles → SRT, web video → VTT, search/grep → TXT.
5
output formats
Free for all
TXT export
Premium
DOCX/SRT/VTT/PDF
Yes
Bulk batch export
The output format matters more than most people expect. The same 5,000 words of transcript becomes a different artifact depending on whether you export it as plain text (for grep/search), formatted DOCX (for shareable documents), SRT (for video editor subtitles), or WebVTT (for HTML5 web players). Choose by what you'll do with the file next, not by what's familiar.
TXT is the universal lowest-common-denominator. Open in any editor, paste anywhere, fully searchable. Optional inline timestamps. Free for all users. Use for: AI prompt input, grep across many transcripts, copy-paste into emails or Slack.
DOCX (audio-to-Word) is what you want for documents that need formatting, line numbers, paragraph spacing, headers, or sign-off. Imports cleanly into Word, Google Docs, Notion, and most QDAS tools.
SRT (audio-to-SRT, video-to-SRT) is the universal subtitle format. Drop straight into YouTube, Premiere, Final Cut, DaVinci Resolve, or any social-media platform that accepts captions.
WebVTT (audio-to-VTT, video-to-VTT) is the W3C standard for HTML5 video. Use for browser-native players, Vimeo, Cloudflare Stream.
All transcription output formats pages
Subtitle / caption formats
Document formats
Related topics
Or read the full Complete Guide to AI Transcription pillar.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the output formats section compare?
It compares transcript exports such as TXT, DOCX, PDF, SRT, and VTT so you can choose the file type your next tool expects.
When should I choose an output-format page?
Use an output-format page when the search intent is the deliverable, such as audio to Word, video to SRT, or audio to VTT.
Are output-format pages only for finished transcripts?
No. They also explain how to start from audio or video and end with the specific export format you need.
Ready to try it?
Upload any audio or video file and get a transcript in seconds — free for clips under 5 minutes.
Transcribe a fileLast updated: September 20, 2026 · Reviewed and maintained by the Transcript.you team.